Robin Hood Foundation
The Robin Hood Foundation is a New York City anti-poverty nonprofit that uses philanthropy, data, and investment-oriented grant making to support community organizations and economic mobility.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Robin Hood Foundation is a charitable organization focused on reducing poverty and expanding economic opportunity in New York City. Established in 1988, it was conceived by hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones and co-founded with Peter Borish and Glenn Dubin. Its name refers to the legendary outlaw associated with taking from the wealthy and helping the poor, although the foundation operates as a modern philanthropic institution rather than as a redistribution program in the literal sense. Robin Hood’s operating model combines private fundraising with an investment-style approach to philanthropy. It raises money from individual donors, foundations, corporations, and fundraising events, then directs grants and other support to nonprofit organizations working with New Yorkers affected by poverty. The foundation has emphasized measurable outcomes, organizational effectiveness, and the use of evidence when assessing programs. Its grant-making framework addresses different stages of economic mobility, including early childhood, school-age children, young adults, and adults and household supports. It also supports nonprofit capacity building, policy advocacy, and special initiatives. The organization’s principal geographic focus is New York City. It has funded more than 300 nonprofit organizations and has also administered relief efforts following major disasters and emergencies affecting the New York area. Its activities have included support for education, child care, housing and household stability, workforce development, health, and emergency assistance. Since its founding, Robin Hood has stated that it has invested billions of dollars in efforts to fight poverty in New York City. Large gifts and public fundraising events have been important to the foundation’s scale. A 2009 commitment from George Soros provided $50 million over three years and was structured to encourage matching support from Robin Hood board members. The foundation has also benefited from concerts and broadcast events organized in response to crises. The 2001 Concert for New York City raised funds after the September 11 attacks, while the 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief supported recovery work after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. In 2020, Robin Hood and iHeartMedia organized Rise Up New York!, a virtual telethon for New Yorkers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Leadership has included co-founder and longtime executive director David Saltzman, author and veterans advocate Wes Moore, interim chief executive Derek Ferguson, and Richard Buery Jr. Moore became the organization’s first chief executive officer in 2017 and left the role in 2021. Buery, a former New York City deputy mayor and leader of organizations connected to Robin Hood’s nonprofit network, became chief executive in September 2021. Robin Hood has also created targeted initiatives in partnership with other philanthropists and public institutions. In 2022, it announced a Child Care Quality and Innovation Initiative for New York City, with commitments from Robin Hood, Alexis Ohanian’s 776 Foundation, and the City of New York. The initiative reflected the foundation’s broader emphasis on early childhood and on strengthening the systems that support families’ ability to work and advance economically. The organization remains a major New York-focused philanthropic intermediary rather than a consumer-facing commercial brand.
History
Robin Hood Foundation was founded in New York City in 1988 by hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones together with Peter Borish and Glenn Dubin. The founders adapted the name of the English folk hero to express an ambition to direct private wealth and philanthropic resources toward people experiencing poverty. From the beginning, the foundation sought to distinguish itself through an investment-oriented approach: donations would be directed to organizations and programs judged by their ability to produce meaningful social outcomes. The foundation’s core mission has remained geographically concentrated on New York City. Rather than operating primarily as a direct-service provider, Robin Hood functions as a grant maker, fundraiser, partner, and evaluator for a broad network of nonprofit organizations. Its grants have supported work involving children, education, health, housing, employment, food security, family stability, and other conditions associated with poverty. Over time, its framework has increasingly been described in terms of economic mobility and life-stage milestones, covering early childhood, school-age children, young adults, and adults and household supports. It also provides support for nonprofit infrastructure, policy advocacy, and special initiatives. Fundraising has been central to the foundation’s growth. It solicits major gifts and organizes high-profile benefits, while also using public events to mobilize attention around poverty and emergency needs. In 2001, the Concert for New York City raised funds following the September 11 attacks. After Hurricane Sandy, the 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief concert helped generate resources for recovery efforts. In 2020, during the COVID-19 crisis, Robin Hood partnered with iHeartMedia on Rise Up New York!, a televised and streamed fundraising event that brought in more than $115 million for affected New Yorkers. A major example of donor-led expansion came in 2009, when George Soros committed $50 million over three years. The arrangement reportedly encouraged matching commitments by board members and helped Robin Hood leverage a larger fundraising response. The foundation has consequently become one of the more prominent philanthropic organizations associated with New York poverty relief. It has reported investing approximately $3 billion since its founding and funding more than 300 nonprofit organizations. Leadership evolved as the institution expanded. David Saltzman, one of the co-founders, served for many years as executive director. In 2017, Robin Hood appointed Wes Moore as its first chief executive officer. Moore brought experience as an author, veterans advocate, investment banker, and nonprofit leader, as well as personal experience growing up in poverty in the Bronx. He stepped down in May 2021, after which Chief Operating Officer Derek Ferguson served as interim CEO. Richard Buery Jr. became chief executive in September 2021. Buery had previously held senior positions at organizations connected to Robin Hood’s partner network and served as a New York City deputy mayor. The foundation has also used special initiatives to address systemic constraints on economic mobility. In 2022, it announced the Child Care Quality and Innovation Initiative for New York City. The initiative was designed to strengthen child-care quality and innovation through a combination of philanthropic and public commitments. This focus reflects Robin Hood’s broader view that poverty reduction requires investment not only in immediate assistance but also in the institutions and services that allow children and families to thrive. Robin Hood has received attention from major media and philanthropy observers for its scale, donor network, and emphasis on results. Its role is best understood as that of a New York-focused philanthropic intermediary: it raises and allocates charitable capital, supports frontline and system-level nonprofits, responds to emergencies, and uses partnerships and public campaigns to address poverty.
- 2022
Child Care Quality and Innovation Initiative announced
[1]Robin Hood announced a major New York City child-care initiative and reported $126 million raised at its annual benefit.
- 2021
Richard Buery Jr. joins as CEO
[1]Following Wes Moore’s departure and an interim period led by Derek Ferguson, Richard Buery Jr. became chief executive in September.
- 2020
Rise Up New York! telethon
[1]Robin Hood and iHeartMedia held a virtual COVID-19 relief telethon that raised more than $115 million.
- 2017
Wes Moore appointed first CEO
[1]Wes Moore became Robin Hood’s first chief executive officer, succeeding David Saltzman as the organization’s senior executive.
- 2012
Hurricane Sandy relief fundraising
[1]The 12-12-12 concert supported relief efforts after Hurricane Sandy and generated approximately $50 million in total funds.
- 2009
Major George Soros contribution
[1]George Soros committed $50 million over three years in a structure intended to stimulate matching support from Robin Hood’s board.
- 2001
Concert for New York City
[1]A benefit concert organized after the September 11 attacks raised approximately $35 million for relief-related efforts.
- 1988
Foundation established
[1]Paul Tudor Jones, Peter Borish, and Glenn Dubin founded Robin Hood Foundation to address poverty in New York City.
Products and positioning
Evidence-oriented, New York City-focused philanthropy aimed at reducing poverty and improving economic mobility through grants, partnerships, advocacy, and emergency response.
Philanthropic grants · 1988
Anti-poverty grant making
Robin Hood provides grants to nonprofit organizations serving New Yorkers affected by poverty. Its grant-making framework spans early childhood, school-age children, young adults, and adults and household supports, with attention to measurable outcomes and economic mobility. Funding may support direct services, program expansion, organizational effectiveness, and related community interventions.
Nonprofit development
Nonprofit capacity building and advocacy support
Beyond program grants, Robin Hood supports the operational and institutional capacity of partner nonprofits. Its broader funding activity includes capacity building, policy advocacy, and special initiatives intended to improve the effectiveness of the anti-poverty sector and address structural barriers to opportunity.
Emergency philanthropy · 2001
Emergency and disaster relief
Robin Hood administers or supports relief funds for disasters and emergencies affecting New York City and the surrounding area. Its emergency response work has included fundraising and grant support following the September 11 attacks, Hurricane Sandy, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Early-childhood initiative · 2022
Child Care Quality and Innovation Initiative
Announced in 2022, this initiative was designed to improve child-care quality and encourage innovation in New York City. It combined philanthropic commitments with public funding and reflected Robin Hood’s emphasis on early childhood as a foundation for long-term economic mobility.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Child Care Quality and Innovation Initiative
New York City
Robin Hood announced a child-care initiative intended to improve quality and support innovation, with funding commitments involving Robin Hood, the 776 Foundation, and New York City.
Outcome. The announced initiative was valued at $100 million, and the related annual event raised $126 million for citywide poverty-fighting programs.
- 2020Rise Up New York!
New York City · United States
Robin Hood and iHeartMedia presented a virtual hour-long telethon to aid New Yorkers whose livelihoods and living conditions were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Outcome. The event raised more than $115 million.
- 201212-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief
New York City · New York metropolitan area
A large benefit concert raised money for communities affected by Hurricane Sandy, including through Robin Hood-supported relief work.
Outcome. Ticket sales totaled approximately $35 million, with total funds reported at about $50 million.
- 2001The Concert for New York City
New York City · United States
A benefit concert organized in response to the September 11 attacks raised funds for relief efforts connected to New York City.
Outcome. Approximately $35 million was raised.
Brand decisions
2022
Launch the Child Care Quality and Innovation InitiativeProduct launchBackground
Robin Hood identified child care and early childhood as important elements of economic mobility for New York City families.
Action taken
The foundation announced a $100 million initiative focused on child-care quality and innovation, supported by philanthropic and public commitments.
Aftermath
The initiative expanded Robin Hood’s early-childhood focus and was announced alongside an annual benefit that raised $126 million for poverty-fighting programs.
Announced initiative size. $100 million (2022)
2017
Appoint the foundation’s first CEOOtherBackground
After many years led by executive director David Saltzman, Robin Hood chose to formalize its senior leadership structure.
Action taken
The foundation appointed Wes Moore as its first chief executive officer.
Aftermath
Moore led the organization until 2021, when Derek Ferguson served briefly as interim CEO before Richard Buery Jr. took the role.
2009
Use a major gift to leverage matching commitmentsStrategyBackground
Robin Hood received a three-year, $50 million commitment from George Soros during a period of expanding anti-poverty grant making.
Action taken
The contribution was structured to encourage Robin Hood board members to match the gift, using a lead donation as a fundraising catalyst.
Aftermath
The arrangement reportedly helped the foundation raise substantially more than the original commitment and illustrated its emphasis on leveraged philanthropy.
George Soros contribution. $50 million committed over three years (2009)
Recent events
Phillips and Robin Hood Foundation partner on charity sale[3]
Reported:
Phillips partnered with the Robin Hood Foundation to launch an online sale supporting nonprofit organizations helping vulnerable New Yorkers during the coronavirus pandemic. Phillips said it would donate all proceeds and take no commissions.
Sources3 sources
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