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Non-profit

The Door – A Center of Alternatives

Website:

www.door.org/
Location:

New York, NY
Tax ID:

13-6127348
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2023):

Revenue: $29,186,860
Expenses: $33,890,273
Assets: $50,813,855
Type:

Left-of-Center Educational Advocacy Group
Formation:

1972
CEO & President:

Kelsey Louie

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The Door – A Center of Alternatives (The Door) is a group that provides educational services, transgender medical treatments, illegal immigration legal services, and other left-of-center programming for youth in New York City. The group also operates a public charter high school in the Bronx, the Broome Street Academy. 1  2  3

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a settlement between the federal government and The Door in which the group admitted responsibility for overreporting the number of visits to its healthcare facility to receive more funding from government-funded healthcare programs. 4 It has also sued the Trump administration’s Department of Education over rule changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. 5

The Door receives a large amount of its funding from local, state, and federal government grants, including from federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 6 The Door has also received funding from left-of-center billionaire George Soros’s Open Society Foundations (OSF). 7

Activities

Service Provision

The Door – A Center of Alternatives provides programming and services for approximately 11,000 youth between the ages of 12 and 24 annually, including mental health services, health care, education, legal assistance, college-preparation services, and housing support. The Door has four locations across New York City and is most well-known for its on-site public charter high school, the Broome Street Academy. 1

The Door provides free legal services to illegal immigrant youths to help them avoid detention and deportation and obtain documentation or asylum status. 2 The Door also offers gender reassignment procedures including hormone replacement therapy and surgery-referral letters. The Door also offers a wide array of birth control options, including emergency contraceptives. 6  3  8

Political Influence

In 2023, former U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM) was confirmed as then-President Joe Biden’s Director of the Office on Violence Against Women at the U.S. Department of Justice. She previously served as a staff attorney for The Door. Before this appointment, Small was an advisor on gender-based violence for the White House Gender Policy Council and special assistant to President Biden. 9

In 2025, The Door joined over 3,700 of non-profit organizations in signing an open letter to the Trump administration that opposed a series of executive orders that halted funding to nonprofit organizations engaged in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activism; illegal-immigration activism; and other left-of-center activities. 10

Lawsuits

In November 2025, The Door joined the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, the American Immigration Council, and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) as plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The plaintiffs challenged an ED rule change that they claimed would disqualify certain employers in the nonprofit and public service sectors from eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The plaintiffs argued the new rule allowed the Trump administration to arbitrarily disqualify employers from the PSLF program for left-wing activism, including pro-illegal immigration services and LGBT activism. 5

In 2021, The Door and Tulane Laura Hlass, a law professor at Tulane University Law School, filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for records concerning applications for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). The FOIA suit was in response to reports of thousands of youths whose uncertain immigration status in America created the potential for their deportation, a move The Door and Hlass opposed. The plaintiffs sued the USCIS for failing to respond to the FOIA request in a timely manner, but the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed the case. 11  12

Government Influence and Funding

In July 2022, then-New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) appointed Eva Wong as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health. Wong previously worked with The Door as a partner through the group’s University Settlement program, an initiative to offer mental health services to LGBT youth. The Door announced its support for Wong’s appointment. 13

In November 2025, The Door was selected along with over 20 other community groups to lead the New York City Council Technology Committee Chair Jennifer Gutierrez’s (D) “Grassroots AI Education & Engagement Initiative.” Through the initiative, The Door received a $36,000 grant to provide artificial intelligence training for community leaders and educators. 14

In October 2024, The Door received a $25,000 grant from the City of New York Bronx Community Board Three to support the expansion of the group’s Bronx Youth Center, which provides free meals and youth programming. 15

The Door has also received funding from local, state, and federal agencies for its programs, including from the District Attorney of New York County, the New York State Assembly, the New York City Department of Education, the New York State Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and several others. 6

Fraud Controversy

In February 2022, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced the settlement of a civil fraud lawsuit against The Door – A Center Of Alternatives. The Department of Justice alleged that The Door violated the False Claims Act by overreporting the number of visits to its healthcare facility in order to receive excessive funding from the Indigent Care Pool, a government-funded program that reimburses health-care providers for uncompensated care provided to low-income New Yorkers. The settlement was approved by U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, according to which The Door agreed to pay $2,725,514.51 to the United States and $10,222,297.89 to the State of New York to resolve the State’s claims. 4

Leadership

Kelsey Louie is the CEO and President of The Door – A Center of Alternatives and Broome Street Academy Charter High School. He previously worked as the CEO of Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), the world’s first HIV and AIDS service organization. He is a noteworthy activist on issues related to gay men’s health and appears regularly in print and television media. Louis also previously served as the COO and chief program officer of the Harlem United Community AIDS Center, Inc. and worked at NY Foundling, the Veritas Therapeutic Community, and the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services. He received an MBA from Columbia University and a master’s degree in social work from New York University, where he is an adjunct professor. 16

Benjamin Felt is the chair of the board of directors of The Door. He is a managing director of The Invus Group, a global investment firm. Previously, Felt was a management consultant with The Boston Consulting Group. 17

Finances

In 2024, The Door – A Center of Alternatives reported $38,801,850 in total revenues, $34,320,852 in total expenses, and $57,144,559 in total assets. That year, The Door received $18,451,831 in government grants (approximately 48 percent of its revenue). 18 The Door’s 2024 financial information represented a significant jump in total revenue compared to 2023 when The Door reported $29,186,860 in total revenues, $33,890,273 in total expenses, and $50,813,855 in total assets, including $17,532,236 in government grants (approximately 60 percent of that year’s total revenue). 19

From 2011 to 2015, George Soros’s Open Society Institute (now the Open Society Foundations) issued The Door three grants totaling $30,200. 7  20  21

In November 2025, New York City Council Technology Committee Chair Jennifer Gutierrez (D) issued The Door a $36,000 grant to train teachers in the use of artificial intelligence. 14

In 2024, The Door received a $25,000 grant from the City of New York Bronx Community Board Three to expand its Bronx Youth Center. 15

References

  1. “About.” The Door. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://www.door.org/about/
  2. “Legal Services.” The Door. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://www.door.org/legalservices/
  3. “Transgender Health.” The Door. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://www.door.org/transgender-health/
  4. “U.S. Attorney Announces $12.9 Million Settlement With The Door For Submitting Fraudulent Cost Reports.” Department of Justice, United States Attorney Office, Southern District of New York. February 2, 2022. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/us-attorney-announces-129-million-settlement-door-submitting-fraudulent-cost-reports
  5. “Lawsuit Challenges the Department of Education Over New Public Service Loan Forgiveness Rule.” American Immigration Council. November 5, 2025. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/press-release/lawsuit-challenges-department-education-public-loan-forgiveness-rule/
  6. “Annual Report 2024.” The Door. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://www.datocms-assets.com/75767/1753310923-07142025-fy24annualreport_final.pdf
  7. “Open Society Institute – 2011 Federal Form 990-PF.” ProPublica. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/137029285/2012_12_PF%2F13-7029285_990PF_201112
  8. “Health.” The Door. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://www.door.org/health/
  9. Nunez, Alan. “US Senate confirms Rosie Hidalgo and Xochitl Torres Small to crucial positions in President Biden’s cabinet.” Al Dia News. July 12, 2023. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://aldianews.com/en/politics/women-politics/two-latina-confirmations
  10. “An Open Letter Rejecting Presidential Attacks on Nonprofit Organizations.” Human Rights Watch. October 8, 2025. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/10/08/an-open-letter-rejecting-presidential-attacks-on-nonprofit-organizations
  11. “HLASS et al v. UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES.” The FOIA Project. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://foiaproject.org/case_detail/?title=on&style=foia&case_id=34544
  12. “2021-08-18+SIJS+COMPLAINT.pdf.” Square Space. August 18, 2021. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fe8d735a897d33f7e7054cd/t/611cf55521bab335f94eb687/1629287765145/2021-08-18+SIJS+COMPLAINT.pdf
  13. “Mayor Adams Appoints Eva Wong as Director of Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health, Brian Stettin as Senior Advisor for Severe Mental Illness.” New York City Government, Mayor’s Office. July 11, 2022. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2022/07/mayor-adams-appoints-eva-wong-director-mayor-s-office-community-mental-health-brian
  14. “CITY COUNCIL LAUNCHES FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND GRASSROOTS AI EDUCATION INITIATIVE.” New York City Council. November 24, 2025. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://council.nyc.gov/jennifer-gutierrez/2025/11/24/city-council-launches-first-of-its-kind-grassroots-ai-education-initiative/
  15. “2024-October-General-Board-Minutes.pdf.” New York City Government, City of New York Bronx Community Board Three. October 8, 2024. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://www.nyc.gov/assets/bronxcb3/pdf/board_minutes/2024/2024-October-General-Board-Minutes.pdf
  16. “Kelsey Louie.” The Door. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://www.door.org/leadership/kelsey-louie/
  17. “Leadership.” The Door. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://www.door.org/leadership/
  18. “The Door A Center Of Alternatives Inc – 2024 Federal Form 990.” ProPublica. Accessed January 28, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/136127348/202511359349306261/full
  19. “The Door A Center Of Alternatives Inc – 2023 Federal Form 990.” ProPublica. Accessed January 28, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/136127348/202421319349304357/full
  20. “Open Society Institute – 2014 Federal Form 990-PF.” ProPublica. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/137029285/201503179349100345/IRS990PF
  21. “Open Society Institute – 2015 Federal Form 990-PF.” ProPublica. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/137029285/201613199349101416/IRS990PF
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: June 1, 1964

    • 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
    2023 Jun Form 990 $29,186,860 $33,890,273 $50,813,855 $9,328,861 N $25,005,340 $2,474,115 $524,233 $1,018,385
    2022 Jun Form 990 $41,073,710 $33,271,686 $53,061,272 $6,226,017 N $34,717,330 $1,942,108 $855,206 $532,756 PDF
    2021 Jun Form 990 $31,098,431 $50,995,736 $69,409,999 $20,373,296 N $24,827,963 $1,832,923 $1,271,161 $937,391 PDF
    2020 Jun Form 990 $26,273,033 $28,471,868 $69,346,722 $7,044,708 N $21,339,080 $2,451,583 $1,477,691 $583,959 PDF
    2019 Jun Form 990 $22,876,828 $24,381,491 $68,763,380 $3,401,613 N $18,446,565 $2,067,533 $1,111,511 $682,756 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990 $23,675,058 $22,063,389 $71,483,916 $4,419,151 Y $19,364,830 $1,145,567 $1,126,243 $557,281 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $21,252,673 $19,914,045 $69,156,939 $3,388,278 N $18,063,582 $1,351,816 $808,391 $248,386 PDF
    2016 Jun Form 990 $25,280,032 $18,905,757 $65,225,456 $3,642,679 N $15,652,356 $1,264,654 $868,132 $477,217 PDF
    2015 Jun Form 990 $20,499,116 $15,274,104 $57,825,518 $1,735,248 N $18,271,746 $891,425 $531,760 $207,036 PDF
    2014 Jun Form 990 $42,610,234 $13,496,202 $52,273,667 $936,199 N $14,918,290 $705,017 $93,297 $201,861 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $13,393,780 $12,239,503 $22,083,971 $840,644 N $12,395,832 $361,283 $61,996 $190,747 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $12,855,234 $11,820,653 $21,031,924 $968,946 N $11,850,041 $484,697 $54,214 $187,351 PDF
    2011 Jun Form 990 $13,061,587 $11,297,659 $20,154,592 $1,064,217 N $12,235,049 $248,814 $42,400 $174,389 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    The Door – A Center of Alternatives

    121 AVE OF AMER SUITE 506
    New York, NY 10013-0000