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South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation

EIN 13-2736022 · Bronx, NY

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak32 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE SOUTH BRONX BY STRENGTHENING BUSINESSES AND CREATING INNOVATIVE ECONOMIC, HOUSING, EDUCATIONAL, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS. SOBRO WAS FOUNDED IN 1972 BY A GROUP OF BUSINESS EXECUTIVES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. OUR TASK WAS URGENT: REVERSE THE FLIGHT OF BUSINESSES AND JOBS FROM THE SOUTH BRONX. IT WAS THE FIRST AND MOST FUNDAMENTAL STEP TOWARD REBUILDING A COMMUNITY WHOSE NAME EVOKED IMAGES OF BURNED BUILDINGS, CRIME, POVERTY AND DRUGS. BUT AS SOBRO BEGAN TO EVOLVE, IT BECAME CLEARER THAT COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION REQUIRED A MULTI-FACETED EFFORT. TODAY, WE ADDRESS ALL ASPECTS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: ASSISTING BUSINESSES TO GET STARTED AND GROW, TRAINING RESIDENTS ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS OF EMPLOYERS, OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO LEARN AND DEVELOP, AND CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL SPACES THAT REVERSE BLIGHT IN THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$5.3 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
-1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 98%
Employees
0
Volunteers
15

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 32 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 85% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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.

  • 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, 2023, 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)
  1. $1.2 million spent. THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PROVIDED AFTER-SCHOOL SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT, AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH SERVICES TO 2,100 YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 5 AND 24. IN-SCHOOL AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS ASSISTED A TOTAL OF 1,040 ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH HOMEWORK AND TUTORING, COLLEGE PREPARATION, ARTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. ADDITIONALLY, SUMMER INTERNSHIPS WERE PROVIDED TO OVER 700 YOUTH THROUGH OUR SYEP PROGRAM AND 179 FOR SYEP/WLH PROGRAM DURING THE WINTER. PARTICIPANTS WERE PROVIDED ACADEMIC SUPPORT, CAREER AWARENESS TRAINING, WORK SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING. THE SOBRO TRANSFORMATION ACADEMY, WHICH IS A COMBINATION OF THE YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM AND YOUNG ADULT JUSTICE SCHOLARS PROGRAM, SERVES AT-RISK YOUNG ADULTS TO EARN THEIR HSE AND OBTAIN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION/JOB PLACEMENT.
  2. $358,604 spent. SOBRO HAS MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE DEVELOPING AND MANAGING COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, EVIDENCED BY OUR PORTFOLIO OF OVER 450 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE AND MARKET RATE HOUSING AND OVER 120,000 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND OFFICE SPACE IN THE BRONX AND UPPER MANHATTAN. SOBRO'S HOUSING DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS INCLUDE REHABILITATING EXISTING BUILDINGS AND CREATING NEW BUILDINGS IN VACANT SPACE TO TRANSFORM BLIGHTING INFLUENCES INTO BEAUTIFUL AND VIABLE SPACES FOR LIVING AND WORKING. ONE OF SOBRO'S GOALS AND PART OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOMENT IS TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF RENTAL HOUSING FOR LOW AND MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES. TO THIS END, WE BUILD NEW HOUSING, REHABILITATE VACANT PROPERTIES, AND PREVENT DETERIORATING HOUSING STOCK FROM BECOMING ABANDONED.
  3. $58,206 spent. IN FY2023, SOBRO PROVIDED CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO HUNDRED OF INDIVIDUALS, PLACING THEM INTO EMPLOYMENT AND DELIVERING JOB-READINESS TRAINING, WHICH INCLUDED A CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING COMPONENT AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATION IN CUSTOMER SERVICE. SOBRO'S OUTCOMES FOR ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES HAVE CONSISTENTLY SURPASSED PROGRAM EVALUATION TARGETS.
  4. $525,519 spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2023, 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? Caution.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2023. Organizations that miss three years of returns lose their exemption.

    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 August 1973.

    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.

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.