Community Development

Ford Foundation Grants $10 Million for New York Disaster Recovery and $1.2 Million for D.C. Efforts

Funds to Help Nonprofits and Individuals

New York, N.Y., October 5, 2001 - The Ford Foundation today announced that it will make grants totaling $10 million in New York and an additional $1.2 million in Washington, D.C. for recovery efforts in the wake of the September11th terrorist attacks. Most of the funds will go to nonprofit organizations that serve individuals and groups directly affected by the attacks, with a focus on needs not fully covered by other funds. The foundation is also lending the services of four staff to the September 11th Fund during its start-up period. “We are heartened by the outpouring of support from the public and from the philanthropic sector after the tragic events of September 11th,” said Susan V. Berresford, president of the Ford Foundation. “We’ve given a lot of thought to how we might best use our experience and resources to help recovery efforts. We have chosen to provide a group of experienced organizations with flexible funding and will continue to work closely and share information with other funding and service organizations.” The organizations that will receive grants are:

• $5 million for program and administrative costs to the September 11th Fund managed jointly by the New York Community Trust and the United Way of New York City that will assist individuals, nonprofit organizations and communities affected by the attack. New York Community Trust
  Ani Hurwitz (212) 686-0010 extension 224 United Way of New York City
  Jane Orenstein (212) 251-4115
• $1 million to the Legal Aid Society to handle an increased demand for legal services to low income people who are facing hardship as a result of the attack. Legal services will likely relate to housing, health insurance, unemployment benefits, small business recovery and survivor benefits. Legal Aid Society
  Helaine Barnett (718) 422-2895 or
  Steven Banks (718) 422-2892
• $1 million to the Fund for the City of New York, a private operating foundation, for cash flow loans to nonprofit organizations based in lower Manhattan that provide important services and now face financial difficulties. Fund for the City of New York
  Andrew Walrond (212) 925-6675
• $1 million to Structured Employment Economic Development Corporation (Seedco) for loans, grants and technical assistance to small and micro businesses located in the vicinity of the World Trade Center that suffered serious losses that will not be covered by city, state or federal programs. Structured Employment Economic Development Corporation (Seedco)
  Hotline (212) 473-0255 ext 378 (all calls will be returned the same day)
• $1 million to the Nonprofit Finance Fund for financial and advisory assistance to a range of nonprofit organizations in the most devastated part of lower Manhattan that suffered financial and physical damage and whose needs will not be fully met by other funds. Nonprofit Finance Fund
  Ann McKinnon (212) 868-6710 extension 107
• $1 million to WNYC Foundation to help New York City’s leading public radio station, which lost its FM transmitter in the attack, to purchase a new transmitter and restore full broadcast service to the greater metropolitan area. www.wnyc.org
• $1.2 million to the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers, in Washington, D.C., to assist nonprofit organizations handling an increased need for counseling and other support services for families and individuals in the greater Washington area. Funds will also be used to enhance coordination among donors and service providers working on community recovery problems. Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers
  (202) 939-3440

These grants will not reduce the foundation’s grant making in other areas. “We feel fortunate to have a reserve fund that enables us to respond quickly to this emergency situation while maintaining the same level of commitment to our regular grant making,” said Susan V. Berresford. “At the same time, our program staff will be alert to the longer-term local, national and international needs related to the terrible events of September 11th.” The Ford Foundation distributes more than $600 million annually to organizations around the world. Its goals are to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation and advance human achievement. Link to "The Foundation Responds" from the 2001 Annual Report

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The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization. For more than half a century it has been a resource for innovative people and institutions worldwide, guided by its goals of strengthening democratic values, reducing poverty and injustice, promoting international cooperation and advancing human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Russia.