Mamdani Names New Head of Mayor’s Fund to Boost Public-Private Partnerships

The mayor also announced the Child Care Action Fund, under the Mayor’s Fund, which will support expansion of universal child care in the city.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani (L) and chief of staff Elle Bisgaard-Church (C) at City Hall on April 16, 2026. Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

In a bid to boost his affordability agenda, Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday appointed his chief of staff to lead the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, a nonprofit that connects philanthropists with city programs in need of support.

The appointment of Elle Bisgaard-Church as chair of the fund’s board is part of Mamdani’s effort to develop public-private partnerships, which he described as government “driving the race car“ and philanthropy ”giving it that turbo boost to cross the finish line.”