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The New York Times Communities Fund at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

The New York Times Communities Fund

The fund was originated by adolph ochs sulzberger, then publisher of the new york times, to raise funds to provide to individuals and families in distress.

$8.5M
Granted FY2025still arriving
18
Grants FY2025still arriving
4
States reached
$727k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Human Services$33MPhilanthropy$9.4MFood & Nutrition$9.2MInternational$8.2MEducation$6.3MEmployment$1.4MHealth$250kArts & Culture$150kOther$0
02FY2025 · 18 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $50k–250k4 grants · $350k
  • $250k+14 grants · $8.0M
$726,505
Median grant
4
States reached
$73M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
FIRST BOOK$726,506
CAMFED$726,506
FEEDING AMERICA$726,506
CATHOLIC CHARITIES ARCHDIOCESE OF NY$726,506
CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY THE$726,506
ONE GOAL$726,506
HISPANIC FEDERATION INC$726,506
UJA FEDERATION OF NY$726,505
PERSCHOLAS$726,505
READING PARTNERS$500,000
CITY HARVEST INC$250,000
CITYMEALS ON WHEELS$250,000
YOUNG AND HEALTHY$250,000
COLLEGE ACCESS$250,000
LITERACY PARTNERS$100,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–25, $20.0M) land where the poverty rate runs at 18%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%CENTER FOR SAFETY & CHANGE: $50k → 14%RED HOOK INITIATIVE: $100k → 20%Brooklyn Community Services: $584k → 20%BROOKLYN COMMUNITY SERVICES: $543k → 20%BROOKLYN COMMUNITY SERVICES: $543k → 20%CATHOLIC CHARITIES DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN AND QUEENS: $543k → 20%Catholic Charities Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens: $439k → 20%CATHOLIC CHARITIES DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN AND QUEENS: $407k → 20%CATHOLIC CHARITIES ARCHDIOCESE OF NY: $881k → 17%CATHOLIC CHARITIES ARCHDIOCESE OF NY: $816k → 17%CATHOLIC CHARITIES ARCHDIOCESE OF NY: $680k → 17%CATHOLIC CHARITIES ARCHDIOCESE OF NY: $631k → 17%The Children's Aid Society: $1.9M → 17%THE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY: $1.2M → 17%CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY THE: $1.1M → 17%CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY THE: $881k → 17%COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY OF NY: $881k → 17%CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY THE: $817k → 17%THE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY: $815k → 17%COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY OF NY: $785k → 17%Community Service Society of New York: $732k → 17%CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY THE: $727k → 17%CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY THE: $714k → 17%COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY OF NEW YORK: $679k → 17%CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY THE: $657k → 17%COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY OF NY: $652k → 17%COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY OF NY: $543k → 17%COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY OF NEW YORK: $543k → 17%COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY OF NY: $150k → 17%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

97%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$66M · 20 repeat orgs$2.1M to everyone else

20 repeat relationships: 12 still active in FY2025, 8 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

20
6

Total granted

$66M
$848k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+39%
+54%

Still filing today

95%
67%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 85% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $1.3M went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Human ServicesEducationInternationalFood & NutritionCommunity ImprovementPhilanthropyOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • UJ
    UNITED JEWISH APPEAL-FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF NEW YORK INC
    9× · 2017–2025 · $9.4M · revenue +39%
  • TC
    THE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY
    9× · 2017–2025 · $8.8M · revenue +65%
  • Feeding America
    8× · 2018–2025 · $5.4M · revenue +77%

Funded once

  • CF
    COMMUNITY FUNDS INC
    one grant, 2021 · $563k
  • TA
    THE ACTORS' FUND OF AMERICA
    one grant, 2021 · $85k · revenue +8%
  • HU
    HELP USA INCgraduated
    one grant, 2024 · $50k · revenue +234%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
United Way of New York City

Uwnyc works with a coalition of trusted partners to unite community power with citywide possibility. together, we meet today's most urgent needs while building transformative solutions for tomorrow - striving for health, opportunity, and…

Philanthropy
2
West Side Center for Community Life

To pursue anti-hunger initiatives through the west side campaign against hunger (wscah) program whose mission is to alleviate hunger by ensuring that all new yorkers have access with dignity to a choice of healthy food and supportive…

Youth Development
3
Hunger Solutions New York Inc

We strive to maximize participation in, and support for, federally funded nutrition assistance programs including supplemental nutrition assistance program (snap), the school breakfast program and national school lunch program, the summer…

Food & Nutrition
4
City Report Inc

CITY REPORT, INC. serves the people of New York through independent journalism that answers their information needs and holds the powerful to account.

Arts & Culture
5
The New York Opportunity Network Inc Dba the Opportunity Network

The opportunity network ignites the drive, curiosity, and agency of underrepresented students on their paths to and through college and into thriving careers, powered by our commitment to access and community.

Education
6
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank

Our mission is to solve hunger in central pennsylvania by ensuring that everyone struggling with hunger has access to enough wholesome food every day. we will achieve this bold goal with the help of our generous donors, volunteers and…

Food & Nutrition
7
Children's Rights Inc

Children's rights is a national advocacy organization that investigates, exposes, and combats violations of the rights of children. through strategic advocacy and civil rights impact litigation, children's rights holds governments…

Civil Rights
8
Coalition for the Homeless Inc

The coalition for the homeless is the nation's oldest advocacy and direct service organization helping homeless individuals and families. we believe that affordable housing, sufficient food and the chance to work for a living wage are…

—
9
The Urban Assembly Inc

To advance students' economic and social mobility by improving public education.

International
10
Selfhelp Community Services Inc

A non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining the independence and dignity of seniors and at risk populations through a spectrum of services. selfhelp is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to maintaining the independence and…

Human Services
11
Actionaid Usa

Actionaid is an international network building a just, equitable, and sustainable world in solidarity with communities on the frontlines of poverty and injustice. actionaid usa is the u.s. branch of actionaid international, which works in…

Social Science
12
Jobsfirstnyc

Jobsfirstnyc's mission is to create and advance solutions that break down barriers and transform the systems supporting young adults and their communities in the pursuit of economic opportunities.

Youth Development
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Community Service Society of New York; the most unlike its peers is International Rescue Committee Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

29 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 29 of the 32 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
29/29
Grantees still filing
19/29
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

BROOKLYN BUREAU OF COMMUNITY SERVICE: $8,929,838 · Human ServicesBROOKLYN BUREAU OF COMMUNITY SERVICETHE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY: $8,817,759 · Human ServicesTHE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETYCOMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY OF NEW YORK: $4,965,709 · Human ServicesCOMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY OF NEW YORK+3 more: $200,000 · Human ServicesUNITED JEWISH APPEAL-FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF NEW YORK INC: $9,406,635 · PhilanthropyUNITED JEWISH APPEA…FEDERATION OF PROTESTANT WELFARE AGENCIES INC: $2,215,721 · PhilanthropyFEDERATION OF PROTE…Feeding America: $5,371,268 · Food & NutritionFeeding Americ…CITY HARVEST INC: $1,847,867 · Food & NutritionCITY HARVEST I…CITYMEALS-ON-WHEELS: $1,650,000 · Food & NutritionCITYMEALS-ON-W…International Rescue Committee INC: $5,289,746 · InternationalInternational…WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $1,445,918 · InternationalWORLD CENTRAL…CAMFED USA FOUNDATION: $1,440,194 · InternationalCAMFED USA FO…FIRST BOOK: $3,636,850 · EducationREADING PARTNERS: $500,000 · EducationLiteracy Partners Inc: $472,000 · EducationLATINO U COLLEGE ACCESS INC: $250,000 · EducationCATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK: $2,487,180 · OtherCATHOLIC CHAR…CATHOLIC CHARITIES COMMUNITY SERVICES ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK: $1,440,194 · OtherCATHOLIC CHAR…COMMUNITY FUNDS INC: $563,221 · OtherCOMMUNITY FUN…ONEGOAL: $1,440,194 · OtherONEGOALPER SCHOLAS INC: $1,440,193 · OtherPER SCHOLAS I…+6 more: $785,000 · Other+6 moreHISPANIC FEDERATION INC: $2,715,257 · Community ImprovementFOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY: $300,000 · Community Improvement+1 more: $50,000 · Community Improvement
Human Services$22,913,306Philanthropy$11,622,356Food & Nutrition$8,869,135International$8,175,858Education$4,858,850Other$8,155,982Community Improvement$3,065,257

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetUNITED JEWISH APPEAL-FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF NEW YORK INC: $9,406,635 over 9y, 0.7% of budgetBROOKLYN BUREAU OF COMMUNITY SERVICE: $8,929,838 over 7y, 6.3% of budgetTHE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY: $8,817,759 over 9y, 1.4% of budgetFeeding America: $5,371,268 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetInternational Rescue Committee INC: $5,289,746 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetCOMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY OF NEW YORK: $4,965,709 over 8y, 2.7% of budgetFIRST BOOK: $3,636,850 over 5y, 0.9% of budgetHISPANIC FEDERATION INC: $2,715,257 over 7y, 1.1% of budgetFEDERATION OF PROTESTANT WELFARE AGENCIES INC: $2,215,721 over 4y, 17% of budgetCITY HARVEST INC: $1,847,867 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetCITYMEALS-ON-WHEELS: $1,650,000 over 8y, 1.0% of budgetWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $1,445,918 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetCAMFED USA FOUNDATION: $1,440,194 over 2y, 2.4% of budgetONEGOAL: $1,440,194 over 2y, 2.5% of budgetCATHOLIC CHARITIES COMMUNITY SERVICES ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK: $1,440,194 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetPER SCHOLAS INC: $1,440,193 over 2y, 1.0% of budgetREADING PARTNERS: $500,000 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetLiteracy Partners Inc: $472,000 over 4y, 4.2% of budgetFOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY: $300,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTHE NEW YORK SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN: $250,000 over 2y, 4.8% of budgetYOUNG & HEALTHY: $250,000 over 1y, 9.2% of budgetBCT BROOKLYN CHILDREN'S THEATRE INC: $100,000 over 1y, 12% of budgetRED HOOK INITIATIVE: $100,000 over 1y, 2.4% of budgetTHE ACTORS' FUND OF AMERICA: $85,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHELP USA INC: $50,000 over 1y, 23% of budgetCENTER FOR SAFETY & CHANGE INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetOperation Warm Inc: $50,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The New York Communit…Jewish Communal FundThe Ford FoundationMorgan Stanley Global…Altman FoundationUnited Way Miami IncThe Hyde and Watson F…American Express Foun…Jpmorgan Chase Founda…Vanguard Charitable E…Renaissance Charitabl…National Philanthropi…
The New York Community TrustNY15× affinity5 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The New York Community Trust · Jewish Communal Fund · The Ford Foundation · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Altman Foundation · United Way Miami Inc · The Hyde and Watson Foundation · American Express Foundation · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc · National Philanthropic Trust

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization The New York Times Communities Fund funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The New York Times Communities Fund. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%2%6%14%25%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    11report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to The New York Times Communities Fund?

    Find your warmest path to The New York Times Communities Fund through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 32 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on New York Times Communities’ filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home