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Red Hook Initiative

EIN 20-3904662 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RHI BELIEVES THAT SOCIAL CHANGE TO OVERCOME SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES BEGINS WITH EMPOWERED YOUTH. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ADULTS, WE NURTURE YOUNG PEOPLE IN RED HOOK TO BE INSPIRED, RESILIENT, AND HEALTHY, AND TO ENVISION THEMSELVES AS CO-CREATORS OF THEIR LIVES, COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY. WE ENVISION A RED HOOK WHERE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE CAN PURSUE THEIR DREAMS AND GROW INTO INDEPENDENT ADULTS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY.

Income
$4.3 million
Spending
$5.0 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
187
Volunteers
450
Highest pay
$180,423, 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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

    15 of 15 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 (6)
  1. $1.1 million spent. COMMUNITY BUILDING: ADVOCACY AND ORGANIZING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A KEY ELEMENT OF OUR WORK AT RHI,RECOGNIZING THE NEED TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC ISSUES FACING THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALONGSIDE OUR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT APPROACH. OUR PROGRAMS WORK TOWARD TWO GOALS: TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING IN RED HOOK AND TO STRENGTHEN THE RESILIENCY OF THE RED HOOK COMMUNITY. THE WORK OF THIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE ISSUES RESIDENTS FACE, POSITIVELY IMPACTING THE LIVES OF OVER 6,500 RED HOOK HOUSES RESIDENTS EACH YEAR.THROUGH OUR BENEFITS ACCESS WORK, WE SERVED NEARLY 600 RESIDENTS IN BENEFITS ACCESS INCLUDING: HOUSING REPAIR SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY, SNAP AND ONE SHOT DEAL ENROLLMENT, TRANSLATION SERVICES, AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
  2. $804,085 spent. RED HOOK FARMS: WE HARVESTED NEARLY 20,000 POUNDS OF PRODUCE--INCREASING ACCESS TO FRESH, AFFORDABLE PRODUCE AND PROVIDING NUTRITION EDUCATION THAT INTRODUCES VEGETABLES, FRUIT AND HEALTHY, DELICIOUS WAYS TO PREPARE THEM, ARE CONCRETE WAYS WE ARE MEETING THE BASIC NEEDS OF RED HOOK'S PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS AND COMBATING THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
  3. $629,075 spent. ADOLESCENT YOUTH: RHI PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR ALMOST 200 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. WE OFFER 40 MIDDLE SCHOOL AGED YOUTH EACH ACADEMIC YEAR AND 20 DURING THE SUMMERTIME. MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLARS USE SUPPORT TO WORK TOWARD ACADEMIC SUCCESS, BEGIN CAREER AND COLLEGE EXPLORATION, DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS, STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SUPPORTS AND EXERCISE THEIR LEADERSHIP IN RED HOOK. RHI PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMMING FOR 120 RED HOOK YOUTH ATTENDING HIGH SCHOOL, AS THEY WORK TOWARD THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, DEVELOP A POST-SECONDARY PLAN, GAIN PAID JOB TRAINING AND WORK EXPERIENCE, STRENGTHEN THEIR SOCIAL SUPPORTS AND EXERCISE THEIR LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY. APPROXIMATELY 20 OF THESE HIGH SCHOOL-AGED YOUTH RECEIVE COLLEGE ACCESS SUPPORT.
  4. $370,416 spent. HEALTH AND WELLNESS: THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SILBERMAN SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK AT HUNTER COLLEGE, WE CONTINUED TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF RHI STAFF TO DEVELOP CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE, TRAUMA-INFORMED HEALING SERVICES AND CREATE SAFE SPACES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO HEAL FROM THE TRAUMA OF THE MOMENT AND THE IMPACTS OF SYSTEMIC RACISM AND LACK OF PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION WE HAVE A THREE-TIERED MODEL TO PROVIDE DIRECT COUNSELING SUPPORT THROUGH: INDIVIDUAL WELLNESS CHECKINS AND COUNSELING SESSIONS; GROUP HEALING WORK, WHICH OFFERS BOTH HEALING AND PEER SUPPORT TRAINING; AND COMMUNITY-WIDE HEALING EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS.
  5. $47,498 spent. OTHER PROGRAM
  6. $596,935 spent. YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS: WE ENGAGE AND SUPPORT NEARLY 200 YOUNG ADULTS TO SET INDIVIDUALIZED GOALS AROUND FURTHERING THEIR EDUCATION (HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, HSE OR COLLEGE DEGREE), OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT AND GROWING PROFESSIONALLY AND GAINING AND STRENGTHENING SOCIAL SUPPORTS. OUR DEDICATED TEAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE, PERSONALIZED SUPPORTS FOR YOUNG ADULTS FROM A STRENGTHS-BASED, TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH WHILE INTENTIONALLY ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC INJUSTICE THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG ADULT PARTICIPATION.

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 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 June 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 June 2006.

    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.

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