Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

United Methodist City Society

EIN 13-5562419 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 101 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

see schedule O for continuation of statement. The United Methodist City Society (UMCS) is a multifaceted program agency that is the urban social service program partner of United Methodist churches in the New York metropolitan area. The UMCS was founded in 1838 by Methodist Women in New York City for the purpose of organizing charity schools among the poor. The UMCS is a multi- faceted service organization that addresses the educational, spiritual, recreational and social needs of persons of all ages and all faiths by providing operational grants for churches and social service programs in the metro region. UMCS provides administrative and entrepreneurial coaching for pastors and lay leaders that enable churches to respond to the needs of individuals and families in their communities. Programs supported by the UMCS include after-school programs, food pantries, soup kitchens, residential behavioural centers, retreat facilities, senior centers and summer camps.

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$5.0 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
90.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 70%
Employees
8
Volunteers
48
Highest pay
$242,578, ceo/executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 90.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 101 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    48 of 48 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 June 30, 2025, 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. $1.5 million spent. UMCS owns an apartment building located in Manahattan, UMCS provides low income accomadation, rent offered at a below market rate. It provides homes to people who qualify under a certain income bracket and 12 apartments for thoses considered a religious worker.
  2. $1.3 million spent. UMCS supports programs and missions within the New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church catchment area. Our support can be grants, knoweldge database, sharing resources, and not limited to, providing access to expertise/consultants to the local United Methodist congregation or non-profits organizations. The work we have supported via our Mission and Outreach program: feeding programs, educational workshops, summer camp access to all, thriving cooperative parish, and, not limited to, residential behavioral health center.
  3. $592,689 spent. UMCS helped local United Methodist congregations or non-profit organizations meet their needs through grants and capital-building support. Our program includes providing access to specialist knowledge e.g. architects so that a church / non-profit organization can make informed decisions around property and property's needs. Each year, UMCS provides property and liability insurance to four churches and facilities so that they can continue to be a place of community outreach and public worship. These funds are provided by income from our investment portfolio and contributions from individuals and United Methodist Churches.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 June 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 March 1972.

    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 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.