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ALLIANCE FOR DOWNTOWN NEW YORK INC

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 133791550 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE S99Z · Community Improvement · Large ($10M-$50M) · downtownny.com
revenue
$24.0M
expenses
$23.2M
net assets
$22.6M
employees
79
volunteers
40
program ratio
92%
mission · from form 990

TO PROVIDE SERVICE, ADVOCACY, RESEARCH AND INFORMATION TO ADVANCE LOWER MANHATTAN AS A GLOBAL MODEL OF A 21ST CENTURY CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT FOR BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Alliance for Downtown New York is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing Lower Manhattan as a vibrant 21st-century central business district. It supports local businesses, promotes economic development, and enhances quality of life through sanitation, public safety, marketing, and cultural programming. The organization serves businesses, residents, and visitors in Lower Manhattan.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $5.16M
    COMMUNICATIONS, MARKETING AND PROMOTION: SEE SCHEDULE O
  2. #2 $4.47M
    PUBLIC SAFETY: SEE SCHEDULE O
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Communications, Marketing and Promotion
Runs marketing campaigns and promotional events to attract visitors, support local businesses, and elevate the profile of Lower Manhattan
LM Live
Brings free and low-cost cultural events to Lower Manhattan, including film screenings and panel discussions, to celebrate community, history, and diversity
Public Safety
Operates safety and security initiatives to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for residents, workers, and visitors in the district
RE:Store
Program that transforms vacant storefronts into pop-up shops for small businesses, offering three months of free rent and an operations grant to support local entrepreneurs in Lower Manhattan
Sanitation Services
Provides cleaning and maintenance services across Lower Manhattan to improve public space and support a healthy business environment
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Business Improvement District Management 2 activities
    • Advocate for Lower Manhattan’s economic development
      Conducts advocacy efforts to support economic development, public safety, sanitation, and transportation improvements in Lower Manhattan.
    • Manage the Downtown-Lower Manhattan Business Improvement District
      Manages the Downtown-Lower Manhattan Business Improvement District, covering the area from City Hall to the Battery and along the East River, Hudson River, and NY Harbor, making it one of the largest BIDs in the United States.
  • Regional Tourism Promotion 1 activity
    • Conduct marketing, communications, and promotion for Lower Manhattan
      Conducts comprehensive marketing, communications, and promotional initiatives—including a weekly digital newsletter and quarterly print newsletter—to advance Lower Manhattan as a 21st-century central business district and support its economic vitality.
  • Public Space Beautification and Maintenance 1 activity
    • Deliver streetscape and urban design improvements
      Provides maintenance and enhancement of public spaces including parks, plantings, plazas, streetscapes, and street furniture across Lower Manhattan.
  • Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
    • Organize community events and cultural programming
      Organizes a wide range of community events and cultural programs such as the Fearless Girl Summer Block Party, outdoor film screenings, pop-up retail shops, food festivals, and the LM Live initiative, including panel discussions and the “New York on Film” series, to engage the Lower Manhattan community around local culture, history, and innovation.
  • Urban Policy and Equity Research 1 activity
    • Produce research to support economic development
      Produces research reports and comprehensive studies on Lower Manhattan’s economy and quality of life to inform policy, promote small businesses, and market the area as a vibrant business district.
  • Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 1 activity
    • Provide homeless outreach services
      Provides outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness in partnership with Trinity Church and the Bowery Residents Committee, resulting in hundreds of placements into permanent housing since 2009.
  • Community Safety Patrols & Security Support 1 activity
    • Provide supplemental sanitation and public safety services
      Provides daily supplemental sanitation services and deploys 50 public safety officers to patrol Lower Manhattan 24/7, enhancing cleanliness and security for residents, workers, and visitors.
  • Local Business Financing and Incentives 1 activity
    • Support small businesses through pop-up retail and grants
      Supports small businesses through the RE:Store program, which provides three months of free rent and operations grants, and operates pop-up retail shops and pop-up food events featuring local vendors, artists, and culinary entrepreneurs.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Operate free circulator bus and public Wi-Fi services
      Operates a free circulator bus service with five state-of-the-art buses across 36 stops in Lower Manhattan and Battery Park City, running daily from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and provides free public Wi-Fi throughout the district.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$24.00M
Contributions & grants$295K1%
Program service revenue$22.43M93%
Investment income$1.27M5%
Other revenue$12K
expenses
Total expenses$23.23M
Program expenses92%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$8.13M
Grants paid out$12K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$25.31M
Cash$13.28M
Investments$9.76M
Liabilities$2.73M
Net assets$22.58M
Liquid reserves11.9 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +1.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 9
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
JESSICA LAPPIN PRESIDENT 40 $762K
ANDREW BRESLAU SVP COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING 40 $306K
MARK QUINN CFO AND SVP OF ADMIN 40 $304K
RON WOLFGANG SVP OPERATIONS 40 $244K
JOSHUA NACHOWITZ SVP RESEARCH AND ECONOMIC DEV 40 $239K
MICHAEL KETRING GENERAL COUNSEL 40 $225K
TAINA PRADO CHIEF OF STAFF 40 $212K
NANCY CASCELLA GENERAL COUNSEL 40 $179K
DANIEL GIACOMAZZA VP COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING 40 $177K
board members · 16
  • ALLAN G SPERLING — TREASURER
  • ANITA LAREMONT — DIRECTOR
  • BETTY COHEN — DIRECTOR
  • BRETT GREENBERG — DIRECTOR
  • BRIAN R STEINWURTZEL — DIRECTOR
  • CALLIE HAINES — DIRECTOR
  • CHARMAINE MANGAROO — DIRECTOR, APPOINTED BY ERIC ADAMS
  • CYNTHIA ROJAS SEJAS — DIRECTOR
  • DAN PALINO — DIRECTOR
  • DANIEL HAIMOVIC — DIRECTOR (LEFT 11/19/24)
  • DAVID V FOWLER — DIRECTOR
  • DR ANTHONY MUNROE — DIRECTOR
  • ED SPADE — DIRECTOR
  • EDWARD V PICCINICH — DIRECTOR
  • ELIZABETH L HILLMAN — DIRECTOR
  • FRANCIS J GREENBURGER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 14

Who they work with

  • 9/11 Memorial and Museum Partner — Collaborates with the 9/11 Memorial and Museum as part of its Board of Directors membership.
  • Battery Conservancy Partner — Co-hosted an outdoor film screening event with the Downtown Alliance at the Battery.
  • Borough of Manhattan Community College Partner — Engages with Borough of Manhattan Community College through board-level collaboration.
  • Bowery Residents Committee Partner — Partners with the Alliance to provide homeless outreach services since 2009.
  • Downtown-Lower Manhattan Business Improvement District Government — Manages the Downtown-Lower Manhattan Business Improvement District (BID).
  • NYPD Downtown Center Partner — Shares office space and collaborates on public safety operations with the Downtown Alliance’s Public Safety office.
  • PAC NYC Partner — Co-hosted an outdoor film screening event with the Downtown Alliance at the Battery.
  • Pace University Partner — Includes Pace University in its Board of Directors, indicating a formal partnership in governance and urban development initiatives.
  • Passio GO! Partner — Provides real-time bus tracking through the Passio GO! app and map platform.
  • Rocco DiSpirito Partner — Celebrity chef collaborating on a virtual cooking series featuring Lower Manhattan chefs.
  • State Street Partner — Collaborated with State Street to organize the Fearless Girl Summer Block Party and provide a preview of Fearless Girl's future.
  • The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Government — Collaborates with The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey through joint representation on the Board of Directors.
  • Trinity Church Partner — Partners with the Alliance to provide homeless outreach services since 2009.
  • Trinity Church NYC Partner — Partners with Trinity Church NYC through shared representation on the Board of Directors.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Business Improvement District (BID) Model for Urban Vitality
    methodology: business_improvement_district
    By leveraging the BID model, the organization drives economic development, public safety, sanitation, and marketing because localized, stakeholder-funded governance enables targeted, responsive improvements that enhance quality of life and attract investment.
  • Community Engagement Through Cultural Activation
    methodology: community-engagement-through-culture
    By hosting food festivals, cultural events, and virtual programs featuring local talent and chefs, the organization strengthens neighborhood connections and supports local businesses because shared cultural experiences increase foot traffic, build community identity, and drive economic activity.
  • Comprehensive District Management
    methodology: comprehensive-district-management
    By integrating service delivery, advocacy, research, and communication, the organization advances Lower Manhattan as a 21st-century central business district because coordinated, multi-sector management produces a more resilient, competitive, and livable urban environment.
  • Place-Based Revitalization Through Vacant Storefront Activation
    methodology: vacant-storefront-reuse
    By repurposing vacant storefronts with free rent and operational grants, small businesses can launch and test concepts in Lower Manhattan, because reducing entry barriers fosters entrepreneurship and strengthens local economic vitality.
  • Visible Safety and Cleanliness as Quality-of-Life Infrastructure
    methodology: ambassador_model
    By maintaining a 24/7 ambassador presence and coordinating with law enforcement, the organization improves public safety and cleanliness because visible stewardship deters crime and signals care, which in turn increases resident, worker, and visitor confidence in the neighborhood.