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Friends of the East River Esplanade 60th-120th Streets Inc

EIN 46-0542653 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 47% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

WE ADVOCATE, MAINTAIN, AND PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING ON THE EAST RIVER WATERFRONT. WE OFFER GARDENING, FISHING CLASSES, BIRDING AND WATERFRONT TOURS, YOGA CLASSES ON THE WATER AND OUR SIGNATURE FAMILY-FRIENDLY LIVE MUSIC CONCERTS!OUR PROGRAMS SUPPLEMENT NYC PARKS WHO ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE OF THE ESPLANADE.

Income
$197,529
Spending
$128,044
Spent on programs
47%
Reserves
24 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
2
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$36,958, executive director, thru aug. 2025

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    47% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 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 (1)
  1. $59,967 spent. ESPLANADEFRIENDS IS THE WATERFRONT CONSERVANCY FOR THE EAST RIVER WATERFRONT ESPLANADE THAT RUNS FROM MANHATTAN'S EAST HARLEM AND UPPER EAST SIDE TO EAST MIDTOWN. WE ADVOCATE FOR AND HELP TO BEAUTIFY AND ACTIVATE THE EAST RIVER ESPLANADE. OUR BEAUTIFICATION INITIATIVES INCLUDE PUBLIC ART AS WELL AS VOLUNTEER LANDSCAPING AND PLANTING. WE PROVIDE FREE COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING ON THE WATERFRONT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE OFFER ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS THAT RANGE FROM GARDENING TO FISHING CLASSES AND BIRDING. WE OFFER WATERFRONT TOURS AND YOGA CLASSES WITH A RIVER VIEW. AND FROM SPRING THROUGH FALL WE HOST OUR SIGNATURE FREE LIVE MUSIC CONCERTS THAT ATTRACT COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES FROM BABIES TO SENIORS. ALL OF OUR ACTIVITIES COMPLEMENT AND SUPPORT NYC PARKS AND THE OTHER NYC MUNICIPAL AGENCIES THAT ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE OF THE ESPLANADE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 February 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 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.