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The New York Times Communities Fund

EIN 13-6066063 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FUND WAS ORIGINATED BY ADOLPH OCHS SULZBERGER, THEN PUBLISHER OF THE NEW YORK TIMES, TO RAISE FUNDS TO PROVIDE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN DISTRESS. THE FUND'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS SELECTS CERTAIN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN AREA TO RECEIVE FUNDING. THOSE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR EXEMPT PURPOSES ARE LISTED ON PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4 (ITEMS A - D) AS PART OF THE STATEMENT OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

Income
$11.6 million
Spending
$8.7 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
45.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 45.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 7 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.

  • 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 February 28, 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 (4)
  1. $726,506 spent. FEEDING AMERICA:PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO THE NEEDY IN NYC.
  2. $726,506 spent. UJA-FEDERATION OF NEW YORK:PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO THE NEEDY IN NYC.
  3. $726,506 spent. CATHOLIC CHARITIES, ARCHDIOCESE OF NY:PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO THE NEEDY IN NYC.
  4. $6.3 million spent. FUNDING ADDITIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES THAT SERVE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS IN EVERY BOROUGH OF NEW YORK CITY.CAMFED - $ 726,506CITY HARVEST, INC. - $ 250,000CITYMEALS ON WHEELS - $ 250,000CHILDRENS AID SOCIETY - $ 726,506FIRST BOOK - $ 726,506HISPANIC FEDERATION, INC. - $ 726,506ONE GOAL - $ 726,506PERSCHOLAS - $ 726,506BROOKLYN CHILDREN'S THEATRE - $ 100,000COLLEGE ACCESS - $ 250,000FRESH YOUTH BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE - $ 5,000LITERACY PARTNERS - $ 100,000READING PARTNERS - $ 500,000RED HOOK INITIATIVE - $ 100,000SITUATION PROJECT - $ 50,000YOUNG AND HEALTHY - $ 250,000EDUCATION: SCHOLARSHIPS - $ 95,050

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 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 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 February 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 December 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 October 21, 2026.

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