Maria Brisbane serves on the board of the Havens Relief Fund Society. Havens is a New York charitable organization that provides emergency grants to low-income individuals and families facing financial crisis, distributing that support through a network of appointed almoners. The Havens Relief Fund Society is a New York charitable organization that provides emergency grants to low-income individuals and families facing financial crisis, distributing that support through a network of appointed almoners. Maria Brisbane serves on its board and sits on the Society's Investment & Finance Committee, which oversees the endowment together with the Society's outside investment advisers and meets regularly to review performance and budget. Havens is the philanthropic commitment she is most actively involved in, and she attends the organization's annual Almoner Reception, where the almoners and grantee partners are recognized.
Mission and History
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Founded in 1871 by Charles Gerard Havens to help people of limited means overcome sudden life disruptions.
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Aims to restore self-reliance and dignity rather than long-term dependency.
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Disbursed tens of millions of dollars to over 175,000 New York families across its history.
How the Grant Process Works
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No Unsolicited Requests: The society does not accept direct applications from individuals.
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The Almoner Network: Funds are distributed by vetted community leaders, social workers, clergy, and counselors ("Almoners") embedded in local New York neighborhoods.
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Rapid Response: Almoners are empowered to issue prompt, modest financial relief (averaging several hundred dollars) for urgent necessities like food, clothing, or housing stabilization.
Havens endowment is $63m
Maria Brisbane, Havens Almoner Annual Reception