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Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund Inc

EIN 46-3612187 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE OTHE CFE FUND'S MISSION IS TO LEVERAGE MUNICIPAL ENGAGEMENT TO IMPROVE THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF HOUSEHOLDS BY EMBEDDING FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT STRATEGIES INTO LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE. THE CFE FUND FOCUSES PROGRAMMATIC, RESEARCH, AND POLICY EFFORTS TOWARDS DESIGNING, EMBEDDING, AND REPLICATING FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVES WITHIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Income
$17.3 million
Spending
$14.3 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
34
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$475,811, president and 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 331% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 8 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 (4)
  1. $8.1 million spent. FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERSMUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERS (FECS) OFFER PROFESSIONAL, ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL COUNSELING AS A FREE PUBLIC SERVICE. THE MODEL, FIRST PILOTED IN NEW YORK CITY, IS NOW ACTIVE IN 39 CITIES AND COUNTIES, HELPING OVER 200,000 CLIENTS REDUCE DEBT BY MORE THAN $344 MILLION AND INCREASE SAVINGS BY OVER $69 MILLION; DOZENS OF ADDITIONAL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE WORKING TO LAUNCH A LOCAL FEC INITIATIVE. EACH PARTNER HAS SEEN INCREDIBLE DEMAND FOR FEC SERVICES AND HAS QUICKLY REALIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS WORK; MANY HAVE TRANSITIONED SUCCESSFULLY FROM PRIVATE INVESTMENT INTO ONGOING PUBLIC FUNDING SUSTAINABILITY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE CFE FUND'S FEC ACADEMY ENTRY POINT GUIDES CITIES AND COUNTIES THROUGH EACH STEP OF PLANNING TO LAUNCH THE MODEL LOCALLY. THIS YEAR, THE CFE FUND ALSO INTRODUCED LEGACY PLANNING AS A NEW FEC SERVICE PLAN; COUNSELORS CAN NOW HELP CLIENTS PROTECT THEIR ASSETS, PLAN FOR RETIREMENT, AND ACCESS RESOURCES TO HELP THEM CREATE LEGAL DOCUMENTS LIKE WILLS. FINALLY, THE CFE FUND IS PILOTING A NEW ENHANCEMENT TO THE FEC MODEL FOCUSING ON SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP SERVICES.
  2. $1.2 million spent. CITY START THE CITYSTART INITIATIVE PROVIDES STRUCTURED SUPPORT TO HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IDENTIFY FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT GOALS, CONVENE RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS, AND DEVELOP ACTIONABLE STRATEGIES, CULMINATING IN THE CREATION OF A "WEALTH EQUITY BLUEPRINT," ROOTED IN LOCAL INSIGHTS. THIS TWO-PHASE ENGAGEMENT COMBINES CRITICAL INSIGHTS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL INSTABILITY ON MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS WITH TANGIBLE STRATEGIES TO HELP RESIDENTS BUILD FINANCIAL STABILITY. THE CFE FUND HAS SUPPORTED 50 MUNICIPALITIES THROUGH THE CITYSTART INITIATIVE.
  3. $1.1 million spent. FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CITIES ACROSS 150 MUNICIPALITIES AND YEARS OF WORK, THE CFE FUND'S PROGRAMMATIC EXPERIENCE HAVE SHOWN THAT FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT EFFORTS CAN ACHIEVE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES IN BOTH IMPACT AND SCALE WHEN THEY ARE LED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THROUGH THE FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CITIES (FE CITIES) INITIATIVE, THE CFE FUND SUPPORTS MUNICIPALITIES TO MORE DEEPLY INVEST IN THEIR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT WORK BY CREATING A DEDICATED OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT (OFE). EACH COHORT OF FE CITIES LEADERS COMPLETES A TWO-YEAR TRAINING PROGRAM, WORKING WITH THE CFE FUND TO LAUNCH AND LEAD OFES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE MUNICIPALITIES. THE CFE FUND HAS SUPPORTED 10 MUNICIPALITIES THROUGH THE FE CITIES INITIATIVE.
  4. $1.8 million spent. ADDITIONAL CFE FUND PROGRAMS INCLUDE: SUPPORTING THE CFE COALITION, AN INVITATION-ONLY GROUP OF 19 CITIES ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT; LIAISING NATIONALLY WITH BANKING, REGULATORY, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO SAFE, AFFORDABLE BANKING; CONNECTING LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROTOCOLS INCORPORATE PERSONAL FINANCE CONSIDERATIONS; DEVELOPING CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION CAPACITY; AND USING THE SCALE AND INFRASTRUCTURE OF MUNICIPAL YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS TO INTEGRATE TARGETED FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND BANKING ACCESS STRATEGIES.

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 2014.

    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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