named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Abundant New York
Independent expenditure committee (super PAC) launched by Open New York to support pro-housing candidates in city and state elections through financial contributions and mobilization.
Charter Reforms for Housing Equity
Advocacy effort to advance four proposed amendments to the NYC Charter via ballot measure in November 2025, aimed at reforming the city’s land-use approval process to promote equitable housing development.
City of Yes for Housing Opportunity
Advocacy campaign supporting a citywide zoning reform initiative that aims to enable over 80,000 new homes across New York City through eight key policy changes.
Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act (S3397/A3647)
State-level legislative campaign to enable religious institutions to develop affordable housing on underutilized land by reforming zoning restrictions.
activities · 2 groups
What they do
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Housing Policy Advocacy & Tenant Organizing 10 activities
- Advancing citywide housing opportunity plansHelped pass the “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” plan, which is expected to enable over 80,000 new homes across New York City through eight citywide initiatives aimed at increasing housing access and affordability.
- Advocacy for ballot initiatives and charter reforms to promote equitable housing developmentAdvocates for ballot proposals that fast-track affordable housing and supported the Charter Revision Commission’s 2025 land-use reform amendments. Promotes implementation of voter-approved measures like Question 2 by prioritizing fast-track applications in low-producing districts.
- Advocacy for housing policy reform in New York StateAdvocates for changes to zoning laws and land-use policies to increase housing supply, reduce rents, and prevent displacement across New York City and State. Focuses on eliminating barriers such as restrictive zoning (e.g., R1-R3), parking mandates, and historic district designations, particularly in low-producing areas.
- Advocacy for mixed-use redevelopment of public infrastructureAdvocates for assessing school buildings for potential mixed-use redevelopment and integrating findings into the DOE Capital Plan to unlock new housing opportunities on underutilized public land.
- Collaboration with independent expenditure arm to build political power for housing justicePartners with Abundant New York, its super PAC, to support housing justice champions through independent expenditures, including spending $250,000 in state legislative races and planning at least $500,000 in City Council race spending in 2025.
- Field organizing campaigns for housing ballot proposalsOrganizes multi-day canvassing efforts in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens to raise awareness and secure voter approval for housing-related ballot initiatives.
- Member engagement in local land use governanceEncourages members to apply for positions on community boards and participate in local land use decisions to advance pro-housing policies at the neighborhood level.
- Policy recommendations for city-level housing production and financingRecommends dedicating $250 million annually to Social Housing projects, expanding affordable housing tax credits, establishing a cross-agency task force to expedite permits, and leveraging pension funds for redevelopment using union labor.
- Securing rezoning approvals to enable new housing developmentPlayed a key role in advocating for major rezonings including Gowanus (8,500 homes), Bruckner Boulevard, SoHo/NoHo, and Windsor Terrace (Arrow Linen project with 250 homes), enabling thousands of new units in high-opportunity areas.
- Support for pro-housing political candidates through endorsements and campaign activitiesConducts a competitive endorsement process for pro-housing candidates and organizes volunteer-driven campaign efforts including phone banking, door knocking, and canvassing. Announced plans to spend $500,000 on key City Council races in 2025.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Creation of affordable homeownership pathways in low-density areasRecommends creating a new affordable homeownership option within the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) program aligned with the state's 485-x Option D tax incentive to expand ownership opportunities in low-density neighborhoods.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.17M
Contributions & grants$2.17M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$7950%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.32M
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$571K
Grants paid out$255K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.03M
Cash$1.29M
Investments$0
Liabilities$130K
Net assets$2.90M
Liquid reserves11.7 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +4.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 5
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANNEMARIE GRAY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 19 | $201K |
| ASIA THOMAS | DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZING | 16 | $153K |
| LOGAN PHARES | POLITICAL DIRECTOR | 30 | $149K |
| NICK BERKOWITZ | COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR | 33 | $145K |
| ANDREW FINE | CHIEF OF STAFF & POLICY DIRECTOR | 23 | $139K |
board members · 4
- BEN FURNAS — BOARD MEMBER
- LIZ DENYS — TREASURER
- MICHELLE KUPPERSMITH — PRESIDENT
- SACHI TAKAHASHI-RIAL — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 9
Who they work with
- Abundant New York Partner — Independent expenditure arm collaborating with Open New York to build long-term political power for housing justice champions.
- Abundant New York Partner — Open New York's advocacy arm is among the funders of the Abundant New York committee, a super PAC supporting pro-housing candidates.
- Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act Coalition Coalition — Member of a broad coalition advocating for the passage of the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act (S3397/A3647) in New York State.
- Homeownership Program Corporation (HDC) Government — Advocates for issuing new Social Housing termsheets through HDC to support mixed-income affordable housing projects.
- Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Government — Advocates for issuing new Social Housing termsheets through HPD to support mixed-income affordable housing projects.
- New York City Department of Education Government — Advocates for the redevelopment of DOE properties through mixed-use models and capital planning integration.
- Open New York Network — Member of a statewide advocacy network focused on housing reform
- School Construction Authority Government — Recommends directing the School Construction Authority to identify suitable school buildings for mixed-use development.
- asia@opennewyork.org Partner — Contact point for project submissions outside New York City's five boroughs.
strategies · 3
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.
- Grassroots Organizing to Build Political Power for Housingmethodology: grassroots advocacyBy mobilizing sustained grassroots advocacy and translating public support into electoral engagement, we elect pro-housing candidates and shift land-use policy because durable policy change requires both bottom-up pressure and top-down political representation aligned with equitable development goals.
- Housing-First Policy Advocacy through Zoning Reformmethodology: anti-exclusionary-zoningBy challenging exclusionary zoning and advocating for by-right, transit-oriented upzoning — especially in underutilized and formerly downzoned areas — we increase housing production and promote equitable development because legal access to developable land is a prerequisite for affordable and inclusive housing at scale.
- Mixed-Income Social Housing as Scalable Equitable Modelmethodology: social_housing_modelBy promoting mixed-income social housing developments on underutilized land — particularly near transit and without mandatory parking — we expand affordable housing supply more broadly because such models stretch public subsidies further and enable fast-tracked approvals while ensuring inclusivity and accessibility.