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COUNCIL OF PEOPLES ORGANIZATION INC
BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 753046891 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE P20 · Human Services · Medium ($1M-$10M) · copo.org
revenue
$7.6M
expenses
$6.2M
net assets
$13.1M
employees
90
volunteers
602
program ratio
90%
mission · from form 990

ORGANIZATIONS MOST SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY IS TO ASSIST LOW INCOME IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY SOUTH ASIANS AND MUSLIMS, TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS RESIDENTS OF NYC.COPO EMPOWERS MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR RIGHTS & UNDERSTANDING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES.

profile · synthesized from sources

COUNCIL OF PEOPLES ORGANIZATION INC (COPO) is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit serving low-income immigrant families, with a focus on South Asian and Muslim communities. The organization provides direct services including halal food distribution, legal and benefits assistance, mental health counseling, and case management. COPO also runs youth development, citizenship, and older adult programs, combining culturally sensitive support with community empowerment.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $1.26M
    COMMUNITY EDUCATION- WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY, COPO OFFERS FREE MONTHLY LEGAL CLINICS. THESE CLINICS OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH ATTORNEYS ON IMMIGRATION, HOUSING, AND OTHER ISSUES. THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP, COPO IS ABLE TO PROVIDE INTAKE, ADVICE, AND/OR REPRESENTATION TO OVER 400 INDIVIDUALS. BENEFITS SCREENING &ENROLLMENT:-COPOS PROGRAM PROVIDES EDUCATION, OUTREACH, SCREENING, AND ENROLLMENT FOR SNAP, MEDICAID, FAMILY HEALTH PLUS, CHILD HEALTH PLUS, THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, AND OTHER BENEFITS. WE PROVIDE THESE SERVICES TO OVER 6,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY. IN ADDITION, COPO PROVIDES EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND REFERRAL FOR FREE HEALTH INSURANCE TO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MAYORS OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS
  2. #2 $623K
    YOUTH EMPOWERMENT:- COPOS YOUTH PROGRAM BUILDS INTERGROUP SOLIDARITY AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS THROUGH VOLUNTEERING/COMMUNITY SERVICE, SPORTS, EDUCATION, AND CULTURAL EVENTS. EACH YEAR, COPO PROVIDES HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE, ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TO OVER 200 ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AT OUR SITES IN BROOKLYN AND QUEENS. MOREOVER, WE CONDUCT OUR ANNUAL COPO YOUTH CAREER DAY, WHICH IS ATTENDED BY OVER 900 YOUNG PEOPLE, AND PARTICIPATED IN BY 26 FEDERAL, STATE, AND CITY AGENCIES; AS WELL AS OVER 30 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
named programs · 10 · from sources

What they call their work

Case Management for Older Adults
Provides culturally sensitive support including SNAP, Medicaid, and housing assistance, with translation in Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, and Arabic for older adults in Brooklyn.
Citizenship and ESOL Classes
Provides civics education and English language instruction twice weekly to support adult immigrants preparing for U.S. citizenship exams.
Halal Food Pantry
Client-choice food pantry distributing over 360,000 pounds of halal food annually to low-income families across NYC, with weekly Friday distributions in Brooklyn.
Halal Meals-on-Wheels
Only registered Halal Meals-on-Wheels program in NYC, delivering hot, halal-certified meals twice weekly to homebound Muslim seniors aged 60+ in Brooklyn.
Legal Clinics
Monthly free legal clinics in partnership with the Legal Aid Society, offering consultations on immigration, housing, and other issues to over 400 individuals annually.
Mental Health Counseling
Provides trauma-informed, linguistically accessible counseling in English, Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi for undocumented individuals, seniors, youth, and at-risk adults.
Neighborhood 360°
Community revitalization initiative connecting residents to local services, workforce opportunities, and neighborhood improvements in Brooklyn.
Universal Pre-K
NYC Department of Education-funded program offering free full-day pre-K to 36 children annually in the Flatbush-Midwood area with a culturally sensitive curriculum.
Women's Empowerment Program
Offers crisis support, legal rights workshops, job readiness, and peer circles for immigrant women from Muslim, Arab, and South Asian backgrounds facing systemic barriers.
Youth Empowerment Program
Offers homework assistance, academic enrichment, leadership development, and annual Career Day for over 200 elementary and middle school students in Brooklyn and Queens.
activities · 16 groups

What they do

  • ESL and Citizenship Instruction 2 activities
    • Deliver citizenship and civics preparation programs
      Offers citizenship preparation classes covering American history, civics, and naturalization interview practice for low-income individuals and older adults, including focused instruction and mock interviews.
    • Provide English language instruction
      Offers ESOL and English language classes twice weekly for older adults and other community members to improve language proficiency and support integration.
  • Civil Rights Advocacy & Litigation 1 activity
    • Advocate for legal awareness and policy change
      Conducts community workshops and advocacy campaigns to promote legal awareness, teach students how to recognize and report hate, and advance policy change.
  • Medicaid Health Home Care Coordination 1 activity
    • Coordinate access to home care and health services
      Assists eligible older adults in coordinating access to Medicaid and non-Medicaid home care services, and provides health education workshops on reproductive health, mental health, chronic illness, nutrition, and postpartum care with cultural sensitivity.
  • Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
    • Deliver culturally appropriate food assistance
      Operates a client-choice food pantry and mobile food pantry, distributing over 360,000 pounds of halal food annually, and serves over 34,000 hot, halal meals to low-income households and older adults in New York City.
  • School-Based Mental Health and Family Support 1 activity
    • Deliver mental health and trauma-informed services
      Provides one-on-one mental health counseling, crisis support, culturally competent trauma-informed services, and group programming in schools for youth and survivors of abuse, trauma, or domestic violence.
  • After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
    • Deliver youth empowerment and academic support programs
      Provides homework assistance, academic enrichment, leadership development, and mentoring to over 200 elementary and middle school students annually through after-school and summer programs, including at Razi School for grades 6–8.
  • Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 1 activity
    • Host annual Youth Career Day
      Hosts an annual Youth Career Day attended by over 900 young people, featuring participation from 26 federal, state, and city agencies, over 30 community-based organizations, and private schools.
  • Early Childhood Education & Development Programs 1 activity
    • Offer pre-kindergarten education program
      Operates a free full-day pre-kindergarten program for 36 children annually in the Flatbush-Midwood area with a culturally sensitive curriculum, funded by the NYC Department of Education.
  • Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 1 activity
    • Operate free monthly legal clinics
      Provides free monthly legal clinics in partnership with the Legal Aid Society, offering intake, advice, and/or representation to over 400 individuals annually on immigration, housing, and other legal issues.
  • Nonprofit Internship Programs 1 activity
    • Operate internship and capacity-building programs
      Runs an affiliated internship program to provide training and professional development opportunities in various fields.
  • Home-Delivered Meals for Seniors and Homebound 1 activity
    • Provide Halal Meals-on-Wheels for homebound seniors
      Delivers halal-certified meals twice weekly to low-income Muslim seniors aged 60+ in Brooklyn through the only registered Halal Meals-on-Wheels program in New York City.
  • Community Resource Navigation and Support Services 1 activity
    • Provide case management services
      Offers free case management services to individuals and families, including benefits enrollment, housing assistance, wellness check-ins, translation, and referrals for legal, mental health, and healthcare services, supporting over 900 older adult clients annually.
  • Public Benefits Navigation and Enrollment 1 activity
    • Provide public benefits enrollment assistance
      Offers education, outreach, screening, and enrollment assistance for public benefits including SNAP, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and NYC Care to over 6,000 people annually.
  • Women's Empowerment and Leadership Development 1 activity
    • Provide workforce and digital literacy training for women
      Offers job readiness support, digital literacy classes, English tutoring, and peer mentoring for women to promote economic empowerment and self-sufficiency.
  • Senior Social & Enrichment Programming 1 activity
    • Support older adults with wellness and social engagement
      Provides weekly fitness sessions including chair yoga and low-impact aerobics, companionship through friendly visits, and regular check-ins to reduce social isolation and support mobility and mental well-being among homebound seniors.
  • Domestic Violence Survivor Support Services 1 activity
    • Support survivors of domestic violence
      Provides crisis intervention, personalized safety planning, legal referrals for orders of protection and immigration relief (including VAWA and U-Visa), and case management for survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$7.59M
Contributions & grants$7.53M99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$54K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$6.20M
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$3.15M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$16.40M
Cash$1.25M
Investments$0
Liabilities$3.34M
Net assets$13.06M
Liquid reserves2.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +31.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MOHAMMAD RAZVI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $186K
board members · 5
  • HUSSAIN DARSE — MEMBER
  • IBRAHIM OLEVIC — PRESIDENT
  • MIRSAD MUMINOVIC — TREASURER
  • SALAMAT ALI — SECRETARY
  • ZILFA BAKSH — MEMBER
relationships · 68

Who they work with

  • Al-Hasan Academy Partner — School listed as a partner or affiliate
  • American Council of Minority Women Partner — Community-based organization listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Asian American Federation Partner — Collaborated with COPO to develop a 16-week curriculum-based program promoting anti-hate education and emotional resilience.
  • Baitun Noor Masjid Partner — Mosque listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Bangladesh Muslim Center Partner — Mosque listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Bronx Borough President Office Government — Government office listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Bronx Islamic Center Partner — Mosque listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Brookdale University Hospital Partner — Hospital listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Brooklyn Network — COPO operates programs in Brooklyn, including the Neighborhood 360° initiative.
  • Brooklyn Borough President Office Government — Government office listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Brooklyn Islamic Center Partner — Mosque listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Brooklyn Relief Kitchen Partner — Church listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Bushwick United Methodist Church Partner — Church listed as a partner or affiliate
  • CACF Partner — Co-developed a 16-week curriculum-based program with COPO focused on anti-hate education and emotional resilience.
  • COPO Network — Council of Peoples Organization Inc operates as COPO, indicating internal branding alignment.
  • Camp Friendship Partner — Community-based organization listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Christ Apostolic Church Partner — Church listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Church Bethesda Healing Center Partner — Church listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Church Goke Partner — Church listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Church Mt. Zion Church of God Partner — Church listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Church Reaching Out Ministries Partner — Church listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Church of God East Flatbush Partner — Church listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Dedicated attorneys and legal professionals Partner — Legal professionals who deliver services through COPO’s legal clinics.
  • East Flatbush Islamic Center Partner — Mosque listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Emblem Health – Church Partner — Church listed as a partner or affiliate
  • FBI Partner — Collaborates with COPO to build understanding of MASA communities in Midwood, Brooklyn.
  • God’s Battalion Prayer Church Partner — Church listed as a partner or affiliate
  • God’s Battalion of Prayer Partner — Church listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Hamza Mosque Partner — Mosque listed as a partner or affiliate
  • Health First Partner — Community-based organization listed as a partner or affiliate
+ 38 more
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.

  • Client-Choice Model in Food Pantry Services
    methodology: client_choice_model
    By allowing individuals to select their own food items in the pantry, the organization promotes dignity and autonomy, which increases engagement and trust in services because choice is central to human dignity.
  • Community-Empowerment Through Civic and Systemic Engagement
    methodology: community_empowerment
    By empowering marginalized communities with education and support to understand and exercise their civic rights, the organization strengthens community integration and self-advocacy because knowledge and institutional bridging enable long-term agency.
  • Culturally Specific and Religious Compliance in Service Design
    methodology: culturally_specific_services
    By designing services that comply with Islamic dietary laws and cultural norms—such as halal food distribution and culturally specific senior centers—the organization increases access and trust among Muslim and South Asian communities because religious and cultural recognition removes barriers to utilization.
  • Integrated Legal Empowerment with Advocacy and Education
    methodology: integrated-legal-empowerment
    By combining direct legal services with community education and systemic advocacy, the organization addresses both immediate needs and root causes of legal inequity, producing more sustainable outcomes because individual and structural interventions reinforce one another.
  • Trauma-Informed and Culturally Grounded Mental Health Approach
    methodology: trauma_informed_care
    By delivering mental health services through a trauma-informed, linguistically inclusive, and culturally relevant framework, the organization reduces stigma and builds trust, increasing engagement because clients feel understood and safe within their cultural context.