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Faith in action: How three religiously affiliated groups use The Trust for their charitable giving

Adults sit around a fire pit in a prayer circle
From left to right: Rev. Holly Haile Thompson, Donna Colliuns-Smith, Chief Rebecca Genia, and Christina Tarrant, leaders of the Padoquohan Medicine Lodge, meet in the prayer circle on the Shinnecock Reservation. The Shinnecock Nation founded the Lodge in 1994 to support Tribe members with food, health, and housing. The nonprofit recently received a Trust grant to lead advocacy efforts to protect sacred burial grounds.

Our region is home to many religions and faiths. And while the fundamentals of religions differ, most share a commitment to giving to those in need as one way to demonstrate their faith in action.

That is why The New York Community Trust, our Long Island Community Foundation, and our Westchester Community Foundation are committed to supporting donors who choose to give in ways that align with their religious beliefs. Here’s a closer look at funds supported by three different faith communities.

LONG ISLAND UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FUND

For more than 30 years, our Long Island Unitarian Universalist Fund (LIUUF), a field-of-interest advised fund in The Trust, has worked to address education equity, environmental justice, immigrant rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and women’s rights. The Fund’s advisory committee, which recommends grants, also focuses on areas such as leadership development, legal and legislative advocacy, and racial equity and justice.

This fund has awarded millions to support nonprofits working to ignite and strengthen progressive social change on Long Island.

Seven principles guide the fund’s work:

  1. A belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
  2. Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.
  3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement of spiritual growth.
  4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
  5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process.
  6. The goal of a world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.
  7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

“These seven principles are instrumental throughout the grantmaking process,” said Marie Smith, director of donor relations and communications at the Long Island Community Foundation.

The Fund’s recent grant to the Padoquohan Medicine Lodge reflected its principles of dignity, justice, and respect. The grant supported the Lodge’s successful advocacy to pass the New York State Unmarked Burial Site Protection Act, establishing the first regulations in the state to protect Native American remains and funerary artifacts found on private land.

“The Long Island Unitarian Universalist Fund has awarded 662 grants to build power among historically marginalized groups and advocate for policies and practices that level the playing field—all of which will make Long Island a more equitable and peaceful place for all of its residents to live,” Smith said.

Three adults standing behind table full of flowers and fresh produce.
Photo courtesy of Rural & Migrant Ministries, a grantee of the LIUU Fund. This nonprofit has helped farmers create a cooperative on the East End of Long Island that provides more ownership and better profit margins than traditional farm work.

THE DOMINICAN SISTERS OF HOPE EMPOWERMENT FUND

The Dominican Sisters of Hope Empowerment Fund was established as a field-of-interest fund through our Westchester Community Foundation in 2014. Since then, the fund has made 72 grants to support the needs of the local community.

The fund’s purpose is to promote social justice and systemic change in keeping with key principles of Catholic social teaching. Recent grants supported day laborers seeking better working conditions and low-income immigrants engaging in advocacy and leadership development.

“Giving is a reflection of our faith and our values,” said Sister Catherine McDonnell, O.P., Prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Hope. “And it’s important that we give in a way that will confront deeper issues, like poverty and racism, and will foster hope and change lives.

ZAKAT FUND OF NYC

In 2017, several Muslim families in New York City came together to create a lasting way to collectively fulfill the Islamic pillar of faith known as Zakat, which involves redistributing wealth in the community to those in need.

Born to Muslim immigrants who practice Zakat by helping meet urgent needs in their countries of origin, these families wanted to find a way to carry out their own Zakat locally to improve the lives of struggling New Yorkers. They created the Zakat Fund of NYC, a donor-advised fund in The Trust.

“The Trust is grateful for the Zakat Fund’s contributions to community philanthropy through honoring the Muslim value of giving to those in need. The Zakat Fund provides crucial support to vulnerable New Yorkers of all backgrounds and faiths,” said Trust Chief Philanthropic Officer Rebecca Mandelman.

Recent grants from the Fund have helped local nonprofits aid refugees and asylum seekers, assist low-income people with court fees, support survivors of domestic violence, and bolster housing and food programs.