Jacob a Riis Neighborhood Settlement
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
JACOB A. RIIS NEIGHBORHOOD SETTLEMENT IS A 132-YEAR-OLD COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE, INTEGRATED SOCIAL SERVICES TO THE YOUTH, SENIORS, IMMIGRANTS AND FAMILIES OF WESTERN QUEENS. THE AGENCY OPERATES FROM EIGHT SITES ACROSS LONG ISLAND CITY/ASTORIA AND SERVES A YEARLY AVERAGE OF 4,000 CLIENTS ACROSS OUR THREE MAIN PROGRAMS: RIIS ACADEMY FOR YOUTH, SENIOR SERVICES, AND IMMIGRANT SERVICES. OUR MISSION IS TO BUILD AND STRENGTHEN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN WESTERN QUEENS AND ACT AS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE
- Income
- $8.9 million
- Spending
- $8.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 73%
- Employees
- 279
- Volunteers
- 270
- Highest pay
- $165,975, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 40% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $6.9 million spent. FY25 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES:- WE SERVED 768 STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12 IN OUR RIIS ACADEMY AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS.- WE SERVED 1,364 YOUTH (K-12) IN OUR RIIS ACADEMY SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS.- WE SERVED 117 YOUNGER YOUTH (14-16) AND 238 OLDER YOUTH (16-24) THROUGH OUR QUEENSBRIDGE AND RAVENSWOOD SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IMMIGRANT SERVICES:- WE SERVED 905 STUDENTS ACROSS 66 ESOL CYCLES, WITH 172 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM OUR ESOL COUNSELOR. AMONG STUDENTS WHO WERE POST-TESTED, 80% DEMONSTRATED MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENT IN ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.- OUR CASE MANAGER SUPPORTED 240 LOW-INCOME CLIENTS IN WESTERN QUEENS, COMPLETING OVER 500 APPLICATIONS FOR HOUSING, PUBLIC BENEFITS, EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES.- OUR LEGAL TEAM CONDUCTED LEGAL SCREENINGS FOR 604 INDIVIDUALS AND OPENED 360 CASES ADDRESSING IMMIGRATION NEEDS SUCH AS AFFIRMATIVE AND DEFENSIVE ASYLUM, TPS, DACA RENEWALS, AND MORE.OLDER ADULT SERVICES:- WE SERVED 29,654 CONGREGATE MEALS (BREAKFAST AND LUNCH) AT OUR QUEENSBRIDGE OLDER ADULT CENTER.- 795 OLDER ADULTS USED OUR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, AND WE PROVIDED CASE ASSISTANCE TO 305 INDIVIDUALS.- WE PROVIDED 421 HEALTH AND WELLNESS CLASSES, AS WELL AS 309 ART AND CULTURE SESSIONS, WHICH INCLUDED PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES, JEWELRY MAKING CLASSES, CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS LIKE OUR MID-AUTUMN AND LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS, AND TRIPS TO MUSEUMS AND BROADWAY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1938.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.