Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced on April 16 a new Board of Directors for the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, a nonprofit organization that works with city agencies, philanthropic groups, and community leaders to address challenges facing residents. The fund is expected to support the mayor’s agenda focused on affordability in the city.
The new board will be chaired by Elle Bisgaard-Church, who also serves as Chief of Staff to Mayor Mamdani. Six additional members have been appointed to join her. Kate Smith will continue as Executive Director of the fund.
According to the administration, this iteration of the Mayor’s Fund differs from previous ones by prioritizing working New Yorkers and advocates rather than corporate leadership. Members include Christina Cover, a Bronx public school teacher, and Tony Perlstein, a union organizer and former longshoreman. The goal is for the board to reflect those at the heart of both city life and current policy priorities.
The administration said it sees the fund as an addition—not a replacement—for public investment in major initiatives such as municipal grocery stores and expanded free child care. “I am honored to appoint my Chief of Staff, Elle Bisgaard-Church, to lead the Mayor’s Fund into a new era, one where philanthropy is not about who has money, but about whether that money delivers for working people,” said Mayor Mamdani. “We have assembled a team of principled, focused leaders who will build on the work this administration is doing to lower costs, keep New Yorkers safe and make our city’s public infrastructure the envy of the world.”
Bisgaard-Church said: “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Mayor Mamdani for the opportunity to embark on this new era for the Mayor’s Fund.” She added that there was a mandate from voters “to change the relationship between New Yorkers and their government” toward building an affordable city meeting everyone’s needs.
Executive Director Kate R. Smith welcomed both Bisgaard-Church as chair and all incoming board members: “We’re thrilled to have a Board of Directors representative of the wide range of our city’s perspectives… We’re excited to collaborate on advancing our mission in serving all New Yorkers across the City.”
