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Buffalo Urban League Inc

EIN 16-0743940 · Buffalo, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO HELP AFRICAN AMERICANS AND OTHERS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACHIEVE THEIR HIGHEST TRUE SOCIAL PARITY, ECONOMIC SELF-RELIANCE, POWER, AND CIVIL RIGHTS. THE LEAGUE PROMOTES ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT THROUGH EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, HEALTH, AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

Income
$10.1 million
Spending
$10.3 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
6.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 81%
Employees
860
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$244,479, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 March 31, 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. $3.8 million spent. EDUCATION, TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT - IN CONJUNCTION WITH LABOR DEPARTMENTS, AREA BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES, COLLEGES AND THE BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE LEAGUE PROVIDES VARIOUS SERVICES SUCH AS EDUCATION, SCHOLARSHIPS, JOB TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT, JOB READINESS, SUPPORT SERVICES, LITERACY AND CAREER INFORMATION TO YOUTH AND ADULTS TO TRANSITION THEM INTO EMPLOYMENT, COLLEGE, ADVANCED TRAINING, APPRENTICESHIPS AND/OR MILITARY.
  2. $431,534 spent. HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - AS A HUD CERTIFIED COUNSELING ORGANIZATION, THE LEAGUE PROVIDES FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS AND MORTGAGE DEFAULT COUNSELING, FINANCIAL CAPACITY/LITERACY, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RENTS AND MORTGAGES, FAIR HOUSING AND ANTI-PREDATORY LENDING COUNSELING AND ASSISTS FAMILIES SEEKING APARTMENT AND HOUSING COUNSELING. IN ADDITION, THE LEAGUE PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND LOW INTEREST LOANS TO MINORITY AND/OR WOMEN OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES.
  3. $4.1 million spent. FAMILY PRESERVATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES - THE LEAGUE PROVIDES PREVENTIVE AND WRAP SERVICES TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND KEEP THEM SAFELY TOGETHER. THE LEAGUE IS AN AUTHORIZED FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION AGENCY THAT RECRUITS, TRAINS AND CERTIFIED INDIVIDUALS TO FOSTER AND/OR ADOPT CHILDREN. THE LEAGUE OPERATES A FULL SERVICE CENTER FOR SENIORS. IN ADDITION, THROUGH ITS COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER PROGRAM, THEY ADDRESS THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH BY FACILITATING ACCESS TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES AS WELL AS INFORMATION AND EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1952.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.