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National Urban League Inc

EIN 13-1840489 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak46 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE URBAN LEAGUE IS A NONPARTISAN, CIVIL RIGHTS AND COMMUNITY-BASED MOVEMENT THAT SERVES OVER TWO MILLION PEOPLE EACH YEAR, PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES, RESEARCH, AND POLICY ADVOCACY TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL. PRIMARILY WORKING WITH AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND OTHER EMERGING ETHNIC COMMUNITIES, THE LEAGUE'S NETWORK OF OVER 100 PROFESSIONALLY STAFFED AFFILIATES IN OVER 36 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ACROSS THE NATION WORKS TO CLOSE EQUALITY GAPS FOR PEOPLE AT ALL ECONOMIC LEVELS AND STAGES OF LIFE, AND GIVES CITIZENS A CHANCE TO GIVE BACK AS VOLUNTEERS.

Income
$87.1 million
Spending
$109.1 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 41%
Employees
158
Volunteers
52
Highest pay
$1.3 million, president and ceo

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

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    42 of 43 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, 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 (6)
  1. $57.1 million spent. ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT INVESTS IN THE FINANCIAL LITERACY AND EMPLOYABILITY OF ADULTS THROUGH JOB TRAINING, HOMEOWNERSHIP COUNSELING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUPPORT.
  2. $17.2 million spent. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP EMPOWERMENT ENCOURAGE ALL PEOPLE TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS AND PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVES.
  3. $7.8 million spent. EDUCATION AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT ENSURE THE EDUCATION OF ALL CHILDREN BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND COLLEGE PREPARATION.
  4. $5.1 million spent. HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE EMPOWERMENT ENCOURAGES ALL PEOPLE TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN IMPROVING THEIR WELLNESS AND QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN PREVENTATIVE MEASURES, HEALTH LITERACY PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS, AND PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVES.
  5. $3.1 million spent. NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE AFFILIATES OFFER SERVICES IN 36 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO OVER 350 COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THESE PROFESSIONALLY STAFFED OFFICES ARE WHERE NUL SERVICES COME TO LIFE: WHERE PEOPLE AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS GROW, CHANGE, AND ARE STRENGTHENED. THE LEAGUE'S AFFILIATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT GOAL IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND TRAINING TO AFFILIATE CEOS, BOARDS, STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS TO INCREASE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEAGUE'S MISSION, AND TO ENHANCE THEIR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND EFFECTIVENESS.
  6. $577,265 spent. CIVIL RIGHTS AND RACIAL JUSTICE EMPOWERMENT GUARANTEES EQUAL PARTICIPATION IN ALL FACETS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY THROUGH PROACTIVE PUBLIC POLICIES AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS.

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 December 1925.

    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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