Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Police Athletic League Inc

EIN 13-5596811 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE, TOGETHER WITH NYPD AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY, SUPPORTS AND INSPIRES NEW YORK CITY YOUTH TO REALIZE THEIR FULL INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL AS PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

Income
$32.9 million
Spending
$34.3 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 92%
Employees
851
Volunteers
218
Highest pay
$437,304, 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

Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 57% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 28% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    27 of 27 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 (4)
  1. $12.7 million spent. CHILD CARE: THROUGH SEVEN EARLY HEAD START AND HEAD START CENTERS, PAL HELPS YOUNG CHILDREN, AGES 2-5, DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS AND BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE ACHIEVEMENT IN SCHOOL. THROUGH THE "BRIDGING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP INITIATIVE", THE PROGRAMS HAVE A STRONG FOCUS ON LITERACY. OUR SITE IN ROCKAWAY ALSO HAS PROGRAMMING FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS.
  2. $11.8 million spent. CENTER OPERATIONS: K-8TH GRADE STUDENTS TAKE PART IN AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAMS AT 18 CENTERS IN ALL FIVE BOROUGHS. PROGRAMS HAVE A STRONG FOCUS ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM), LITERACY, NUTRITION, FITNESS AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING.
  3. $2.8 million spent. TEEN PROGRAMS: PAL HELPS OLDER YOUTH, AGES 13-19 GAIN WORK SKILLS TO PROMOTE LONG-TERM EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER OUTCOMES. 10 TEEN CENTERS OFFER DROP-IN, SAFE SPACES WITHIN PAL COMMUNITIES WHERE YOUTH CAN CONNECT WITH POSITIVE PEER AND ADULT MENTORS AND TAKE PART IN AN ARRAY OF HOLISTIC RECREATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL AND JOB SKILLS TRAINING ACTIVITIES, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS. PAL'S YOUTH LINK SERVICE OFFERS AN ENHANCED TEEN MODEL WITH A COMPREHENSIVE SUITE OF SERVICES INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS AT FIVE SITES. PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS INCLUDE ADDITIONS TO OUR STAFF OF LMSW'S AND INCREASED TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR DIRECT LINE STAFF IN THE NYC "BUILDING RESILIENT YOUTH" PROGRAM MODEL FOR TEENS. THE MAAP PROGRAM OFFERS ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP TO TEENAGERS WHO ARE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE NYC ADMINISTRATION OF CHILDREN SERVICES. PAL ALSO OFFERS JOBS SKILLS TRAINING AND PLACEMENTS THROUGH THE WORK PROGRESS PROGRAM.
  4. $1.6 million spent. SPORTS AND RECREATION: PAL OFFERS SPORTS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 9-19 THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO INCLUDE SOCCER, FLAG-FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, SOFTBALL, VOLLEYBALL, LACROSSE, AND STREET HOCKEY. SPORTS ARE OFFERED THROUGH PAL CENTERS, THE "SATURDAY NIGHT LIGHTS" PROGRAM AND COPS & KIDS SPORTS LEAGUES SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTEER NYPD OFFICERS. PAL PLAYSTREETS WERE OFFERED AT NYC HOUSING AUTHORITY AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD LOCATIONS FOR FIVE WEEKS OF THE SUMMER, BRINGING THE ELEMENTS OF SUMMER CAMP DIRECTLY TO THE DOORSTEPS OF YOUTH IN LOW-INCOME EIGHBORHOODS. PAL CONTINUED TO OFFER POP-UP STREET GAMES IN WHICH YOUTH HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO GET OUTSIDE AND PLAY IN SPORTS DAYS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

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 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 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 March 1942.

    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.