Chhaya Community Development
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CHHAYA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION CHHAYA WAS FOUNDED IN 2000 INCORPORATED IN 2001 TO ADVOCATE FOR THE HOUSING NEEDS OF NEW YORK CITYS SOUTH ASIAN ORIGIN COMMUNITIES. CHHAYAS MISSION IS TO BUILD THE POWER, HOUSING STABILITY, AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF SOUTH ASIAN AND INDO-CARRIBEAN COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK CITY.
- Income
- $6.2 million
- Spending
- $3.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 18.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 62%
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $273,640, 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 18.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 72% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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 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 (5)
- $939,536 spent. HOUSING JUSTICE AIMS AT PROTECTING, PRESERVING, AND PROMOTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEW YORK CITYS LOW-TO-MODERATE-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS. CHHAYA PROVIDES DIRECT SERVICE COUNSELING TO FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS AND TENANTS REQUIRING SUPPORT. CHHAYA ORGANIZES COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SUPPORT ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO PROTECT, PRESERVE AND PROMOTE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEW YORK CITY.
- $548,205 spent. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WORKS TO EDUCATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING HELPING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO VOTE, ENCOURAGING VOTERS TO GET OUT THE VOTE, HOLDING CANDIDATE FORUMS TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY THE ABILITY TO ASK QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE, AND ADVOCATING FOR REGULATIONS THAT MAKE IT EASIER FOR IMMIGRANTS TO VOTE.
- $483,026 spent. ECONOMIC JUSTICEAIMS TO PROVIDE ITS CLIENTS WITH THE TOOLS AND INFORMATION THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE THROUGH CAREER DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL CAPABILITY, AND ASSET BUILDING. THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH FINANCIAL COUNSELING, EDUCATION, FREE TAX PREP SUPPORT, LENDING CIRCLE, AND OTHER RELATED PROGRAMS.
- Program Service Expenses 299,239, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 55,082 IMMIGRATIONPROVIDE SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS LOOKING FOR IMMIGRANT LEGAL SERVICES BY CONNECTING THEM TO AN ATTORNEY THAT CAN GUIDE AND REPRESENT THE MEMBER AND HELPING THEM NAVIGATE THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS.
- Program Service Expenses 334,167, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 185,035 SMALL BUSINESS WORKS WITH NEW YORK CITYS SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITIES TO IDENTIFY SHARED NEEDS AND ISSUES, AND ALSO WORKS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, LEADERS, AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS ON INITIATIVES AND EVENTS TO ADDRESS THOSE GROWING NEEDS.
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
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 December 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 September 2001.
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.
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.