El Puente De Williamsburg Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF EL PUENTE IS TO INSPIRE AND NURTURE LEADERSHIP FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE, WORKING AS A HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTION IN NYC AND PUERTO RICO WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL IMPACT. EL PUENTE CREATES COMMUNITY-LED MOVEMENTS OF SELF DETERMINATION THROUGH A HOLISTIC LEADERSHIP AND MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM MODEL, AS A HIGH IMPACT YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION.
- Income
- $6.6 million
- Spending
- $6.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 4.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 63%
- Employees
- 133
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $173,776, executive director (thru 1/2025)
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: 65 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 30% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% 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.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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 (4)
- $2.3 million spent. 1. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENTEL PUENTE DEVELOPS THE LEADERSHIP OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES TO IMAGINE AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGES FACING THEIR COMMUNITIES. THROUGH SKILLS-BASED PROGRAMMING, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND CAMPAIGNS, EL PUENTE MEMBERS LEAD SOCIAL CHANGETHE WILLIAMSBURG AND BUSHWICK LEADERSHIP CENTERS OUR ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT CENTERS ARE HUBS FOR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, CULTURAL EVENTS, CREATIVITY, AND GROUNDBREAKING INITIATIVES, OFFERING YOUTH SAFE AND GROWING SPACES WHERE THEY ARE SUPPORTED IN THEIR HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT, PLANS, AND IN ESTABLISHING ROOTED RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES. EL PUENTE BEACON LEADERSHIP CENTER AT MS 50SERVING OVER 1,300 PARTICIPANTS YEAR-ROUND, THE BEACON CENTER OFFERS BILINGUAL AFTERSCHOOL AND EVENING PROGRAMS IN BALLET, STREET JAZZ, ACTING, BREAKING, AND VISUAL ARTS. A PRE-PROFESSIONAL SUMMER ARTS CAMP SUPPORTS YOUTH AGES 6-13. 183 SOUTH 3RD STREET, BROOKLYN, NY 11211 | 718-486-3936CORNERSTONE LEADERSHIP CENTERSOPERATING IN FOUR NYCHA DEVELOPMENTS (INDEPENDENCE TOWERS, TAYLOR-WYTHE HOUSES, WILLIAMS PLAZA, AND BERRY STREET), THESE CENTERS OFFER AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS DESIGNED AROUND YOUTH- AND FAMILY-IDENTIFIED NEEDS: FROM ARTS INSTRUCTION AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND FOOD ACCESS.SITES INCLUDE:-INDEPENDENCE TOWERS LEADERSHIP CENTER-TAYLOR-WYTHE LEADERSHIP CENTER-WILLIAMS PLAZA LEADERSHIP CENTER
- $954,306 spent. 2. ENVIROMENT EL PUENTE RESEARCHES, IMPLEMENTS, AND ADVOCATES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS TO MITIGATE CLIMATE RISK AND CONFRONT THE HISTORICALLY DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HARM ON BIPOC, IMMIGRANT, AND WORKING-CLASS COMMUNITIES. OUR APPROACH INTEGRATES ENVIRONMENTAL, HOUSING, TRANSIT, HEALTH, AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE TO BUILD RESILIENT, THRIVING NEIGHBORHOODS ROOTED IN EQUITY AND SELF-DETERMINATION.AT THE HEART OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL WORK IS EL PUENTE'S GREEN LIGHT DISTRICT (GLD), A PIONEERING MODEL FOR COMMUNITY-LED SUSTAINABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT. THE GLD IS A LONG-TERM PLACEKEEPING STRATEGY DESIGNED TO REVERSE THE DISPLACEMENT AND DISEMPOWERMENT CAUSED BY GENTRIFICATION. RATHER THAN RESPONDING TO EXTRACTIVE, PROFIT-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT, THE GLD CENTERS THE NEEDS, CULTURE, AND LEADERSHIP OF LONG-STANDING RESIDENTS OF SOUTH WILLIAMSBURG (LOS SURES). THE GREEN LIGHT DISTRICT IS NOT JUST A PROGRAM-IT IS A LIVING BLUEPRINT FOR WHAT SUSTAINABLE, JUST, AND ROOTED DEVELOPMENT CAN LOOK LIKE. THE INITIATIVE BRINGS TOGETHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, YOUTH, ARTISTS, EDUCATORS, AND ORGANIZERS TO CO-CREATE A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT NURTURES BOTH PEOPLE AND THE PLANET. IT OPERATES ON THE BELIEF THAT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CANNOT BE SILOED-IT MUST MOVE IN TANDEM WITH EDUCATION, CULTURAL EXPRESSION, HEALTH, HOUSING, AND CIVIC POWER.THROUGH GLD AND OUR BROADER ENVIRONMENTAL WORK, WE FOCUS ON: -URBAN GREENING AND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY: EXPANDING ACCESS TO GREEN SPACES, REVITALIZING COMMUNITY GARDENS, AND PROVIDING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ACROSS OUR LEADERSHIP CENTERS -CLIMATE JUSTICE EDUCATION: FACILITATING BILINGUAL WORKSHOPS, SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS, AND YOUTH CAMPAIGNS ON CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS -SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE ADVOCACY: PARTNERING WITH RESIDENTS TO PUSH FOR JUST TRANSIT AND THE UNDOING OF RACIST INFRASTRUCTURES THAT HARM OUR COMMUNITIES. -COALITION WORK ACROSS THE CITY AND STATE TO PROMOTE CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. OUR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES ARE DESIGNED NOT ONLY TO IMPROVE MATERIAL CONDITIONS BUT TO STRENGTHEN BELONGING, INTERDEPENDENCE, AND COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP IN THE FACE OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION.WHETHER THROUGH PUBLIC SPACE ACTIVATIONS, COMMUNITY GATHERINGS, AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT SPEAK TO CLIMATE DISPLACEMENT, ADVOCATING FOR JUST ENERGY POLICY, OR ORGANIZING FOR LOCAL COMPOSTING, EL PUENTE'S ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WORK REAFFIRMS THAT THE FUTURE MUST BE SHAPED BY THOSE WHO LIVE IT.
- $865,823 spent. 3. ARTS IN FY'25, EL PUENTE FACILITATED ARTS ENGAGEMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ENGAGED OUR CADRE NETWORK IN INCUBATING CULTURAL ORGANIZING, AND FACILITATED A ROBUST PRESENTING SEASON AND CULTURAL EVENTS FOR THE BROOKLYN COMMUNITY AND BEYOND. AT THE HEART OF OUR APPROACH IS THE BELIEF THAT THE ARTS ARE NOT ONLY EXPRESSIVE BUT ALSO TRANSFORMATIVE. OUR ARTISTS USE THEIR CREATIVE PRACTICE TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE MOVEMENTS ALIGNED WITH EL PUENTE'S ACTION PLATFORM FOR COLLECTIVE SELF-DETERMINATION.OUR PROGRAMMING INCLUDES:YOUTH ARTS: OUR YOUTH COLLECTIVES BLEND PRE-PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN VISUAL,PERFORMING, AND DIGITAL ARTS WITH CULTURAL AND CIVIC EDUCATION. YOUNG PEOPLE EXCAVATE THEIR PERSONAL AND ANCESTRAL STORIES, CONFRONT SOCIETAL INJUSTICES, AND CREATE ORIGINAL WORKS THAT CAN LIVE BEYOND THE STAGE-ON THE STREETS, IN SCHOOLS, AND AT PUBLIC ACTIONS. YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGE IN SEASONAL PERFORMANCES, COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING, AND PUBLIC ACTIONS, STRENGTHENING THEIR VOICE AS BOTH ARTISTS AND CHANGEMAKERS.YOUTH ARE GUIDED AND SUPPORTED BY TEACHING ARTISTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZERS ACROSS EL PUENTE'S SITES WHO CO-DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT YOUTH-CENTERED,JUSTICE-ALIGNED ARTS PROGRAMS. CADRE (COMMUNITY ARTISTS' DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCE EXCHANGE)CADRE IS EL PUENTE'S INTERGENERATIONAL, BIPOC-LED NETWORK OF ARTISTS, ARTISANS, AND CULTURAL WORKERS COMMITTED TO LIBERATION THROUGH COMMUNITY, SHARED RESOURCES, AND THE INCUBATION OF NEW CULTURAL WORK. CADRE LEADS COMMUNITY INITIATIVES SUCH AS: -THE PEOPLE'S MIC, OPEN MICS CENTERING TRANSFORMATIVE STORYTELLING -THE CREATORS MARKET, SEASONAL EVENTS UPLIFTING THE WORK OF GLOBAL MAJORITY CREATORS AND ARTISANS IN LOS SURES, BUSHWICK, AND BEYOND. -THE SACRED CIRCLE SERIES AND CREATIVE LABS, OFFERING HEALING AND GENERATIVE SPACES FOR ARTISTS AS COMMUNITY BUILDERS
- $862,107 spent. 4. TRAINING & EDUCATIONEL PUENTE MODELS THE WHOLE STUDENT, WHOLE SCHOOL, WHOLE COMMUNITY APPROACH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MS50 COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND EL PUENTE ACADEMY FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE. OUR GLOBAL JUSTICE INSTITUTE CODIFIES 40 YEARS OF PEDAGOGY FOR CAPACITY BUILDING IN SOCIAL JUSTICE FRAMEWORKS. OUR SCHOOLS PRACTICE OUR BELIEF IN HOLISTIC AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION, UNDERSTANDING THAT PARENT ENGAGEMENT, ORGANIZING, AND SUPPORT ARE CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF STUDENTS' HOLISTIC SUCCESS. THIS FISCAL YEAR, THIS HAS PROVEN TRUE ONCE AGAIN AS WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT A GROWING NUMBER OF NEWLY ARRIVED STUDENTS WHO ARE THRIVING IN OUR SCHOOLS. GLOBAL JUSTICE INSTITUTE (GJI)THE GJI IS EL PUENTE'S RESEARCH AND TRAINING HUB, CODIFYING FOUR DECADES OF PRAXIS INTO TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. IT OFFERS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL TRAINING GROUNDED IN PEACE, JUSTICE, AND CULTURAL ORGANIZING, PUBLISHING TOOLS ACROSS AREAS INCLUDING EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND THE ARTS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1987.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.
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