Hart Island Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To assist families and individuals with limited resources in accessing New York City public burial records, provide information concerning city burial procedures on Hart Island, advocate for ending mass burials in New York City and preserve Hart Island as the largest natural burial ground in the United States. We provide free access to an on-line database of mass burials with navigation, augmented reality grave marking, interpretive guide, landscape visualization as well as custom searches, personal assistance and support for creative projects about Hart Island.
- Income
- $40,349
- Spending
- $45,901
- Reserves
- 23.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Highest pay
- $21,012, president
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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)
- $28,627 spent. The Hart Island Project assisted families on gaining information about city and conducting gravesite visits.The Hart Island Project conducted a public webinars on Zoom throughout 2025 explaining the city's historic burial practice and a proof of concept for ending mass burials. The Hart Island Project hosted a table at Bronx Parks Speak-up and presented a landscape strategy for ending mass burials and preserving green burials in NYC. The Hart Island Project hosted a table at the City Island Environmental Festival and presented a landscape strategy for ending mass burials and preserving green burials in NYC. The Hart Island Project participated in a program titled Hart Island Stories at the NYC AIDS Memorial in Manhattan.The Hart Island Project was invited to testify at a public hearing on legislation requiring city agencies to conduct a study determining the future of City Cemetery on Hart Island with regard to sea level rise and climate change impacts on city burials.The Hart Island Project collaborated with the Mayor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships to communicate a strategy to end mass burials in New York City. The Hart Island Project worked with NYC Parks and the Department of Social Services on climate impacts on the city's historic burial practice and future plans for capital improvements on Hart Island.The Hart Island Project reviewed historic burial ledgers at the NYC Municipal Archives to confirm when New York City began to reuse burial plots and for consistency of the burial process.
- $57,065 spent. Pro-bono legal fees to make freedom of information requests to NYC Department of Social Services for the Hart Island burial location data and burial ledgers, and worked with volunteers to update our online database. $45,065.The City College of New York provided two paid internships in the Humanities funded by the Mellon Foundation. Each intern, one spring semester and one fall semester, worked 150 hours and was paid $4,000 for a total $8,000 in-kind contribution through City College.Yale University provided one summer experience award to a Yale College student of $4,000.Total In-Kind Donations - Services = $57,065
- $57,065 spent. Offset to in-kind pro-bono legal fees and internships, not reported as expenses in Form 990-EZ.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2011.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.