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Governors Island Corporation

EIN 27-2683349 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GOVERNORS ISLAND CORPORATION, DOING BUSINESS AS THE TRUST FOR GOVERNORS ISLAND, IS THE 501(C)(3) NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION CREATED BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND CHARGED WITH THE PLANNING, REDEVELOPMENT AND ONGOING OPERATIONS OF 150 ACRES OF GOVERNORS ISLAND. THE TRUST'S MISSION IS TO REALIZE THE FULL POTENTIAL OF GOVERNORS ISLAND FOR THE INSPIRATION AND ENJOYMENT OF ALL NEW YORKERS, DEMONSTRATING A BOLD VISION FOR PUBLIC SPACE.

Income
$65.3 million
Spending
$56.3 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 78%
Employees
95
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$344,668, president/ceo

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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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 (1)
  1. $48.3 million spent. THE TRUST IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATION, PLANNING AND REDEVELOPMENT OF 150 ACRES OF GOVERNORS ISLAND. THE TRUST PROVIDES FERRY, SECURITY AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES FOR THE ISLAND, ITS VISITORS AND TENANTS, AS WELL AS THE URBAN ASSEMBLY HARBOR SCHOOL LOCATED ON THE ISLAND. SINCE 2024, GOVERNORS ISLAND HAS BEEN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC YEAR ROUND, AND EVERY SEASON VISITORS MAY EXPERIENCE AN ARRAY OF ARTS, CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS FOOD AND BEVERAGES ON OFFER FROM ISLAND VENDORS. THROUGH AN INITIAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, THE TRUST BUILT 30 ACRES OF NEW PARK SPACE, WHICH OPENED IN 2014, FOLLOWED BY AN EXPANSION IN 2016, WHEN THE HILLS OPENED. ADDITIONAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT, COMPLETED AND ONGOING, INCLUDES WORK ON THE FERRY INFRASTRUCTURE (DOCKS AND VESSELS), SEAWALL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POTABLE WATER AND OTHER UTILITY SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS HISTORIC BUILDING STABILIZATION AND RENOVATION PROJECTS.

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 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 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 November 2010.

    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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