irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2020
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0Harlem Entrepreneurial Fund (HEF) is a federally certified Community Development Financial Institution. HEFs mission is to serve low-income and minority populations by being a direct lender of capital to facilitate small business creation and expansion, and job growth in the under-served communities of Harlem and the Bronx. HEF continues to offer lending products along with pre- and post- loan technical assistance to entrepreneurs.
named programs · 8 · from sources
What they call their work
Adult Learning & Workforce Development
Skill-centered programs for adults focused on transformation, competency building, and economic mobility.
After School Program
Provides homework help, literacy and math enrichment, and hands-on STEM, arts, and financial empowerment activities for young people in Harlem.
Future Forward Summer Internship
Six-week paid internship for high school and college students, providing real-world experience, mentorship, and professional skills development.
Harlem Entrepreneurial Fund (HEF)
Federally certified Community Development Financial Institution that provides capital and technical assistance to small businesses in Harlem and the Bronx, particularly those owned by low-income and minority entrepreneurs.
Harlem Wired
AI and technology programs for opportunity youth, supporting educational re-entry, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship.
Next-Gen Leaders
Leadership development and career exploration program for high school students, with tracks in technology, gaming, AI, and entrepreneurship.
STEAM Champs
Hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math program for middle and high school students, culminating in a global immersion experience in Spain.
The Learning Collective
Education and workforce development initiative offering programs from middle school through adulthood, including after-school enrichment, STEAM Champs, leadership development, internships, and adult skill-building.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Small Business Technical Assistance 2 activities
- Technical assistance and business advising for entrepreneursOffers pre- and post-loan technical assistance, free business advising, training, and capital connection services to local entrepreneurs through the Small Business Solutions Center and as a partner of the NYC Business Solutions Centers. Services include support with business planning, bookkeeping, marketing, legal structure, contract review, financing, M/WBE certification, government navigation, and incentive access.
- Training and capacity building for small business ownersDelivers training programs and workshops to strengthen small business operations, including courses for corner storeowners and food retail businesses on inventory analysis, pricing, cost control, marketing, and profitability planning; foundational marketing and social media strategies; operational planning; legal structures; and capital readiness. Also connects businesses to NYC’s Customized Training Grant program for employee training reimbursement.
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K–12 Computer Science & AI Education 1 activity
- AI and technology skills trainingOffers hands-on online workshops and structured programming in artificial intelligence and technology applications for non-technical participants, including youth and adults, with a focus on practical AI use, robotics, and innovation-to-workforce pathways.
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Tech Skills Training for Underserved Groups 1 activity
- Adult workforce and economic advancement programsProvides Adult Learning & Workforce Development programs and Harlem Wired initiatives that offer skill-centered, flexible learning experiences in financial literacy, AI and tech skills, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship to support adult economic advancement and educational re-entry.
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Small Business and Nonprofit Lending 1 activity
- Small business lending and capital deploymentProvides financial investments and deploys lending capital through the Harlem Entrepreneurial Fund, a U.S. Treasury-certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), focusing on small businesses in Harlem, Upper Manhattan, the Bronx, and Washington Heights that are underserved by mainstream lenders. Has deployed over $17 million in capital since inception, recycling repaid loans to fund new lending and leverage federal matching funds.
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MWBE Certification and Contract Access Support 1 activity
- Support for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) certificationProvides direct assistance to entrepreneurs seeking Minority or Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) certification, helping them navigate application processes and access contracting opportunities.
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After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Youth education and workforce development via The Learning CollectiveOperates The Learning Collective, an integrated education platform offering after-school and summer programs in STEAM, literacy and math enrichment, mentorship, leadership development, and re-entry pathways for opportunity youth. Includes targeted programs such as STEAM Champs, Next-Gen Leaders, and the Future Forward Summer Internship, which provide hands-on learning, global immersion experiences, and professional skills development.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$5.78M
Contributions & grants$3.15M55%
Program service revenue$2.40M41%
Investment income$146K3%
Other revenue$83K
expenses
Total expenses$5.19M
Program expenses25%
Admin / overhead75%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$2.70M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$28.59M
Cash$5.69M
Investments$11.63M
Liabilities$5.41M
Net assets$23.18M
Liquid reserves40.0 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +26.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 7
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| E Hamil Douglas | President | 10 | $308K |
| Ayesha Codrington | Senior Finance Dir | 20 | $174K |
| Ericka Powell-Sinclair | Sr. Compliance Dir | 40 | $162K |
| Terri-Ann Smith | Senior Oper. Dir. | 25 | $146K |
| Andre Simon | Chief of Staff | 20 | $143K |
| Christian Damiba | Program Director | 40 | $124K |
| Joseph Tait | Secretary/COO | 10 | $63K |
board members · 9
- Ashli Gibbs — Board Director
- Curtis Archer — Board Director
- Erik Cliette — Secretary
- Jon Marc Sandifer — Board Member
- Lewiston Murray — Board Chair
- Melvin Norris — Board Director
- Nathaniel Montgomery — Board Director
- Sharon Joseph — Board Director
- Zevilla Jackson-Preston — Vice Chair
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- Boys & Girls Club of Harlem Partner — Organizational leadership connection through Sharon Joseph's prior role as CEO, during which she expanded youth development programs.
- Goldman Sachs Partner — Leadership experience and institutional connection through President & CEO Sharon Joseph's prior role as a Private Wealth Advisor.
- Harlem Commonwealth Council Network — CDFI Certified
- Harlem Entrepreneurial Fund Partner — Federally certified CDFI that operates lending and technical assistance programs in partnership with Harlem Commonwealth Council Inc.
- NYC Business Solutions Center Partner — Delivers Small Business Solutions as a partner of the NYC Business Solutions Center.
- NYC Business Solutions Center Partner — Partners with HCC to deliver advising, training, and capital connections to entrepreneurs in Upper Manhattan.
- NYC Department of Small Business Services Partner — Partnership to operate the NYC Business Solutions Centers in Upper Manhattan and Washington Heights.
- New York City Department of Small Business Services Partner — Partnered with HCC to establish the Small Business Solutions Center, providing free business advising and training to local entrepreneurs.
- Small Business Services (SBS) Government — Harlem Commonwealth Council operates NYC Business Solutions Centers on behalf of SBS.
- TD Bank Partner — Leadership experience and institutional connection through Operations Senior Director Terri Ann Smith's prior commercial banking leadership roles.
- U.S. Department of the Treasury Government — Operates as a U.S. Treasury–certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
- U.S. Treasury Government — Certifies the Harlem Entrepreneurial Fund as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
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.
- Community-Owned Economic Developmentmethodology: community-owned economic developmentBy ensuring that economic development initiatives are community-owned, the organization fosters sustainable wealth and self-determination because local ownership increases accountability, relevance, and long-term commitment to shared prosperity.
- Holistic and Inclusive Lendingmethodology: holistic underwritingBy using a holistic underwriting approach that prioritizes entrepreneur and business potential over credit scores, the organization expands access to capital for systematically excluded populations because conventional lending criteria are bypassed in favor of real-world viability.
- Integrated Capital and Coaching Modelmethodology: integrated capital and coachingBy combining lending with advisory support, entrepreneurs are more likely to sustain and grow their businesses because access to capital is paired with the capacity to use it effectively.
- Integrated Economic Empowermentmethodology: integrated-economic-empowermentBy combining workforce development, small business support, and financial capability programs, the organization creates pathways to economic self-sufficiency because integrated services address multiple systemic barriers simultaneously, increasing the likelihood of sustainable outcomes.
- Lifespan Approach to Economic Developmentmethodology: lifespan_approachBy connecting education, career exploration, and skill development from middle school through adulthood, the organization builds long-term economic stability because early and sustained investment creates compounding personal and community returns.