Friends of the Upper East Side Historic District Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE UPPER EAST SIDE AND OTHER AREAS OF NEW YORK CITY THROUGH SUPPORTING HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND APPROPRIATE URBAN PLANNING, TO ASSIST BLOCK ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND URBAN PLANNING, TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND APPROPRIATE URBAN DESIGN AND ABOUT THE RELATED LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE WITH AND TO SEEK ENORCEMENT OF THE LANDMARK LAW IN THE UPPER EAST SIDE HISTORIC DISTRICTS, TO PROMOTE HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND URBAN PLANNING GENERALLY, AND TO CONDUCT ANY AND ALL OTHER ACTIVITIES AS SHALL FROM TIME TO TIME BE FOUND APPROPRIATE IN CONNECTION WITH THE FOREGOING AS ARE LAWFUL FOR NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS.
- Income
- $676,605
- Spending
- $544,612
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 10.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 0
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 73% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2526 of 26 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
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $398,031 spent. THE FRIENDS OF THE UPPER EAST SIDE HISTORIC DISTRICTS, INC. (THE ORGANIZATION") PROTECTS AND ENHANCES THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE UPPER EAST SIDE HISTORIC DISTRICTS IN MANHATTAN. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SUPPORTS HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND URBAN PLANNING.
- $1,947 spent. THE ORGANIZATION'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS HAVE TAUGHT SCHOOL CHILDREN HOW TO "READ" A BUILDING. THEY LEARN ABOUT STOOPS, CORNICES, LINTELS AND PEDIMENTS. IN ADDITION THEY LEARN THE HISTORY OF THEIR SCHOOL NEIGBORHOOD.
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
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.
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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1984.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.