New York City’s Plan to Help Charities Cope With the Recession

What It Has Done So Far

• Created NYC Service, a citywide program designed to make it easier for New Yorkers to volunteer.

• Made a revolving-loan program available to charities for the first time.

• Improved a hotline that charities can call for advice on managing their organizations. The city, for example, is working with a nonprofit consultant group that provides help over the hotline to charity executive directors.

• Expanded a bridge-loan fund for charities from $8-million to $20-million. The fund provides money to charities that have contracts with the city when they are tight on cash and need short-term help.

• Arranged for four philanthropists to design a program that will pair business executives with nonprofit groups.

• Created a new Web site that provides advice and resources for charities.

• Appointed a “nonprofit contract facilitator” in the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services to answer nonprofit groups’ questions and concerns.

What It Plans to Do

• Develop a group-purchasing program to enable charities to buy goods and services in bulk, an idea the mayor says could save an estimated $5-million.

• Evaluate charities’ energy use and seek ways to reduce costs.

• Expand a warehouse where cultural organizations, schools, and other groups can secure donated supplies.

• Issue a standard contract for all city agencies that support social-service charities and make other changes to help contract holders.

Activities It Is Continuing

• Promote the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, a nonprofit group that collects dollars from philanthropists who want to support charity programs run in partnership with the city.