About
The Doe Fund is a New York City nonprofit dedicated to breaking cycles of homelessness by providing the stability, work opportunities, and supportive services that lead to lasting change. Founded in 1985 by George T. McDonald and Harriet Karr-McDonald, the organization is best known for its flagship Ready, Willing & Able program — whose trainees, the "men in blue," provide supplemental sanitation across 115 miles of city streets weekly — and for developing affordable and supportive housing. The Doe Fund holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and Platinum transparency status from Candid (2026).
Mission
The Doe Fund's mission is "breaking cycles of homelessness by providing the stability, work opportunities, and supportive services that lead to lasting change," with a focus on economic mobility for people affected by homelessness and incarceration.
What they do
- Ready, Willing & Able: paid transitional work training, transitional housing, workforce development, and comprehensive supportive services. The program runs approximately 8.5+ months across three phases, moving trainees from stipends to taxable hourly wages, with occupational training in CDL, construction, culinary arts, HVAC, and security, plus education classes, case management, addiction recovery support, job placement, and legal services.
- Affordable and supportive housing: developing and operating housing for low-income and formerly homeless New Yorkers.
History
The Doe Fund was founded in 1985 after transit police evicted a homeless woman known as "Mama" from Grand Central Terminal on Christmas Eve; she died of pneumonia that night. George McDonald, who had spent 700 consecutive nights bringing food to homeless people at the Terminal, founded the organization in her memory — named for the pseudonym on her death certificate — and with his wife Harriet Karr-McDonald created Ready, Willing & Able. In 2023, Jennifer Mitchell became President and CEO.
Scale and impact
Ready, Willing & Able has connected more than 15,000 people experiencing homelessness to jobs, housing, or both. The organization cites research showing the program doubles the chances of obtaining employment, and an independent study finding it reduces the chance of recidivism by more than half. Trainees bag over 3,300 tons of trash per year across 115 miles of city streets weekly, and more than 500 employees — many of them program graduates — drive the organization's work.
Financials
According to IRS Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer for the fiscal year ending June 2025, the Doe Fund reported total revenue of $68,174,105, total expenses of $68,382,796, and net assets of $70,132,344.
Governance
Jennifer Mitchell has served as President and CEO since 2023. The organization is governed by a board of directors, with an executive team responsible for strategic oversight.