The Fund for the City of New York was established by the Ford Foundation in 1968 with the mandate to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers. For over three decades, in partnership with government agencies, nonprofit institutions and foundations, the Fund has developed and helped to implement innovations in policy, programs, practices and technology in order to advance the functioning of government and nonprofit organizations in New York City and beyond.

The Fund seeks out, adapts, applies and assesses ways to enable government and nonprofit agencies to achieve excellence through its core programs—bridge loans, grants, incubation, management and technology assistance—and through three strategic initiatives: the Center on Municipal Government Performance, the Center for Internet Innovation/E Community Connect and the Center for Nonprofit Enterprise Solutions.