The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors
will meet Thursday October 28 in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street) beginning at 5:30 PM.
Among the Agenda items are:
Authorization to Enter into Contract with Bridge Philanthropic Consulting LLC for Grant Administration of the Public Purpose Fund (Board Action Required)
The NYC Community Trust (NYCCT) has been administering the Roosevelt Island Public Purpose Fund (PPF) grants process since 2022. $250 thousand was distributed to 14 Roosevelt Island non-profit organizations in 2026. Here’s the 2026 PPF allocations.
… There have been concerns raised by some Roosevelt Island organizations over the years about a lack of transparency by NY Community Trust in not publicly reporting the reasons for their decisions. Why do some groups receive Public Purpose funds and others do not? Why do some groups receive greater and others receive lesser amounts of Public Purpose Funds? In prior years, when the Roosevelt Island Residents Association made Public Purpose Funds recommendations to RIOC, they provided a public, detailed, written explanation for their recommendations.
Why can’t the Trust be just as transparent with their decisions as RIRA was? Why can’t RIOC insist they do so?…
I asked RIOC today:
Any comment about why NYC Community Trust is being replaced for Public Purpose Funds grant making? Did NYCCT apply {to continue administering PPF process}…
RIOC Assistant Vice President Communications & Government Affairs Bryant Daniels replied:
RIOC’s contract with New York Community Trust to administer Public Purpose Funds will conclude in December. Earlier this year, RIOC issued a request for proposals (RFP) to identify a firm to provide these services going forward. The RFP was open to interested and qualified firms, and Bridge Philanthropic Consulting LLC was the sole winning bidder. The Board is being asked to approve a contract with Bridge Philanthropic Consulting LLC to administer the program at its October meeting.
“During the transition to a new administrator, current Public Purpose Fund recipients with questions may contact RIOC directly for information and guidance. Following the transition, the new administrator will be introduced to the community and will conduct outreach to share information about the future grant application process and available funding opportunities.”
According to this October 14 memo from RIOC Chief Financial Officer Dhruvika Amin to RIOC President BJ Jones:
… Through recommendations from the former firm who administered this fund as well as NY State MWBE database, RIOC invited 18 firms to view and bid this work. Upon the due date of October 1, 2026, RIOC received one qualified proposal. This single bid was received from Bridge Philanthropic Consulting LLC …
… Following two rounds of negotiations, we were able to reduce the proposed fee from $147,500 to $75,000 and ultimately to a best and final proposal of $62,500 per year. This is a total reduction of $85,000 approximately 57.6% of the original proposal. Further, their initial bid reflected an annual price escalation, and we were able to negotiate the escalation and keep the price consistent for the duration of this contract without any escalations. The negotiated fee is also within a reasonable market range for the scope of services and comparable grant administration engagements.
Recommendation
RIOC recommends entering into a contract with Bridge Philanthropic Consulting LLC for the administration of the public purpose fund for one year with four additional one year renewal options at $62,500 per year.
Here’s the full RIOC memo in support.
According to an October 2021 memo, NYCCT received $25 thousand per year for administration of the Public Purpose Funds.
You’re invited to attend, ask questions and share concerns about Roosevelt Island Public Purpose Funds and other issues during the opening Public Session before the start of the October 28 RIOC Board meeting. Sign up to speak here before 10 AM of the meeting day.