Better Spent NYC

A Financial Rating and a Scalability Rating for New York City hunger relief organizations, computed from their IRS Form 990 filings. This site requires JavaScript for its interactive pages; the ratings are listed below.

The Financial Rating, out of 10, asks whether an organization is financially healthy today. It is built from up to six metrics: its three-year operating margin, how concentrated its revenue is, how much of its liquid assets are cash, how many months of spending its liquid assets cover, donated food per dollar of expense, and cash cost per meal. The Scalability Rating, out of 10, asks whether more money would do more. It is built from six years of filings: growth, how steady revenue is, the cost of raising money, governance controls, board independence, and whether growth paid for itself. Bands: Strong is 8.0 or higher, Solid 6.5 to 7.9, Mixed 5.0 to 6.4, and Watch under 5.0. The ratings judge how an organization handles money. They do not measure the quality of its food or services. Organizations are compared within three peer groups, and a metric that cannot be computed from a filing is left out of both points earned and points available rather than counted against the organization. Every number comes from the organization’s own filing, and the interactive page shows each calculation. Corrections: betterspentnyc@gmail.com.

Organization	Peer group	Fiscal year	Financial Rating	Band	Scalability Rating	Band
GrowNYC	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2025	9.1	Strong	7.7	Solid
Met Council on Jewish Poverty	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2025	9.1	Strong	8.9	Strong
Part of the Solution (POTS)	Meal Providers	FY2024	8.9	Strong	9.0	Strong
Reaching Out Community Services	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2025	8.7	Strong	2.9	Watch
SBH Community Service Network	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2024	8.7	Strong	7.6	Solid
The Hope Center Development Corporation	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2024	8.6	Strong	6.3	Mixed
North Brooklyn Angels	Meal Providers	FY2024	8.5	Strong	7.5	Solid
Mid-Bronx Senior Citizens Council	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2025	8.5	Strong	Not rated	Not rated
Henry Street Settlement	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2024	8.5	Strong	8.1	Strong
Mixteca Organization	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2025	8.4	Strong	8.0	Strong
Southside United HDFC (Los Sures)	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2024	8.4	Strong	7.5	Solid
Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC	Multi-Service, Small (under $2M)	FY2024	8.3	Strong	8.0	Strong
Make the Road New York	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2024	8.3	Strong	6.8	Solid
Trinity Human Services	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2024	8.2	Strong	7.9	Solid
Women's Empowerment Coalition of New York City	Multi-Service, Small (under $2M)	FY2025	8.2	Strong	9.1	Strong
Chinese-American Planning Council	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2025	8.2	Strong	7.8	Solid
St. John's Bread & Life	Meal Providers	FY2025	8.1	Strong	8.3	Strong
Council of Peoples Organization	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2024	8.1	Strong	8.9	Strong
Crossroads Community Services	Meal Providers	FY2024	7.9	Solid	6.0	Mixed
River Fund New York	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2025	7.9	Solid	8.0	Strong
Anchor House	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2025	7.9	Solid	8.2	Strong
Community Health Action of Staten Island	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2024	7.9	Solid	7.9	Solid
Harlem Grown	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2024	7.7	Solid	8.6	Strong
Food Bank For New York City	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2025	7.5	Solid	8.5	Strong
MUNA Social Services	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2023	7.5	Solid	5.3	Mixed
Coalition for the Homeless	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2025	7.5	Solid	7.0	Solid
CHiPS	Meal Providers	FY2024	7.4	Solid	9.0	Strong
Meals on Wheels of Staten Island	Meal Providers	FY2025	7.3	Solid	8.7	Strong
Hunger Free America	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2025	7.3	Solid	8.4	Strong
Child Development Support Corporation	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2025	7.3	Solid	7.6	Solid
Rescuing Leftover Cuisine	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2025	7.1	Solid	8.2	Strong
New York Common Pantry	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2025	7.0	Solid	8.2	Strong
Jewish Community Council of Rockaway Peninsula	Multi-Service, Small (under $2M)	FY2025	7.0	Solid	8.3	Strong
Neighbors Together	Meal Providers	FY2025	6.9	Solid	6.0	Mixed
Educational Alliance	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2025	6.9	Solid	7.7	Solid
Corbin Hill Food Project	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2024	6.9	Solid	7.7	Solid
Catholic Charities Community Services, Archdiocese of New York	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2025	6.8	Solid	8.8	Strong
One Community NYC	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2025	6.5	Solid	7.4	Solid
Goddard Riverside Community Center	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2025	6.5	Solid	5.0	Mixed
Lenox Hill Neighborhood House	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2025	6.5	Solid	7.2	Solid
United Bronx Parents	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2025	6.4	Mixed	Not rated	Not rated
Citymeals on Wheels	Meal Providers	FY2025	6.2	Mixed	6.3	Mixed
City Harvest	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2025	6.2	Mixed	5.5	Mixed
Center for Family Life in Sunset Park	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2025	6.2	Mixed	8.9	Strong
The Gambian Youths Organization	Multi-Service, Small (under $2M)	FY2024	6.2	Mixed	5.4	Mixed
Brooklyn Rescue Mission Urban Harvest Center	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2024	6.0	Mixed	5.6	Mixed
Open Door Family Life Center	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2025	6.0	Mixed	Not rated	Not rated
Upper Manhattan Mental Health Center	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2025	6.0	Mixed	9.1	Strong
Catholic Charities of Staten Island	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2025	5.9	Mixed	7.9	Solid
West Side Campaign Against Hunger	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2025	5.8	Mixed	7.7	Solid
St. Nicks Alliance	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2024	5.7	Mixed	8.9	Strong
God's Love We Deliver	Meal Providers	FY2025	5.5	Mixed	7.8	Solid
Jewish Community Council of Canarsie	Multi-Service, Small (under $2M)	FY2025	5.5	Mixed	6.2	Mixed
Queens Community House	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2025	5.4	Mixed	7.9	Solid
Homecrest Community Services	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2025	5.4	Mixed	9.4	Strong
Bay Ridge Center	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2025	5.4	Mixed	9.6	Strong
Family Services Network	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2025	5.3	Mixed	Not rated	Not rated
BronxWorks	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2025	5.3	Mixed	7.9	Solid
The Campaign Against Hunger	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2025	5.2	Mixed	8.0	Strong
Astoria Food Pantry	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2024	5.2	Mixed	Not rated	Not rated
CAMBA	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2024	5.2	Mixed	7.8	Solid
Urban Strategies	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2025	5.1	Mixed	9.6	Strong
Xavier Mission	Meal Providers	FY2025	5.0	Mixed	9.4	Strong
Grand Street Settlement	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2025	4.9	Watch	7.8	Solid
Kingsbridge Heights Community Center	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2025	4.9	Watch	7.7	Solid
The Urban Outreach Center of New York City	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2024	4.8	Watch	5.4	Mixed
Bay Ridge Community Development Center	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2024	4.7	Watch	4.1	Watch
ACTS Community Development Corporation	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2024	4.7	Watch	Not rated	Not rated
Praxis Housing Initiatives	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2025	4.7	Watch	7.2	Solid
United Community Centers	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2024	4.6	Watch	4.1	Watch
Shorefront Jewish Community Council	Multi-Service, Small (under $2M)	FY2025	4.6	Watch	8.3	Strong
Project Hospitality	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2025	4.5	Watch	5.9	Mixed
Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2025	4.5	Watch	Not rated	Not rated
New Covenant Community Development Corporation	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2025	4.4	Watch	7.5	Solid
Masbia Soup Kitchen Network	Meal Providers	FY2025	4.3	Watch	5.3	Mixed
New York School of Urban Ministry	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2024	4.3	Watch	4.1	Watch
Broadway Community	Meal Providers	FY2024	4.2	Watch	6.8	Solid
University Settlement Society of New York	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2024	4.2	Watch	5.7	Mixed
New York United Jewish Association	Multi-Service, Small (under $2M)	FY2024	4.0	Watch	6.5	Solid
Bronx Bethany Community Corporation	Multi-Service, Small (under $2M)	FY2024	3.9	Watch	Not rated	Not rated
The Bowery Mission	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2024	3.9	Watch	4.4	Watch
St. Ann's Corner of Harm Reduction	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2025	3.7	Watch	6.3	Mixed
Overcoming Love Ministries	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2025	3.6	Watch	Not rated	Not rated
Project Hope Charities	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2024	3.5	Watch	5.2	Mixed
ICNA Relief USA	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2024	3.5	Watch	9.7	Strong
Bowery Residents' Committee (BRC)	Multi-Service, Large ($20M+)	FY2025	3.3	Watch	7.0	Solid
Encore Community Services	Meal Providers	FY2025	3.2	Watch	6.6	Solid
People in Need	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2024	3.0	Watch	Not rated	Not rated
Community Action for Human Service	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2025	2.9	Watch	Not rated	Not rated
Rethink Food NYC	Meal Providers	FY2024	2.8	Watch	8.5	Strong
Bnai Raphael Chesed Organization	Food Distribution & Pantries	FY2025	2.8	Watch	5.5	Mixed
Yemeni American Merchants Association	Multi-Service, Small (under $2M)	FY2025	2.7	Watch	5.8	Mixed
Destination Tomorrow	Multi-Service, Medium ($2M–$20M)	FY2025	1.7	Watch	4.9	Watch