CEO's Corner:

Finding Strength in Community and Holding on to Hope



Cynthia Rivera Weissblum

EGF President and CEO

Dear Friends,



I have found myself wanting and needing to be in community, to sit together, to hug more, to linger just a little bit longer. It is healing and the time together soothes the soul — feels like hope. 

Whether our staff coming together huddling in the one corner of our soon to be offices at 61 Gramercy Park North while still under construction, or in community with leaders sharing a meal and lingering in grateful conversation about leadership, challenges, successes — the time to care and be cared for is upon us — community to community,  colleague to colleague, neighbor to neighbor.  

Many of you know that I have deep connections to Minneapolis — my daughter and her family live in Minneapolis with multigenerational roots and pride in the spirit and beauty that is Minnesota. We thank and pray for the safety of those at the center, those who find themselves feeling hopeless, those whose loved ones have been murdered and abducted, those who are witnessing the violence, and are hearing the sounds of terror over and over again.  

We keep you in our hearts and minds, we stand with you, and we look forward to welcoming you into our new home very soon. 

Warmly, 

Cindy 

Behind the Build

The Journey to Creating A Place to Gather

by Nana Tam, EGF CFO & COO  

Building out 61 Gramercy Park North has been one of the most intense, educational, and ultimately rewarding experiences of my professional life.

When people see a finished space, they usually see the design, the furniture, the vibe. What they don’t see is everything that happens before that moment — the permits, the trade-offs, and the dozens of people it takes to bring an idea to life! From permits to space planning, technology, and vendors, the process for me, was a masterclass in patience, problem-solving, and trust.

One of the biggest lessons I learned is this: the key to a successful build is finding the right contractor and architect. We were incredibly fortunate to work with AIK Renovations and George Hillenbrand & Associates, and I genuinely don’t think this project would have turned out the way it did without them. Great partners don’t just execute — they understand what you’re trying to create — they care! They anticipate problems before they become expensive mistakes, translate vision into reality, and guide you through decisions you didn’t know were coming.

A few tips and takeaways from the process:

• Start permits early — earlier than you think. Everything depends on this, and delays compound quickly.
• Design for real life, not just renderings. Where people walk, gather, plug in, sit, and pause matters more than how it looks in a photo.
• Technology needs a seat at the table from day one. Power, data, AV, WiFi — retrofitting later is painful and costly.
• Kitchens are deceptively complex. Appliances, ventilation, code requirements — details matter.
• Expect change. Walls will move. Decisions will evolve. Build flexibility into your mindset and your budget.
• Always leave a contingency. Something unexpected always will come up.
• Work with people who care as much as you do!

Most of all, I learned how much gratitude belongs in a process like this — for the team, for the patience required, for the expertise around the table, and for the opportunity to create something meaningful from the ground up. 

61 Gramercy Park North isn’t just a space — it’s the result of trust, collaboration, and shared effort. Our hope is that it becomes a place where ideas grow, people come together, and meaningful work happens.

LEGO® Serious Play® Workshop with The Legal Aid Society

The Legal Aid Society LEGO® Serious Play® workshop, facilitated by AiLun Ku, EGF VP of Community & Capacity, created a hands-on, reflective space for collaborative learning. Participants from the Legal Aid Society, explored themes of professional identity and growth by building LEGO structures to engage in guided reflection around perspective, future goals, and approaching complex questions in a creative and embodied way.

In Community

The National ALICE Summit

(Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)

I was fortunate to join Kiran Handa Gaudioso, President, United for ALICE and EGF Trustee alongside 750 leaders from across the country at the National ALICE Summit in Miami. I had the honor of serving as a panelist for Rebuilding the Safety Net: Closing the ALICE Assistance Gap, where I focused on the nonprofit sector. Recent ALICE research shows that 22% of nonprofit employees experience severe financial hardship. Nearly a quarter of the people keeping our communities afloat are struggling to pay their own bills.

Dr. Anju J. Rupchandani, ED, Zone 126

Kiran Handa Gaudioso, CEO, United Way of Norther New Jersey, President, United For ALICE 

Cindy Rivera Weissblum, CEO, EGF

ALICE data, grounded in local realities, is a vital tool for boards and leaders. It underscores the need for nonprofit wages to reflect the true cost of living and for funding to cover the full cost of services. This data informs state and local budgeting, shapes workforce and wage policy, helps prevent benefit cliffs that penalize modest raises, and influences federal policy — ensuring that work leads to stability, not just survival.



Grateful to be part of this important conversation on closing the ALICE Assistance Gap.



Cindy Rivera Weissblum, EGF, CEO 



Reception with Governor Kathy Hochul

Many thanks to EGF Board Member Dr. Lisette Nieves and her husband, Greg Gunn, for graciously hosting an evening of thoughtful conversation with Governor Hochul and leaders across the nonprofit and philanthropic communities. 

Community Milestones

Celebrating BEAM (Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics)



Congratulations to BEAM on their new home at 90 Broad Street. EGF has been honored to support and house BEAM since 2016. 

We wish the BEAM staff and students every success and hold them close as part of the EGF family always.

BEAM Students in their new space!

Celebrations at Latino U College Access (LUCA)

Congratulations to LUCA's founder, Shirley Acevedo Buontempo on her retirement — 15 years of visionary leadership transforming the lives of first-generation students and their families.

A warm welcome to Faith Ann Butcher LUCA's new CEO — The future is bright!

Cindy Rivera Weissblum, Faith Ann Butcher, Shirley Acevedo Buontempo

New & Noteworthy

How Equality Wins: A New Vision for an Inclusive America by Kenji Yoshino & David Glasgow

Renowned legal experts offer a clear, practical vision for advancing equality in ways that strengthen institutions and expand opportunity. This read is grounded in research and real-world examples for founders, funders, and ecosystem builders committed to durable, equitable growth.

Applications for the AI for Nonprofits Sprint: NYC Cohort

If you’re curious about how AI can support nonprofit operations and programs, the AI for Nonprofits Sprint is a great opportunity. This structured program helps NYC-based nonprofits build useful AI skills through guided training, peer learning, and hands-on support.

Info Zoom Session: Wednesday, February 11 at 2 p.m. EST.

Deadline to Apply: February 13 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Entering the Year with Care

Amid the challenges across our nation, we are grateful to stand in community with you, grounded in resilience and our shared commitment to democracy.