New York investigating controversial fundraiser

State Attorney General Letitia James is investigating NYCharities.org. The now-defunct fundraising website is suspected of owing New York charities hundreds of thousands of dollars. More than 100 complaints from individuals and organizations led to a formal inquiry, according to a press release from the attorney general’s office. At issue is whether NYCharities.org pocketed donations ranging from $200 to more than $100,000. “Leaving New York’s charitable organizations high and dry by denying them what they are owed is unacceptable,” James said.

Got a complaint? Submit them to charities.complaints@ag.ny.gov and check out these guidelines from the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau. For what it’s worth, The New York Times interviewed Cristine Cronin, founder and president of NYCharities.org, in 2010.

HELP Social Service Corporation received a $2.6 million contract from the Department of Homeless Services. The money will go towards providing shelter services for homeless single adults at 121 Hell Gate Circle, according to the City Record. The department also awarded a $2.3 million contract to Housing Partners of New York to provide shelter services for homeless families in various locations in New York City. The department also intends to enter into a $4.7 million negotiated acquisition extension with its current vendor, Whitsons Food Services, to give frozen pre-plated meals to the department’s adult services and family services divisions.

The Administration for Children’s Services also has a public hearing scheduled for a proposed contract with the New Jersey-based company Data Access. 

HBO’s “Big Little Lies” is raising money for Safe Horizon to support survivors of domestic abuse. The Emmy-award-winning show, featuring Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep, is raffling off prizes, including a video call with a member of the cast. One of the show’s characters is in an abusive relationship, a portrayal described by some as nuanced and realistic. Donations can be made here. 

A new analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows 37 states and Washington, D.C. have taken steps towards ensuring an accurate census count. Of those states, 16 have allocated funds for outreach in addition to creating a statewide complete count commission – one of which is New York. 

Despite President Donald Trump’s failed push to get a citizenship question added to the census, the organization writes that the publicity surrounding the topic may still leave immigrants fearful of responding to the census. Activists and nonprofit organizations are also playing a role in the push to make sure communities are being counted accurately for 2020.

A recent report from the New York Community Trust shows its strategies, accomplishments, and lessons from its collaboration with New York City arts organizations. The organization’s New York City Cultural Agenda Fund gave out $2.3 million in grants to 67 groups over the course of four years. The collaboration focused on three priorities: increased knowledge in the cultural planning process; creating a network to advance racial equity; and building a stronger advocacy community. The results? The creation of New York City’s first cultural plan, an increased budget to the Department of Cultural Affairs, which allowed for more support in low-income neighborhoods. To see the other highlights of the report, read below: