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Design Trust for Public Space Inc

EIN 13-3884881 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Design Trust for Public Space is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the future of public space in New York City. Our projects bring together city agencies, community groups and private sector experts to make a lasting impact - through design - on how New Yorkers live, work and play.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
7
Highest pay
$147,602, executive dir.

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: 57 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 77% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 (9)
  1. $429,268 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMThe Design Trust for Public Space is dedicated to the future of public space in New York City. Their projects bring together city agencies, community groups and private sector experts to make a lasting impact through design on how New Yorkers live, work and play.
  2. $152,810 spent. GREEN SPACE CONNECTIONSGREEN SPACE CONNECTIONS IS A COLLABORATION WITH THE PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITY FUND AND THE NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY (NYCHA) TO CREATE AND ACTIVATE COMMUNITY-DESIGNED GREEN SPACE AT FOUR NYCHA PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS FOR 14,000 RESIDENTS IN BROOKLYN AND THE BRONX.IN 2024, ONE DEVELOPMENT HELD A GROUNDBREAKING EVENT FOR A NEW DOG RUN, TWO DEVELOPMENTS ENTERED THE PROCUREMENT PHASE, AND THE FOURTH DEVELOPMENT ENTERED THE DESIGN PHASE OF THE PROJECT.
  3. $89,855 spent. OPENING THE EDGEOpening the Edge is a project of the Design Trust, in partnership with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA); proposed by Artist Jane Greengold to create a new public space in an underutilized grassy area of Lillian Wald Houses on the Lower East Side. In Fall 2024, we hosted a community kickoff event with Wald residents, NYCHA, Council Member Rivera, and the Design Trust team. We hired our contractor for the project and began working with them to align the project with the budget.
  4. $44,455 spent. PHOTO URBANISMTHE PHOTO URBANISM PROGRAM OFFERS FELLOWSHIPS TO LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHERS TO CREATE A NEW BODY OF WORK ILLUMINATING THE PUBLIC SPACES OF NYC. ON THE GREEN SPACE CONNECTIONS PROJECT TEAM, OUR PHOTO URBANISM FELLOW LATRICIA MORGAN EXPLORES NYCHAS OPEN SPACES AND THE POWER OF RESIDENT-LED COMMUNITY ORGANIZING. THE FINAL EXHIBITION, NYCHA FLOWERS", DOCUMENTS THE INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY AT NYCHA THROUGH PORTRAITURE, BRINGING A LENS OF LUXURY TO HER SUBJECTS AND UPLIFTING THE BEATIFUL BLOOM AND GROWTH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT, COMBINING MIXED-MEDIA AND TEXTURE.IN 2024, DESIGN TRUST HELD A MONTH-LONG FINAL EXHIBITION OF LATRICIA MORGAN'S PHOTOGRAPHS, TITLED "NYCHA FLOWERS", AT THE BRONX COUNCIL ON THE ARTS.
  5. $40,501 spent. THE NEURODIVERSE CITYTHE NEURODIVERSE CITY SEEKS TO CELEBRATE AND SUPPORT NEURODIVERSITY BY BUILDING A BROAD-BASED COALITION OF SELF-ADVOCATES AND PARTNERS, IDENTIFYING WAYS TO QUANTIFY AND QUALIFY NEUROINCLUSIVE SPACE, PROTOTYPE TACTICAL IMPROVEMENTS AND ADVOCATE FOR MEANINGFUL POLICY CHANGE IN KEY AREAS WHERE THESE IDEAS CAN BE SCALED AND BROADENED.IN 2024, THE PROJECT TEAM CONDUCTED SITE AUDITS AND CO-DESIGNED WORKSHOPS AT THE PROJECT SITES THAT INCLUDED A STREETSCAPE AND PLAYGROUND. THESE THE FINDINGS WILL BE USED TO DESIGN PROTOTYPES FOR MORE INCLUSIVE PRACTICES THAT SUPPORT THE GREATEST RANGE OF PHYSICAL AND NEUROLOGICAL DIFFERENCES.
  6. $35,475 spent. NEW YORK CITY DESIGN
  7. $26,450 spent. RESTORATIVE CITY
  8. $18,306 spent. TURNOUT NYC
  9. $6,496 spent. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMONS

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 September 1996.

    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.