Hudson Link for Higher Education in
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROMOTE HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR INCARCERATED PERSONS IN NEW YORK STATE, TO HELP THEM PREPARE FOR MORE CONSTRUCTIVE AND MEANINGFUL LIVES NOW AND UPON REENTERING SOCIETY, TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF HOW EDUCATION IN PRISON OPERATES TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM, IMPROVE REHABILITATION, AND REDUCE TOTAL COST TO SOCIETY.
- Income
- $5.7 million
- Spending
- $5.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 64%
- Reserves
- 0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 25
- Volunteers
- 39
- Highest pay
- $227,583, 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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1564% 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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
7 of 7Has a 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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 (3)
- $1.8 million spent. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERED CREDIT CLASSES TO ENROLLED INDIVIDUALS AT SING SING CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, SULLIVAN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, TACONIC CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, GREENE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, GREEN HAVEN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, AND SHAWANGUNK CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. A TOTAL OF 226 CREDIT CLASSES WERE OFFERED.
- $1.1 million spent. TO ASSIST WITH STUDENTS' ONGOING SUCCESS AND MANAGE THEIR TRANSITION TO LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE PRISON SYSTEM THROUGH TRAINING, JOB READINESS PROGRAMS, WORKSHOPS, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, HOUSING, AND CASE MANAGEMENT.
- $454,619 spent. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION RAN SEVERAL INITIATIVES FOR THE BENEFIT OF HUDSON LINK STUDENTS AND ALUMNI BEYOND THE DEGREE-GRANTING COLLEGE PROGRAMS AND TRANSITIONAL SUPPORTS. THESE PROJECTS INCLUDED ADVOCACY TRAININGS AND ENRICHMENT WORKSHOPS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND LEADERSHIP, PRODUCTION OF THE "BEYOND THE BLOCK" EVENT AT SING SING CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, AND FACILITATION OF THE 2024 RISE UP CONFERENCE.
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 March 2001.
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.