The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Fund, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life for Roosevelt Island residents, has awarded $150,000 in grants to 13 different organizations.
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (ROIC) was established in 1984 by New York’s Department of State to plan, develop, and maintain the island. This year, the organization asked The New York Community Trust to administer its grants.
The RIOC is proud to support these organizations, which are dedicated to improving the quality of life for the island’s residents. According to RIOC President and CEO, Shelton Haynes, the grantmaking process was made easier by the expertise of The New York Community Trust.
These grants support various projects that are aimed at making life on Roosevelt Island more equitable and enjoyable. Some of these include the establishment of enrichment programs for older adults and the improvement of services for individuals with disabilities.
Through a grant of $50,000, the fund was able to provide a free series of workshops to Roosevelt Island’s non-profit organizations. These sessions will be held by Community Resource Exchange, a leading consultant agency for the nonprofit industry. The workshops will help participants improve their organization’s management and fundraising practices.
The objective of the trust was to make the grantmaking process easier for non-profit organizations on Roosevelt Island. It also ensured that the funds were used to support programs and services that are vital to the island’s residents.
Through an advisory committee composed of five individuals from the community, the trust was able to review and make grant recommendations. These individuals have varying levels of experience in the nonprofit industry and are from diverse backgrounds. To ensure that the process was conducted fairly and confidential, the committee members’ names and affiliations were kept anonymous during the review period.
The committee met in April to discuss the various applications that were submitted and to make decisions regarding the grant amounts and the criteria for the selection of the grants.
Who is Gretchen Robinson?
Before becoming a lawyer, Ms. Robinson worked in the Queens District Attorney’s Office. She later became a member of the Civilian Complaint Review Board. She conducted administrative trials within the APU.
Gretchen Robinson joined the State Government in 2015. She then became the RIOC’s Compliance & Internal Controls Officer. In 2018, she was appointed as the Senior Counsel for the Empire State Development Corporation’s Division of Women and Minority Business Development. She was responsible for advising the division on various policy matters.