The Community Service Society of New York (CSS) is a New York-based charitable group that advocates left-of-center policies related to affordable housing, federal funding for social programs, race-focused equity policies, and health care costs. ^{1 2}

CSS publishes reports and makes policy recommendations to New York City and New York State councils and agencies on how to reduce the cost of rent, health care, and other social policies for impoverished New Yorkers, particularly those who are not white. ^{2 1}

CSS was formed in 1939 when the New York Association for the Improvement of the Condition of the Poor (founded in 1843) and the Charity Organization Society (founded in 1882) merged. ³

Advocacy

The Community Service Society of New York promotes several left-of-center policies, particularly in the areas of healthcare, affordable housing, and economic and social security. ¹ In March 2025, CSS argued against proposed cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act by the Trump administration, claiming that the cuts would reduce the number of people with health insurance by roughly 14 million. ⁴

CSS also provides programs and initiatives that include policy analysis, legal advocacy, and campaigns that seek to expand access to health care, safe and affordable housing, employment, opportunities for individuals with conviction histories, and consumer debt assistance. CSS also claims to have helped win stronger tenant protections, paid sick and family leave for working New Yorkers, and one of the strongest “ban the box” laws in the nation which prevents employers from asking employees about criminal history. ²

CSS also supports a 25 percent driver discount on New York City congestion tolls for those making less than $50,000 annually. A 2022 CSS study showed that only about 5,000 lower-income New Yorkers would regularly incur congestion tolls under this discount rate. ⁵

In 2024, CSS President and CEO David R. Jones expressed his support for the New York City Council’s “City for All” plan which secured $5 million in commitments to invest in the community, particularly into public housing and rent control. ⁶

CSS also supports greater government involvement in healthcare, bans on some medical billing practices, taxpayer-funded student debt relief, increasing racial diversity within juries, and automatically sealing criminal records. ⁷

The Community Service Society of New York publishes reports on a variety of social and economic issues in New York. A March 2025 report provided evidence to suggest that middle-income New Yorkers–defined as families of three with a household income ranging between $50,000 and $110,000–are almost as likely to face eviction in the city as a family living in poverty. The report also shared that low-income families are more successfully fighting eviction attempts. ⁸

Another 2025 CSS report argued that health care in New York is unaffordable and below-average in quality. The report claimed that hospital consolidation is a driver of increased health care prices. ⁹

Leadership

David R. Jones is the president and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York. Jones has led CSS since 1986. From 1983 to 1986, he served as the executive director of the New York City Youth Bureau and was special advisor to then-Mayor Ed Koch (D) from 1979 to 1983. Prior to his nonprofit and public service work, Jones specialized in corporate antitrust cases and contract litigation at the law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Jones has served on transition committees for former New York City Mayors Bill de Blasio (D) and Michael Bloomberg (I) and former New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman (D). He also served as a member of the Moreland Commission. In June 2016, the State Senate confirmed Jones to fill a city seat on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Jones sits on several boards for New York banks and nonprofits. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University, a law degree from Yale University, and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the City University of New York. ¹⁰

Mark A. Willis is the chair of the CSS board of trustees. Magda Jimenez Train is the vice chair for the board. ¹¹

Finances

In 2022, Community Service Society of New York reported $34,241,905 in total revenue, $39,043,308 in total expenses, and $248,956,691 in total assets. That year, CSS received $23,982,420 in government grants, amounting to 70 percent of its total revenue. ¹²

In 2023, CSS received a $95,000 grant from Voices Of Community Activists & Leaders (VOCAL)-NY. ¹³

1. “Home.” Community Service Society of New York. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://www.cssny.org/
2. “Community Service Society.” Crain’s New York Business. November 14, 2022. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://www.crainsnewyork.com/giving-guide-2022/community-service-society
3. “Our History.” Community Service Society of New York. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://www.cssny.org/pages/our-history
4. Arbetter, Susan. “Community Service Society: Proposed cuts to Medicaid ‘a bullseye on the state of New York.’” Spectrum News 1. May 12, 2025. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/politics/2025/05/12/community-service-society-on-proposed-cuts-to-medicaid
5. Ley, Ana. “New York City Congestion Pricing Plan Could Give Poor Drivers a Discount.” The New York Times. May 12, 2023. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/12/nyregion/new-york-city-congestion-pricing.html
6. “NYC Council Secures $5 Billion in Commitments for City for All Plan to Invest into Communities and Increase Affordability.” New York City Council. December 19, 2024. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://council.nyc.gov/carlina-rivera/2024/12/19/nyc-council-secures-5-billion-in-commitments-for-city-for-all-plan-to-invest-into-communities-and-increase-affordability/
7. “Current Campaigns.” Community Service Society of New York. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://www.cssny.org/campaigns
8. Venugopal, Arun. “Middle-income New Yorkers are the new face of eviction in the city, report finds.” Gothamist. March 19, 2025. Accessed May 19, 2025.  https://gothamist.com/news/middle-income-new-yorkers-are-the-new-face-of-eviction-in-the-city-report-finds
9. Camera, John. “New report says health care in New York is getting pricier, not better.” Spectrum News 1. February 24, 2025. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2025/02/24/hospital-affordability-report
10. “David R. Jones.” Community Service Society of New York. Accessed May 19, 2025.  https://www.cssny.org/staff/entry/david-r.-jones
11. “Board of Trustees.” Community Service Society of New York. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://www.cssny.org/pages/board-of-trustees
12. “Community Service Society Of New York – 2022 Federal Form 990.” ProPublica. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/135562202/202421219349302652/full
13. “Voices Of Community Activists & Leaders Vocal Ny Inc – 2023 Federal Form 990.” ProPublica. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/134094385/202500279349301380/full