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French Institute-Alliance Francaise

EIN 13-1624099 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak32 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE FRENCH LANGUAGE CLASSES AND PRESENT FRANCOPHONE CULTURAL AND ARTS PROGRAMMING.

Income
$15.3 million
Spending
$18.0 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
-7.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
246
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$366,236, president

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

Weak: 32 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 81% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    39 of 39 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 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 (5)
  1. $7.0 million spent. LANGUAGE CENTER - THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A LANGUAGE CENTER THAT PROVIDES FRENCH CLASSES FOR STUDENTS STARTING FROM 1-YEAR OLD TODDLERS TO ADULTS, IN ITS HEADQUARTERS IN MANHATTAN, IN ITS BRANCH IN MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, AND ONLINE. THE REGULAR SCHEDULE OF GROUP CLASSES RUNS AT LEAST 40 WEEKS A YEAR; IT IS COMPLEMENTED WITH MORE FLEXIBLE OPTIONS SUCH AS PRIVATE OR CORPORATE CLASSES OPTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES LICENSED PRESCHOOLS WITH TWO CLASSROOMS IN MANHATTAN AND TWO CLASSROOMS IN MONTCLAIR.
  2. $1.3 million spent. EVENT MANAGEMENT/RENTAL - THESE ARE MULTI-PURPOSE FACILITIES USED FOR PRESENTING DANCE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS, MUSIC AND FILMS, AS WELL AS EVENTS SERVING A WIDE RANGE OF INDUSTRIES.
  3. $3.0 million spent. PROGRAMMING/TICKET SALES - THE PROGRAMMING DEPARTMENT PRODUCES VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITS, PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTATIONS (DANCE/ THEATER/ MUSIC) AND FILM SCREENINGS RELATED TO FRENCH AND FRANCOPHONE CULTURE.
  4. $293,185 spent. MEMBERSHIP FEES - THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS FRENCH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE ENRICHING EXPERIENCES.
  5. $330,169 spent. LIBRARY SERVICES - THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS A SIZEABLE LIBRARY COLLECTION OF FRENCH LANGUAGE BOOKS AND OFFERS LITERARY EVENTS FOR ITS COMMUNITY.

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

  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 June 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 October 1937.

    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.

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