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City Relief Inc

EIN 11-2974154 · Clifton, NJ

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CITY RELIEF PROVIDES FRESH, NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND ESSENTIAL CARE ITEMS TO INDIVIDUALS IN NEED; AS WELL AS CREATING INDIVIDUALIZED ACTION PLANS INCLUDING CONNECTIONS TO PROGRAMS,OFFERING SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT.

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$6.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
45
Volunteers
598
Highest pay
$124,333, coo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (3)
  1. $5.1 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1989 ON THE SIMPLE PREMISE THAT ALL HUMAN BEINGS HAVE UNSURPASSABLE WORTH, CITY RELIEF PROVIDES EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEF, SOCKS, TOILETRIES, MASKS, ACCESS TO CARE, AND CARE COORDINATION/REFERRAL SERVICES AS AN ACCREDITED NEW YORK CITY HRA PROVIDER AND A MEMBER OF THE PASSAIC COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE.
  2. CITY RELIEF'S PIONEERING APPROACH HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO GO TO ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, TYPICALLY WHERE UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS ARE ALREADY CONGREGATING, AND PROVIDE FRESH, HOT, NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND ESSENTIAL CARE ITEMS AS A MEANS OF BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, CREATING INDIVIDUALIZED ACTION PLANS INCLUDING CONNECTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS IN NEED TO PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP THEM, AND OFFERING HOLISTIC SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT ALONG THE WAY THAT YIELDS IMPROVEMENTS IN OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE AND WELLBEING.
  3. CITY RELIEFS LONG-TERM VISION IS TO CREATE A REALITY WHERE EVERY INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND ECONOMIC INSECURITY IN THE NYC METRO AREA KNOWS THEIR VALUE, HAS ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO THRIVE PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, SOCIALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY AND HAS HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.

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.