Mayor Mamdani Appoints New Mayor's Fund Board With Diverse Voices

The new board reflects the working people at the heart of the administration's mission.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:02am

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A dimly lit, nostalgic interior scene of a community meeting space or town hall, with sunlight streaming in through windows and casting long shadows across the room, conveying a sense of civic engagement and grassroots activism.The new Mayor's Fund board, composed of working-class New Yorkers and community advocates, signals a shift in municipal philanthropy towards delivering tangible benefits for all city residents.NYC Today

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced a new Board of Directors for the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with city agencies and community leaders. The board will be chaired by the mayor's Chief of Staff, Elle Bisgaard-Church, and includes a Bronx public school teacher, a union organizer, and other advocates focused on advancing the administration's affordability agenda.

Why it matters

The new Mayor's Fund board represents a shift from past administrations, moving away from corporate leadership and instead centering the voices of working New Yorkers and community organizers who have fought for progressive change. This reflects the Mamdani administration's mission to change the relationship between the city government and its residents.

The details

The Mayor's Fund will play a key role in advancing the administration's affordability agenda, complementing major government-led efforts like the first municipal grocery stores and historic expansions of free childcare. The board members include Christina Cover, a Bronx public school teacher, Tony Perlstein, a UAW union organizer, and other advocates with backgrounds in community organizing, philanthropy, and civil rights.

  • Mayor Mamdani announced the new Mayor's Fund board on April 17, 2026.

The players

Elle Bisgaard-Church

Chief of Staff to Mayor Zohran Mamdani and chair of the new Mayor's Fund board.

Christina Cover

An English Language Arts teacher and Literacy Coordinator at a Bronx public high school, serving on the Mayor's Fund board.

Tony Perlstein

A director in the organizing department of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union and former longshore worker, serving on the Mayor's Fund board.

Kate R. Smith

Executive Director of the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City.

Zohran Kwame Mamdani

The Mayor of New York City.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

“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. The Mamdani administration has received a mandate to change the relationship between New Yorkers and their government, and build an affordable city where everyone's needs are met. We are excited to partner with the philanthropic community to deliver an optimistic and bold vision for our city to deliver on this mandate.”

— Elle Bisgaard-Church, Chief of Staff to Mayor Zohran Mamdani

“On behalf of the entire team at the Mayor's Fund, we welcome our new Board of Directors, chaired by Chief of Staff Elle Bisgaard-Church. We're thrilled to have a Board of Directors representative of the wide range of our city's perspectives. The Board is responsible for taking all necessary steps to carry out the purpose of the Mayor's Fund, and ensures the Fund's work remains aligned with the Mayor's policy goals and major initiatives. We're excited to collaborate on advancing our mission in serving all New Yorkers across the City.”

— Kate R. Smith, Executive Director of the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City

What’s next

The new Mayor's Fund board, led by Chair Elle Bisgaard-Church, will begin working to advance the administration's affordability agenda and strengthen partnerships with community organizations and the philanthropic sector.

The takeaway

The diverse, community-focused composition of the new Mayor's Fund board reflects the Mamdani administration's commitment to shifting power and resources to working-class New Yorkers and grassroots advocates, in contrast with past administrations' reliance on corporate leadership. This shift signals a new era of municipal philanthropy aimed at delivering tangible benefits for all New Yorkers.