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| New York Mets Foundation | |
|---|---|
| Name | New York Mets Foundation |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Type | Nonprofit foundation |
| Headquarters | Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, New York City |
| Leader title | President |
| Leader name | Steven Cohen |
New York Mets Foundation
The New York Mets Foundation is the official charitable arm of the New York Mets baseball franchise, created to support charitable causes in Queens, New York City, New York (state), and surrounding communities. The Foundation channels philanthropic resources through grants, community programs, and partnerships with nonprofit organizations, civic institutions, and professional associations. It operates in coordination with the Mets' corporate leadership, stadium operations at Citi Field, and community relations teams to deliver youth programs, health initiatives, and disaster relief.
The Foundation was established shortly after the founding of the New York Mets franchise and expanded its scope during eras marked by civic engagement in Major League Baseball, including initiatives tied to the franchises of the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants lineage in Shea Stadium. During the 1980s and 1990s the Foundation engaged with institutions such as YMCA, United Way, Red Cross, and City Harvest to respond to urban needs in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Bronx boroughs. After the opening of Citi Field in the 2000s, the Foundation increased visibility through collaborations with cultural organizations like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and sports bodies like Little League International and Major League Baseball Players Association. In response to crises such as Hurricane Sandy, the Foundation coordinated with Federal Emergency Management Agency-aligned relief networks and local partners to provide emergency assistance and recovery funding.
The Foundation’s mission focuses on youth development, health and wellness, and community revitalization through programming aligned with charitable priorities practiced by entities like Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and NYC Health + Hospitals. Core programs include youth baseball clinics in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, educational workshops with The New York Public Library, and nutrition initiatives alongside Food Bank For New York City. The Foundation also supports adaptive sports efforts tied to organizations such as Special Olympics and rehabilitation programs connected to Mount Sinai Health System and Hospital for Special Surgery. Seasonal initiatives have been coordinated with cultural festivals hosted by Queens Museum and civic events run by the Office of the Mayor of New York City.
Outreach emphasizes neighborhood-level impact, leveraging relationships with municipal agencies like New York City Department of Education and NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. The Foundation partners with community development corporations such as Greater Jamaica Development Corporation and advocacy groups including Make the Road New York to target underserved areas in Queens and Bronx. Collaborative programs have included voter engagement drives alongside League of Women Voters chapters, youth employment pipelines connected to NYC Department of Small Business Services, and public health campaigns with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-affiliated projects. Sports-related partnerships extend to collegiate programs at institutions like St. John’s University and Queens College.
Fundraising mechanisms range from benefit games featuring alumni from Shea Stadium and current roster appearances by players, to gala dinners attended by executives from Major League Baseball, sponsors such as SNY (TV network), and partners like PepsiCo and Delta Air Lines. Signature events include charity auctions hosted with legacy items linked to players like Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza, and Jacob deGrom, and community days at Citi Field that coordinate with fan organizations including the Rotary Club and Kiwanis International. The Foundation has also hosted MLB-themed runs and celebrity softball games attracting performers from Broadway and media figures from WFAN.
Grantmaking prioritizes nonprofits serving youth, health, and community services. Recipients have included The Salvation Army, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Coalition for the Homeless (New York City), and education nonprofits such as Scholarship USA and NYC Outward Bound Schools. The Foundation has provided capital support for facility upgrades at municipal parks administered by NYC Parks, equipment grants to New York City Police Department community programs, and scholarships administered through partnerships with The Posse Foundation and New York Community Trust. Disaster relief grants have been channeled through networks like American Red Cross and AmeriCares.
The Foundation is governed by a board drawn from the franchise’s ownership and executive leadership, reflecting models used by philanthropic arms of other franchises like the Boston Red Sox Foundation and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. Funding sources include corporate sponsorships from partners such as Sterling National Bank, proceeds from game-day community programs at Citi Field, and donations from individual benefactors in the New York metropolitan area. Compliance and oversight align with standards followed by nonprofit regulators in New York State Attorney General filings and nonprofit reporting practices promoted by organizations like Charity Navigator.
The Foundation’s impact is reflected in measurable outputs: thousands of youth served annually through clinics linked to Little League International, millions of dollars in grants dispersed to health and social service providers such as Robin Hood Foundation, and rapid-response contributions during emergencies like Hurricane Sandy and public health challenges in partnership with New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The organization has received commendations from civic leaders including the Governor of New York and honors from community coalitions such as Queens Chamber of Commerce. Its model is cited in comparative analyses with peer foundations including the Chicago Cubs Charities and San Francisco Giants Community Fund.
Category:Sports foundations in the United States Category:Charities based in New York City