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New York City Urban Debate League Inc

EIN 45-5249743 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE UNLOCK THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF DEBATE FOR NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF INFORMED, COMPASSIONATE, AND COURAGEOUS LEADERS.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
18.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 52%
Employees
27
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$248,128, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 (4)
  1. $1.2 million spent. DEBATE TOURNAMENTS - WE HOSTED SCHOLASTIC DEBATE TOURNAMENTS EVERY MONTH SERVING OVER 300 STUDENTS (MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL), TEACHERS, PARENTS AND VOLUNTEERS. WE PROVIDE BREAKFAST, LUNCH, WORKSHOPS, JUDGE TRAINING, 3-4 ROUNDS OF DEBATE COMPETITIONS, AND AN AWARDS CEREMONY.
  2. $147,004 spent. MSQI INITIATIVE -IN 2014, THE NEW YORK CITY URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE AND THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PARTNERED UP TO BRING CURRICULAR DEBATE AND AFTER SCHOOL DEBATE PROGRAMS TO OVER 100 NEW YORK CITY MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP. THE MSQI DEBATE INITIATIVE USES AN EVIDENCE BASED ARGUMENTATION CURRICULUM TO INCREASE STUDENT LITERACY, WRITING, PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS. THE NYCUDL TEAM PROVIDES SCHOOLS WITH ON SITE TEACHER TRAINING, DEBATE RESOURCES, WORKSHOPS, AND MONTHLY DEBATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MSQI STUDENTS. PRELIMINARY RESULTS SHOW SUBSTANTIAL GAINS IN LITERACY FOR STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN DEBATE VERSUS THEIR PEERS WHO DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN DEBATE.
  3. $98,655 spent. DEBATE CAMP - STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-4 WILL FOCUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS AND STUDENTS IN GRADES 5-8 WILL LEARN AND/OR WORK ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE SKILLS.
  4. $171,075 spent. CLUB MEMBERSHIP: THE DEBATE CLUB IS A CLUB THAT WE OFFER ON SATURDAYS TO EVERYONE REGARDLESS IF THEY'RE A STUDENT FROM ONE OF OUR REGISTERED SCHOOLS OR NOT. THE VARSITY CLUB IS A WEEKDAY PRACTICE SESSION FOR OUR REGISTERED SCHOOLS' STUDENTS. IT'S AN EXTENSION OF DEBATE CLUB.

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 September 2012.

    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.

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.