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Project for Public Spaces Inc

EIN 13-2808114 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES, INC. IS A NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO HELPING PEOPLE CREATE AND SUSTAIN PUBLIC SPACES THAT BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
-2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
13
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$159,690, co-executive director

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 74% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 (2)
  1. $1.9 million spent. PLACEMAKING PROGRAM:THE PLACEMAKING PROGRAM AIMS TO CENTER THE NEEDS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS IN THE CREATION AND IMPROVEMENT PUBLIC SPACES. IN 2024, OUR TEAM COMPLETED SEVERAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECTS ACROSS THE USA, INCLUDING, AS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY PLACEMAKING GRANTS, WORKING WITH 14 PUBLIC SPACE STEWARDS TO IMPROVE A PUBLIC SPACE IN THEIR COMMUNITY BY UPLIFTING LOCAL VOICES IN THEIR DESIGN, PROGRAMMING, AND MANAGEMENT. THE 4TH INTERNATIONAL PLACEMAKING WEEK IN BALTIMORE, CO-HOSTED WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN CENTER, BROUGHT TOGETHER OVER 600 ATTENDEES FROM 11 COUNTRIES AND 195 CITIES IN JUNE. 29 PLACEMAKING ROUNDUP NEWSLETTERS WERE PUBLISHED AND 300 PEOPLE ATTENDED OUR PLACEMAKING TRAININGS.
  2. $219,153 spent. MARKET CITIES:THE MARKET CITIES PROGRAM STRENGTHENS THE REGIONAL SYSTEMS BEHIND THE MARKET STALLS, CONNECTING AND SUPPORTING A DIVERSE SET OF STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH RESEARCH, SPECIALIZED TRAINING, AND A NETWORK OF PEERS. IN 2024, THE TEAM WORKED ON PROJECTS WITH GROWNYC GREENMARKET AND OMAHA, NE, AND THE MARKET CITIES NETWORK, A FORUM THAT BRINGS TOGETHER MARKET LEADERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, CELEBRATED ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY, GROWING BY 46% TO INCLUDE 50 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS WORLDWIDE. 26 BIWEEKLY BAZAAR NEWSLETTERS WERE PUBLISHED AND 43 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE HOW TO CREATE SUCCESSFUL MARKETS TRAINING.

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 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 September 1975.

    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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