The Fortune Society

The Fortune Society
Name	The Fortune Society
Formation	1967
Founder	David Rothenberg
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	New York City
Services	Reentry services, housing, legal assistance, advocacy

The Fortune Society The Fortune Society is a New York City-based nonprofit that provides reentry services, housing, legal assistance, and advocacy for people returning from incarceration. Founded in 1967, it operates in the context of criminal justice reform, offering programs that intersect with public health, housing policy, and civil rights work. The organization collaborates with city and state agencies, community groups, and academic institutions to reduce recidivism and support reintegration.

History

The organization traces origins to the aftermath of the 1960s civil rights era and the cultural shifts following the Vietnam War, when founder David Rothenberg and collaborators responded to the needs of formerly incarcerated people returning to neighborhoods in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Early milestones included partnerships with New York City agencies and connections to institutions such as Columbia University, New York University, Ford Foundation, and local congregations that paralleled efforts by groups like Blackstone Rangers and advocacy visible during the era of the Attica Prison riot. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the organization navigated policy environments shaped by laws such as the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 and later the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, while engaging with legal cases and public debates involving figures like Ralph Nader and organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. In the 1990s and 2000s, the group expanded programs amid attention from media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and broadcast coverage on PBS and NPR. Collaborations have included municipal leaders from offices tied to mayors such as Ed Koch, Rudy Giuliani, and Bill de Blasio, as well as state policymakers in the offices of governors like Mario Cuomo and Andrew Cuomo. Recent decades saw engagement with academia through research partnerships with John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, and foundations including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and MacArthur Foundation.

Mission and Programs

The stated mission emphasizes support for people impacted by incarceration, aiming to secure stable housing, employment, and access to health services. Core programs address needs that intersect with agencies such as New York City Department of Homeless Services, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and health systems including Mount Sinai Health System and NYC Health + Hospitals. Services draw upon evidence from studies at institutions like Harvard Kennedy School, Yale Law School, and Stanford University on recidivism and social determinants of health. Programmatic components include transitional housing, vocational training, substance use treatment linked to providers such as Phoenix House and Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program networks, and educational supports tied to colleges such as Borough of Manhattan Community College and Hostos Community College.

Reentry Services

Reentry offerings encompass case management, housing placement, employment services, and mental health care. The organization coordinates with workforce systems including New York City Department of Small Business Services and job training partners like Per Scholas and Year Up. Housing initiatives utilize models referenced by agencies such as U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and municipal programs led by NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Health-related services are integrated with providers and systems including Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, and behavioral health entities like The Center for Court Innovation collaborations. Legal reentry assistance interfaces with public defenders from offices like the Legal Aid Society and nonprofit legal clinics associated with Fordham Law School and Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

Advocacy and Legal Work

Advocacy efforts address sentencing policy, collateral consequences, voting rights restoration, and bail reform. The organization has engaged alongside coalitions with groups such as the Sentencing Project, Mike Farrell-linked campaigns, and policy networks including Vera Institute of Justice and Justice Policy Institute. Legal strategies have intersected with litigation and policy campaigns involving entities like the New York Civil Liberties Union, South Bronx Legal Services, and municipal legal reform initiatives tied to district attorneys such as Manhattan District Attorney's Office leadership. Campaigns target statutes and rules connected to the Fair Credit Reporting Act and occupational licensing regimes influenced by state legislatures and advocates like Michelle Alexander and scholars from American University Washington College of Law.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding streams combine public grants, private philanthropy, and earned income. Major philanthropic partners have included foundations such as the Lilly Endowment, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Open Society Foundations, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Government funding has come from federal entities including the U.S. Department of Justice and state grants from the New York State Office of Victim Services, as well as municipal contracts with NYC Human Resources Administration. Corporate and community partnerships involve employers and nonprofits like Con Edison, JP Morgan Chase, and workforce intermediaries including Goodwill Industries.

Impact and Recognition

The organization reports outcomes in reduced recidivism, housing placements, and employment attainment, with evaluations conducted by researchers at institutions such as Princeton University, Rutgers University, and Columbia University. Recognition has come from awards and honors issued by municipalities, publications in journals like The Lancet Public Health and Health Affairs, and mentions in policy reports from groups like the Brookings Institution and Urban Institute. High-profile endorsements and collaborations have connected the organization to civic leaders such as Ellen Page-adjacent advocates, cultural figures referenced by outlets covering activism, and engagements at conferences hosted by American Public Health Association and National Association of Social Workers.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in New York City