Living City Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE LIVING CITY PROJECT, INC. IS AN EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE NON-PROFIT THAT OFFERS CITY-BASED EXPERIENCES FOR PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLERS, COLLEGE-AGE STUDENTS, AND ADULTS TO ADDRESS URGENT CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FACING THE CITY THROUGH URBANISM, EDUCATION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS AND DESIGN PROFESSIONALS, WE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATORY DESIGN SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK CITY, AND TO INDIVIDUALS IN THE EDUCATION AND URBANISM FIELDS, SEEKING TO CHANGE EDUCATION AND CHANGE THE CITY.
- Income
- $245,571
- Spending
- $288,710
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- -2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 84%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $52,500, president
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
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (social science, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (social science, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $215,761 spent. THE LIVING CITY PROJECT, INC. IS AN EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE NON-PROFIT THAT OFFERS CITY-BASED EXPERIENCES FOR PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLERS, COLLEGE-AGE STUDENTS, AND ADULTS TO ADDRESS URGENT CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FACING THE CITY THROUGH URBANISM, EDUCATION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS AND DESIGN PROFESSIONALS, WE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATORY DESIGN SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK CITY, AND TO INDIVIDUALS IN THE EDUCATION AND URBANISM FIELDS, SEEKING TO CHANGE EDUCATION AND CHANGE THE CITY.
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
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 September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2024 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2022.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.