The National Center for Civic Innovation is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization created by the Board of Directors of the Fund for the City of New York (FCNY) in 2002. Its purpose is to facilitate the ability of other cities and communities throughout the United States to adapt FCNY's approach, applications and expertise in improving quality of life and the performance of government and nonprofit organizations. Since 1968, when FCNY was founded, cities and states and community-based organizations have approached FCNY for assistance in helping them adopt and adapt many of FCNY's initiatives, most of which were begun in New York City.

The work of the National Center for Civic Innovation includes initiatives that spring from work of FCNY that are applicable elsewhere as well as new initiatives that can be tested and operated throughout the country.