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Governors Island Alliance Inc

EIN 45-4317911 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GOVERNORS ISLAND ALLIANCE DBA GOVERNORS ISLAND FOUNDATION WORKS TO ENSURE THE ISLAND'S CONTINUED GROWTH, VITALITY, AND ACCESSIBILITY AS A VIBRANT PUBLIC RESOURCE AND IS THE DESIGNATED FUNDRAISING PARTNER OF THE TRUST FOR GOVERNORS ISLAND. WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE TRUST AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, THE GOVERNORS ISLAND FOUNDATION STEWARDS THE ISLAND'S GREEN SPACES AND BUILDS COMMUNITY THROUGH VISITOR EXPERIENCE, VOLUNTEERING, MEMBERSHIP, AND DIVERSE, FREE PROGRAMMING.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
13
Volunteers
3,000
Highest pay
$238,068, executive di

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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 90% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 63% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 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 (5)
  1. $2.3 million spent. VISITOR SERVICES & COMMUNITY OUTREACH: THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED VISITOR SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC ON GOVERNORS ISLAND, OPERATING TWO WELCOME CENTERS THAT PROVIDE INFORMATION AND ESSENTIAL RETAIL ITEMS. THE CENTERS ALSO OFFERED FREE PUBLIC WALKING TOURS TO THOUSANDS OF VISITORS IN 2025. VISITOR SERVICES STAFF, VOLUNTEERS & INTERNS ALSO SERVED AS EXHIBITION ATTENDANTS FOR PUBLIC ARTWORKS AND AS EVENT SUPPORT AT FREE PUBLIC EVENTS SUCH AS PUMPKIN POINT AND EARTH DAY OF SERVICE.
  2. $513,915 spent. LANDSCAPE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM: THE FOUNDATION FILLS A CRITICAL ROLE IN HELPING THE TRUST FOR GOVERNORS ISLAND (TGI) MEET THE RIGOROUS DEMANDS OF CARING FOR THE ISLAND'S NEW AND HISTORIC LANDSCAPES. TOGETHER THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS WORK TO BALANCE STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY. THE FOUNDATION SUPPLEMENTS TGI'S LIMITED BUDGET FOR HORTICULTURE BY FUNDING GARDENERS, TOOLS, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT, AND BY LEVERAGING VOLUNTEERS TO ENSURE THE ISLAND'S GREEN SPACES REMAIN IN WORLD-CLASS CONDITION. AT THE SAME TIME, THE FOUNDATION WORKS TO DOCUMENT AND COMMUNICATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW LANDSCAPES OVER TIME, SERVING AS A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT PARK CARE. TO MEET THESE GOALS, IN 2023, THE FOUNDATION FUNDED 1 ARBORIST, 6 FULL-TIME GARDENERS, A FULL-TIME VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR AND 2 SEASONAL GARDENERS. LANDSCAPE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM: THE FOUNDATION FILLS A CRITICAL ROLE IN HELPING THE TRUST FOR GOVERNORS ISLAND (TGI) MEET THE RIGOROUS DEMANDS OF CARING FOR THE ISLAND'S NEW AND HISTORIC LANDSCAPES. TOGETHER THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS WORK TO BALANCE STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY. THE FOUNDATION SUPPLEMENTS TGI'S LIMITED BUDGET FOR HORTICULTURE BY FUNDING GARDENERS, TOOLS, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT, AND BY LEVERAGING VOLUNTEERS TO ENSURE THE ISLAND'S GREEN SPACES REMAIN IN WORLD-CLASS CONDITION. AT THE SAME TIME, THE FOUNDATION WORKS TO DOCUMENT AND COMMUNICATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW LANDSCAPES OVER TIME, SERVING AS A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT PARK CARE. TO MEET THESE GOALS, IN 2023, THE FOUNDATION FUNDED 1 ARBORIST, 6 FULL-TIME GARDENERS, A FULL-TIME VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR AND 2 SEASONAL GARDENERS.
  3. $102,663 spent. VOLUNTEER PROGRAM: THE FOUNDATION VOLUNTEER PROGRAM RECRUITED, TRAINED, DEPLOYED AND ENGAGED HUNDREDS OF ACTIVE INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERSAND OVER2,700 CORPORATE EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEERSTO PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO GOVERNORS ISLAND IN HORTICULTURE, VISITOR SERVICES, PUBLIC EVENTS, PUBLIC TOURS, PUBLIC ART AND MORE. TOGETHER, THESE GROUPS CONTRIBUTED NEARLY 14,500 HOURS OF SERVICE IN 2025.
  4. $176,301 spent. THE GOVERNORS ISLAND FOUNDATION ORGANIZED PUBLIC PROGRAMS INCLUDING PUMPKIN POINT.
  5. THE GOVERNORS ISLAND FOUNDATION ORGANIZED PUBLIC PROGRAMS INCLUDING PUMPKIN POINT.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2010 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on August 15, 2012.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 2013.

    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 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.