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South Asian Council for Social Serv Ices Inc

EIN 11-3632920 · Flushing, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 2000, THE SOUTH ASIAN COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICES (SACSS) IS A COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT EMPOWERING MORE THAN 300,000 UNDERSERVED NEW YORKERS EACH YEAR. LOCATED IN FLUSHING, QUEENS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O).SACSS'S MISSION IS TO INTEGRATE SOUTH ASIANS AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES INTO THE CIVIC AND ECONOMIC FABRIC OF NEW YORK CITY THROUGH EQUITABLE ACCESS TO VITAL RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES. SACSS PROVIDES HEALTHCARE ACCESS, FOOD JUSTICE THROUGH ITS CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE FOOD PANTRY, SENIOR WELLNESS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT, YOUTH LEADERSHIP, LEGAL GUIDANCE, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. COMMITTED TO INCLUSION, SACSS PROVIDES ALL SERVICES IN MORE THAN 20 LANGUAGES, ENSURING THAT EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND OR LANGUAGE CAN ACCESS THE TOOLS AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO THRIVE.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$4.4 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
11.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
25
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$180,033, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 25

    10 of 10 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

    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 December 31, 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)
  1. $3.7 million spent. THE PRIMARY ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE(PRE AND POST ENROLLMENT), FOOD SECURITY, JOB READINESS, SENIOR SERVICES, EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING COMPUTER LITERACY AND ESOL CLASSES, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES. SACSS ASSISTS OVER 200,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY, AND HAS STAFF THAT SPEAK OVER 20 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES TO MEET THE CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC NEEDS OF OUR DIVERSE CLIENTELE. FOOD SECURITY - THE SACSS FOOD PANTRY PROVIDES NUTRITIOUS, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE GROCERIES TO MORE THAN 2,200 FAMILIES EVERY WEEK. OPEN EVERY WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, THE PANTRY OFFERS BOTH IMMEDIATE RELIEF AND LONG-TERM FOOD SECURITY TO NEW YORKERS IN NEED. REFLECTING THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR PANTRY STOCKS ITEMS THAT HONOR CULTURAL AND DIETARY TRADITIONS SUCH AS OIL, RICE, LENTILS, SPICES, ETC. IN 2025, SACSS DISTRIBUTED OVER 5 MILLION POUNDS OF GROCERIES, REACHING MORE THAN 7,100 FAMILIES APPROXIMATELY 28,000 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES OR CHRONIC ILLNESSES, WHO RECEIVED HOME DELIVERIES. HEALTHCARE ACCESS - THE HEALTHCARE ACCESS TEAM AT SACSS HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES NAVIGATE, UNDERSTAND, AND MAXIMIZE THEIR HEALTHCARE BENEFITS IN PERSON OR BY PHONE, IN ANY OF THE ORGANIZATION'S 20 LANGUAGES. SACSS ASSISTS COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN CONNECTING WITH LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES, INCLUDING MANAGED LONG TERM CARE, ADULT DAY CARE, AND NURSING HOMES, THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDEPENDENT CONSUMER ADVOCACY NETWORK (ICAN). BEYOND INSURANCE, SACSS SUPPORTS ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL PUBLIC BENEFITS SUCH AS SNAP, ACCESS-A-RIDE, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND LOW-FARE METROCARDS. IN 2025, SACSS ENROLLED 2,120 INDIVIDUALS IN HEALTH INSURANCEINCLUDING MEDICAID, CHILD HEALTH PLUS, FAMILY HEALTH PLUS, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND CHARITY CAREAND PROVIDED POST-ENROLLMENT SUPPORT TO 2,435 INDIVIDUALS. ITS HEALTHCARE OUTREACH REACHED OVER 78,000 PEOPLE ACROSS NEW YORK CITY IN 2025. SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES - SACSS OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT TO HELP SENIORS LEAD HEALTHY, INDEPENDENT, AND SOCIALLY CONNECTED LIVES. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, AND INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS ON TOPICS SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH, HEALTHY EATING, COMBATING ISOLATION, AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, OFTEN IN A VARIETY OF SOUTH ASIAN LANGUAGES. SENIORS CAN ALSO ENJOY THE TWICE-WEEKLY SENIOR CENTER, HOSTING RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES LIKE ART CLASSES, COLLAGE-MAKING, HEALTH RELATED DISCUSSIONS, YOGA, ZOOMBA, AND NUTRITIOUS MEALS. SACSS CONNECTS SENIORS TO VITAL PUBLIC BENEFITS, INCLUDING MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAM, MEDICAID, SNAP, SSI, ACCESS-A-RIDE, SCRIE, DRIE, AND SENIOR METROCARDS, ASSISTING WITH APPLICATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS. IN 2025, SACSS SERVED 27,000 SENIORS THROUGH WELLNESS CALLS, 104 SENIOR CENTER DAYS ENGAGING AN AVERAGE OF 35 PARTICIPANTS, WORKSHOPS, COUNSELING, BENEFITS ASSISTANCE, AND SIX SENIOR OUTDOOR TRIPS. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, SUMMER YOUTH LEADERSHIP, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - SACSS EMPOWERS COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH A RANGE OF PROGRAMS THAT BUILD SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION. ITS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OFFERINGS INCLUDE FREE BASIC AND ADVANCED ESOL CLASSES, COMPUTER LITERACY COURSES, AND THE STITCH WITH SACSS TAILORING PROGRAM, WHICH EQUIPS UNDERSERVED WOMEN WITH SKILLS AND TOOLS TO ACHIEVE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. PROGRAMS LIKE WEDNESDAYS FOR WOMEN FOCUS ON EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING THROUGH YOGA, MINDFULNESS, AND PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT. SACSS'S SUMMER YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM ENGAGES MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN COMMUNICATION, CREATIVE WRITING, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND COLLEGE READINESS. THROUGH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, IN 2025, SACSS ASSISTED 135 INDIVIDUALS WITH REGISTRATION AND REACHED 105,250 PEOPLE IN VOTER OUTREACH.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 November 6, 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 2025.

    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 November 2003.

    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 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.