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Non-profit

New York Communities Organizing Fund (NYCOFI)

Website:

www.nycofi.org/
Location:

BROOKLYN, NY
Tax ID:

27-2332649
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $2,613,799
Expenses: $2,804,967
Assets: $1,687,605
Type:

Fundraising and advocacy group
Formation:

2010
Co-Executive Directors:

Olivia Leirer

Lucas Sanchez
Budget (2023):

Revenue: $3,814,233

Expenses: $3,664,353

Total Assets: $1,769,174 38

References

  1. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). New York Communities Organizing Fund. 2020. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/272332649/202403209349321715/full

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

New York Communities Organizing Fund Incorporated (NYCOFI) is an advocacy group that promotes left-of-center positions on housing, environmental, education, labor, and fiscal policy issues. 1 It is controlled by New York Communities for Change (NYCC), an advocacy organization that employs and compensates NYCOFI’s staff. 2 3 4 The two organizations are generally considered to be the successors to the now-defunct ACORN network of left-of-center community organizing groups in New York City, with NYCC being founded by former New York ACORN staffers and working initially out of ACORN’s former Brooklyn offices. 5 6 7 8

NYCOFI is closely connected to the Ford Foundation, which has made a number of grants to it including $600,000 in 2025, 9 two grants totaling $750,000 in 2023, 10 11 and $925,000 in 2020. 12 In total, the Ford Foundation reports having made 12 grants to NYCOFI since 2006. 13 Ford Foundation “worker power and capital strategies portfolio” program officer Maritza Silva-Farrell sits on NYCOFI’s Board of Directors. 14

In March 2025, NYCOFI’s project Climate Defenders was allegedly part of organizing and participated in #TeslaTakedown, a series of national protests against electric vehicle company Tesla over its CEO Elon Musk’s ties to the second Trump administration. 15

Controversies

New York Communities Organizing Fund and New York Communities for Change have been accused of potentially violating federal tax and election laws by using charitable donations in lobbying efforts, failing to properly track and report donations, and concealing their connection to ACORN, which was stripped of federal funding after a series of controversies. 16

In 2011, U.S. Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA), the chair of the House Oversight Committee, wrote a letter to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York requesting that the Justice Department investigate whether NYCC was simply a rebranded ACORN. 17

In 2012, the right-leaning watchdog group Cause of Action filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service alleging that New York Communities Organizing Fund and New York Communities for Change had violated federal nonprofit tax law by taking charitable donations and using them to support Occupy Wall Street protestors and undertake prohibited electoral advocacy, including then-NYCOFI executive director Jonathan Westin’s creation of a campaign opposing then-Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. 18

In 2020 it was reported that NYCOFI had contributed $92,000 to the Mutual Housing Association of New York, which had previously evicted tenants for unpaid rents as low as $1,220.  19

Activities

Labor

The New York Communities Organizing Fund is closely connected to labor unions and advocates for labor union-aligned policies. 1 It supported the “Fight for $15” minimum wage campaign after its parent New York Communities for Change received millions from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), 20 and NYCOFI has previously accepted funding from SEIU affiliates including SEIU 32BJ. 21

NYCOFI supports the union-backed Hedge Clippers campaign against hedge funds and other private equity firms. 1

Environmentalism

The New York Communities Organizing Fund (NYCOFI) has advocated for left-of-center environmental policies while claiming both climate change and “climate inequality” are alleged “moral crises” for minority communities. 1

It has an unclear connection to the radical-left environmental activism group Planet Over Profit. On the left-leaning fundraising site ActBlue, potential donors to Planet over Profit are told “Your contribution will benefit New York Communities Organizing Fund, Inc.” 22

Planet Over Profit is one of the organizations identified by former Wall Street Journal journalist Asra Nomani as allegedly involved with planning and taking part in #TeslaTakedown, a series of nationwide protests targeting car company Tesla over its CEO Elon Musk‘s work with the second Trump administration. 23

Nomani also alleged that Climate Defenders, another NYCOFI project, was involved in the Tesla protests. 24 Climate Defenders claims to be a registered 501(c)(4) organization on its website. However, the group also states that it has a fiscal sponsor; 25 a link leads to the page for Climate Organizing Hub, which is in turn fiscally sponsored by NYCOFI. 26

Housing

The New York Communities Organizing Fund (NYCOFI) had advocated housing regulations designed to limit property owners’ discretion. 19 It is a member of several New York-based left-of-center housing coalitions including the Alliance for Tenant Power and the Upstate/Downstate Alliance. These groups support eviction prohibitions and rent controls, aligning against property owners. 20

Immigration

The New York Communities Organizing Fund (NYCOFI) previously established a fund meant for undocumented migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic in place of government-sponsored payments. 1

Funding

As of 2018, New York Communities Organizing Fund is financially supported by left-of-center organizations including Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund 27 and Center for Popular Democracy; 28 left-wing foundations including the Ford Foundation, 13 North Star Fund, 29 Rockefeller Brothers Fund, 30 Brooklyn Org, 31 Cultures of Resistance Network Foundation, 32 and the Douglas H. Phelps Foundation; 33 and labor unions including SEIU 32BJ, the RWDSU division of the United Food and Commercial Workers, and the American Federation of Teachers. 34

Leadership

As of 2025, New York Communities Organizing Fund was led by co-executive directors Olivia Leirer and Lucas Sanchez. 35 Leirer was previously a fundraising specialist at the now-defunct ACORN. 36 Sanchez began at NYCOFI as a labor and community organizer, where he later founded its Workers’ Committee Chapter. He then became the organization’s Long Island director, and later its deputy director. 37

As of 2025, NYCOFI’s board chair was listed as Dorothy Amadi. 35

References

  1. “Issues.” New York Communities Organizing Fund, Inc. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.nycofi.org/issues.
  2. “New York Communities Organizing Fund Inc, IRS Form 990 .” ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/272332649/202403209349321715/full.
  3. “New York Communities for Change Inc, IRS Form 990.” ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/271359103/202423209349321857/full.
  4. “New York Communities Organizing Fund, Inc..” New York Communities Organizing Fund, Inc. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.nycofi.org/.
  5. Scanlon, Terrence. “SCANLON: The Other IRS Scandal.” The Washington Times. The Washington Times, August 22, 2013. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/aug/22/scanlon-the-other-irs-scandal/.
  6. Cooke, Charles C. W. “Acorn Is up to Its Old Tricks.” National Review, July 29, 2020. https://www.nationalreview.com/2012/02/acorn-its-old-tricks-charles-c-w-cooke/.
  7. “Acorn Local Chapters Declare Independence; Makeover Appears Cosmetic.” National Legal Policy Center, February 23, 2010. https://archive.nlpc.org/2010/02/23/acorn-local-chapters-declare-independence-makover-appears-cosmetic/.
  8. “About.” New York Communities for Change. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.nycommunities.org/about.
  9. “153079 – New York Communities Organizing Fund, Inc..” Ford Foundation. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/awarded-grants/grants-database/new-york-communities-organizing-fund-inc-153079/.
  10. “145878 – New York Communities Organizing Fund, Inc..” Ford Foundation, August 12, 2024. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/awarded-grants/grants-database/new-york-communities-organizing-fund-inc-145878/.
  11. “147439 – New York Communities Organizing Fund, Inc..” Ford Foundation. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/awarded-grants/grants-database/new-york-communities-organizing-fund-inc-147439/.
  12. “135316 – New York Communities Organizing Fund, Inc..” Ford Foundation, February 14, 2022. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/awarded-grants/grants-database/new-york-communities-organizing-fund-inc-135316/.
  13. “New York Communities Organizing Fund, Inc.. Archives.” Ford Foundation. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/awarded-grants/grantee/new-york-communities-organizing-fund-inc/.
  14. Maritza Silva-Farrell.” Ford Foundation, October 19, 2023. https://www.fordfoundation.org/about/people/maritza-silva-farrell/.
  15. “Tesla Takedown NYC – March 29th.” ActionNetwork, Saturday March 29, 2025. Accessed May 1, 2025. https://actionnetwork.org/events/tesla-takedown-nyc-march-29th?source=uv-email
  16. “High Court Won’t Hear Acorn’s Funding Fight.” Courthouse News Service. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.courthousenews.com/high-court-wont-hear-acorns-funding-fight/.
  17. Scanlon, Terrence. “The Other IRS Scandal.” Capital Research Center, August 22, 2013. https://capitalresearch.org/article/scanlon-the-other-irs-scandal/.
  18. Cause of Action. Cause of Action . Washington, DC: Cause of Action , 2012. https://causeofaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/2012-8-22-Request-for-Revocation-of-Tax-Exempt-Status-NYCC.pdf?e129f2
  19. Gartland, Michael. “Anti-Eviction Ally Responsible for Starting Hundreds of NYC Eviction Cases.” nydailynews.com. New York Daily News, January 18, 2020. https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-mutual-housing-association-evictions-communities-for-change-20200119-tqbvfot5xndwlfsvxyudsojy3i-story.html
  20. A 990: New York Communities Organizing Fund, Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018, Part III, Lines 4a, 4b, 4c https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2018/272/332/2018-272332649-17127011-9.pdf
  21. EIU 32BJ (Department of Labor file number 011-661), Annual Report of a Labor Organization (Form LM-2), 2013, Schedule 17 https://olms.dol-esa.gov/query/orgReport.do?rptId=592429&rptForm=LM2Form
  22. “I Just Gave to New York Communities Organizing Fund, Inc..!” ActBlue. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/planetoverprofit.
  23. Nomani, Asra (@AsraNomani). “Hello @ElonMusk and Friends, You asked who is funding and organizing the #TeslaTakedown protests. I’ve got answers for you, after going onto the streets of northern Virginia for the local protests here, seeing familiar faces from the Virginia Democratic political machine and then following the money — and the data.” X, March 30, 2025. https://x.com/AsraNomani/status/1906281197430329459
  24. [1] Nomani, Asra (@AsraNomani). “Hello @ElonMusk and Friends, You asked who is funding and organizing the #TeslaTakedown protests. I’ve got answers for you, after going onto the streets of northern Virginia for the local protests here, seeing familiar faces from the Virginia Democratic political machine and then following the money — and the data.” X, March 30, 2025. https://x.com/AsraNomani/status/1906281197430329459
  25. “Donate.” Climate Defenders. Accessed May 1, 2025. https://secure.everyaction.com/kwsj6JIRDUiArsubvU6aGA2.
  26. “Climate Organizing Hub.” NYCOFI. Accessed May 1, 2025. https://www.nycofi.org/climate-organizing-hub-donation-page
  27. Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018, Schedule I.
  28. Center for Popular Democracy, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2015, Schedule I.
  29. “New York City Organizing Grants.” North Star Fund -. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://northstarfund.org/2024-action-report/nyc-grants/.
  30. “New York Communities Organizing Fund, Inc..” Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.rbf.org/grantees/new-york-communities-organizing-fund-inc.
  31. “Brooklyn Paper: The Brooklyn Org Distributes $1.8m Grant to 18 Local Nonprofits Focused on Racial Justice.” Brooklyn Org, December 20, 2024. https://brooklyn.org/article/brooklyn-paper-the-brooklyn-org-distributes-1-8m-grant-to-18-local-nonprofits-focused-on-racial-justice/.
  32. Cultures of Resistance Network Foundation, Return of a Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2018, Part XV Line 3.
  33. Douglas H. Phelps Foundation, Return of a Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2014, Part XV Line 3.
  34. Data compiled from Annual Reports of Labor Organizations filed with the Department of Labor Office of Labor-Management Standards. Queries conducted August 10, 2020.
  35. “Team.” NYCOFI. Accessed May 1, 2025. https://www.nycofi.org/team.
  36. “Olivia Leirer.” LinkedIn. Accessed May 1, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviajlleirer/.
  37. “Lucas Sanchez.” LinkedIn. Accessed May 1, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-s%C3%A1nchez-/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: March 1, 2011

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2022 Dec Form 990 $2,613,799 $2,804,967 $1,687,605 $1,323,312 N $2,613,799 $0 $0 $61,010 PDF
    2021 Dec Form 990 $1,295,563 $1,778,279 $1,081,315 $616,354 N $1,295,563 $0 $0 $6,939
    2020 Dec Form 990 $2,757,137 $1,984,998 $1,461,693 $514,016 N $2,757,137 $0 $0 $21,499 PDF
    2019 Dec Form 990 $1,342,556 $729,691 $878,708 $78,920 N $1,351,896 $0 $0 $17,735 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $1,998,690 $1,894,007 $1,112,912 $925,989 N $1,998,690 $0 $0 $22,957 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $1,153,129 $1,182,629 $441,355 $359,115 N $1,153,129 $0 $0 $24,378 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $1,206,853 $1,303,139 $631,735 $519,995 N $1,206,853 $0 $0 $20,038 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $1,280,477 $1,386,302 $405,411 $197,385 N $1,280,477 $0 $0 $9,570 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $1,124,884 $1,053,387 $529,789 $215,938 N $1,124,884 $0 $0 $77,476 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $593,607 $651,749 $253,290 $10,936 N $593,607 $0 $0 $80,943 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $625,344 $501,098 $341,542 $41,046 N $625,344 $0 $0 $78,316 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $447,315 $330,514 $271,047 $94,797 N $447,315 $0 $0 $24,340 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    New York Communities Organizing Fund (NYCOFI)

    1 METROTECH CTR N STE 11
    BROOKLYN, NY 11201-3875