Architectural League of New York
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ARCHITECTURAL LEAGUE OF NEW YORK SUPPORTS CRITICALLY TRANSFORMATIVE WORK IN THE ALLIED FIELDS THAT SHAPE THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. AS A VITAL, INDEPENDENT FORUM, THE LEAGUE STIMULATES THINKING, DEBATE, AND ACTION ON TODAY'S (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) CONVERGING CRISES OF RACISM, INEQUITY, AND CLIMATE CHANGE, IN SERVICE OF A MORE LIVABLE AND JUST WORLD.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $2.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- -1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 91
- Highest pay
- $200,516, executive director
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: 48 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2541 of 41 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 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 (4)
- $573,927 spent. INNOVATING RESEARCH AND PROGRAMMING:THE LEAGUE FREQUENTLY PARTNERS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND TEAMS WORKING ON IMPORTANT TOPICS IN ARCHITECTURE, TO SUPPORT THEIR WORK, FACILITATE SUPPORT FOR THEIR RESEARCH AND CREATIVE PROJECTS, AND INCREASE KNOWLEDGE IN THE DISCIPLINES OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN. PROJECTS RANGE ACROSS A VERY WIDE SPECTRUM OF CONTEMPORARY AND HISTORICAL AREAS OF INTEREST IN ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN, AND PLANNING, FROM ENCOURAGING THE CAREERS OF YOUNG DESIGNERS FROM COMMUNITIES UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE DESIGN PROFESSIONS, TO INNOVATIVE EXPLORATIONS OF HOW TO REDUCE WASTE AND RECYCLE RESOURCES IN THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROCESS.
- $373,097 spent. LECTURE SERIES AND COMPETITIONS:PUBLIC LECTURES AND COMPETITIONS THAT IDENTIFY AND PRESENT THE WORK AND IDEAS OF SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED INDIVIDUALS AND FIRMS PRACTICING ARCHITECTURE IN NEW YORK CITY, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE WORLD COMPRISE A CENTRAL PART OF THE ARCHITECTURAL LEAGUE'S ACTIVITIES. PROGRAMS WITH A SUBSTANTIAL NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PROFILE INCLUDE THE LEAGUE PRIZE FOR YOUNG ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS; EMERGING VOICES; AND THE CURRENT WORK SERIES OF LECTURES BY ARCHITECTS, DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS, AND ARTISTS OF INTERNATIONAL STATURE. AFTER HOURS OFFER PRESENTATIONS AND TOURS OF ARCHITECTURAL OFFICES AND PROJECTS, TO INTRODUCE AUDIENCES TO THE WIDE VARIETY OF WAYS OF ORGANIZING CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE. THESE PROGRAMS ARE (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) CONTEXTUALIZED WITH SIGNIFICANT DIGITAL EDITORIAL CONTENT, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL AND FIRM PROFILES, INTERVIEWS, AND SPECIALLY DESIGNED DIGITAL PRESENTATIONS OF DESIGN WORK. IN FY25 THE LEAGUE MAINTAINED ITS VERY ACTIVE PROGRAM SCHEDULE, USING BOTH IN-PERSON AND ONLINE PROGRAM FORMATS.
- $355,329 spent. URBAN OMNIBUS ONLINE PUBLICATION:THE LEAGUE'S AWARD-WINNING ONLINE PUBLICATION, URBAN OMNIBUS, RAISES NEW QUESTIONS, ILLUMINATES DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, AND DOCUMENTS CREATIVE PROJECTS TO ADVANCE THE COLLECTIVE WORK OF CITYMAKING, CHALLENGING ITS READERS TO EXPAND THEIR CAPACITY TO SEE, UNDERSTAND, AND SHAPE NEW YORK CITY. UO IS FREE TO ALL READERS, AND ITS TOPICS AND PERSPECTIVES ARE RELEVANT TO CITIES EVERYWHERE. URBAN OMNIBUS'S EDITORIAL APPROACH ACCOMMODATES DIFFERENT READING HABITS AND EXPLORES TOPICS WITH A BALANCE OF BREADTH AND DEPTH. MULTI-PART, TOPICAL, CROSS-DISCIPLINARY SERIES DEEPLY ENGAGE COMPLEX TOPICS, STANDALONE FEATURES, IN VARIOUS FORMATS, AND BY INDIVIDUALS RANGING FROM HISTORIANS TO ARTISTS TO GEOGRAPHERS TO (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)ARCHITECTS TO ACTIVISTS, EXAMINE THE PRACTICES, SKILLS, INSTITUTIONS, AND GEOGRAPHICAL ARRANGEMENTS THAT SHAPE THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND EXPERIENCE OF THE CITY. ALL FEATURES HAVE A LONG LIFE ONLINE, AND ARE OFTEN ACCESSED BY STUDENTS, TEACHERS, RESEARCHERS, AND ALL KINDS OF CITYMAKERS LONG AFTER THEIR ORIGINAL PUBLICATION.
- $365,813 spent. OTHER LEAGUE PROGRAMS ADDRESS URGENT ISSUES IN HOW THE DESIGN DISCIPLINES ARE CONSTITUTED AND FUNCTION IN SOCIETY. THE LEAGUE'S MENTORSHIP PROGRAM WORKS WITH SCHOOLS THAT SERVE A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS FROM BACKGROUNDS UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE DESIGN DISCIPLINES, TO HELP INTRODUCE STUDENTS TO ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE, AND TO PROVIDE PRACTICAL AND STRATEGIC ADVICE AS STUDENTS START THEIR CAREERS. AS PART OF ITS STRONG ONGOING COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING THE CAPACITY OF ARCHITECTS TO RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHANGE, THE LEAGUE CATALYZED THE DEVELOPMENT OF AND CONTINUES TO WORK WITH THE US BRANCH OF THE GLOBAL ARCHITECTS DECLARE MOVEMENT, WHICH SEEKS, THROUGH INFORMATION SHARING AND COLLECTIVE ACTION, TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF PRACTICE AND PROVIDE TOOLS FOR EFFECTIVE ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE, BIODIVERSITY LOSS, AND SOCIAL INJUSTICE.
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
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 June 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 December 1947.
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.
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