The New York Women’s Foundation is proud to be a part of GoVoteNYC, a collaborative of New York City-based funders united in the conviction that a strong democracy is crucial to a just and resilient city. GoVoteNYC seeks to address the long-standing issue of low voter turnout in local elections to ensure a more reflective electorate. The Foundation’s participation with GoVoteNYC increases the gender justice lens in the work that the selected grantee partners engage in. As outlined in Gothamist, the “secret sauce” to combat low voter turnout is trusted community messengers to educate and inspire those who traditionally sit out.
With low voter turnout in the June 2023 primaries, it’s clear that NYC democracy must be reinforced and rebuilt by community groups working together in every neighborhood in the city. Study findings showed that leveraging the trust of community groups almost doubled voter turnout in key populations, which is why we’re proud to be among the funders of the recently announced GoVoteNYC grants. The grantee partners, who are all trusted messengers in their communities, include: The Asian American Federation, Center for Law & Social Justice at Medgar Evers College, El Puente, Faith in New York, Hispanic Federation, MinKwon Center for Community Action, New York Civic Engagement Table, New York Immigration Coalition, and United Neighborhood Houses.