Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Make the Road New York

EIN 11-3344389 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK (MRNY) BUILDS THE POWER OF IMMIGRANT AND WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES TO ACHIEVE DIGNITY AND JUSTICE.

Income
$29.7 million
Spending
$30.0 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
11.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 55%
Employees
247
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$211,516, co - executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 24 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (7)
  1. $7.1 million spent. HIGH QUALITY LEGAL AND HEALTH ACCESS SERVICES - OUR LEGAL TEAM PROVIDES LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME NEW YORKERS. OUR HEALTH TEAM PROVIDES HEALTH ACCESS SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME NEW YORKERS.
  2. $4.6 million spent. HIGH QUALITY LEGAL AND HEALTH ACCESS SERVICES, AND WORK TO CHANGE UNJUST SYSTEMS THROUGH IMPACT LITIGATION, POLICY DESIGN, AND WORKING SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH MEMBERS AND ORGANIZERS ON ADOPTION OF THOSE POLICIES. OUR LEGAL TEAM WORKS IN THE AREA OF EMPLOYMENT, IMMIGRATION LAW, HOUSING AND BENEFITS AND TGNCIQ RIGHTS, HELPING TO TACKLE CRISES LIKE AN IMPENDING EVICTION OR AN ORDER OF DEPORTATION. OUR HEALTH TEAM WORKS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE SO THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN ACCESS HEALTHCARE SERVICES, AVOID CRUSHING MEDICAL DEBT AND ACCESS NUTRITION. THANKS TO THE TRUST WE BUILD WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE ARE OFTEN ABLE TO AVERT CRISES BEFORE THEY SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL AND ENSURE THAT ALL MEMBERS OF A FAMILY GET SERVICES THEY NEED TO THRIVE OVER THE LONG TERM. OUR ATTORNEYS AND ADVOCATES TAKE THE KNOWLEDGE OF OVERARCHING ISSUES GLEANED FROM THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUAL CASES AND USE THEM TO DESIGN ENFORCEABLE AND FAR-REACHING POLICIES, WORKING SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZERS TO SECURE THEIR ADOPTION. WE ALSO MONITOR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO ENSURE GOOD IMPLEMENTATION, PROVIDING REAL-TIME, ON-THE-GROUND FEEDBACK.
  3. $4.6 million spent. HEALTH PROGRAMS - THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROMOTES THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH HEALTH ACCESS SERVICES.
  4. $1.1 million spent. SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS
  5. $1.4 million spent. YOUTH Education
  6. $3.2 million spent. Adult Education
  7. YOUTH POWER PROJECT & SCHOOL PROGRAMS - WE SUPPORT AND EMPOWER low-income YOUNG PEOPLE WITH PEER-LED COLLEGE ACCESS SUPPORT, CREATIVE ARTS AND MEDIA PROGRAMS AND MORE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1998.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.