The NoVo Foundation, in partnership with the New York Women’s Foundation, has announced an initial commitment of $10 million through the New York City Philanthropic Table for Girls and Young Women of Color for programs targeting girls, young women, and transgender youth of color in New York City.

The gift from the Philanthropic Table, a group of more than a dozen local and national foundations that is co-chaired by the NoVo and New York Women’s foundations, matches a $10 million public commitment from the New York City Council. The new commitment will consist of funds newly committed or targeted to efforts aimed at improving the lives of girls and young women of color and that are aligned with the priorities of the Philanthropic Table.

The City Council’s commitment will support the Young Women’s Initiative, created by council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito to propose policy changes, data collection, programming, and long-term research geared toward closing gaps in outcomes experienced by girls, young women, and transgender youth of color in New York City. Foundation members of the Philanthropic Table are working closely with YWI, various experts, and girls and young women to identify opportunities for collaboration and elevate the priorities and perspectives of girls and young women of color in the city.

“We applaud Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the New York City Council for their steadfast commitment to the Young Women’s Initiative, which declares that the lives of girls, young women, and trans youth of color deserve greater attention and investment,” said NYWF president and CEO Ana Oliveira. “The New York Women’s Foundation is a proud co-chair of YWI and remains committed to advancing the lives of girls and young women across New York City as we have for the past twenty-nine years.”