April 2011

Fighting the Good Fiscal Fight

Nonprofits that help New Yorkers fight eviction, escape abuse, or apply for Medicaid often get the bulk of their funding through City and State contracts. But with massive government spending cuts, these vital organizations are being squeezed to do a lot more with a lot less.

The Fiscal Policy Institute has helped City and State groups understand and face the cuts, illuminating budget decisions through research and education, while advocating policies that benefit New Yorkers and the nonprofits that serve them. The staff dissects budget proposals and counter proposals, provides regular updates after budgets are adopted, conducts budget briefings for nonprofit agencies, and generates articles and op-eds.

In 2010, The Trust gave the Institute $75,000 to help several nonprofits prepare written and oral presentations at key stages in the City and State budget process. The Institute’s fiscal analyses and policy recommendations were publicized through radio interviews with staff, and articles and editorials in The New York Times, Crain’s New York Business, and the Wall Street Journal.

A grant of $100,000 in 2011 to the Institute is helping it continue its public advocacy, and fund research on alternative revenue options for New York nonprofits.