COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

THE GIFT OF CHESS INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 863477107 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B90 · Education · Small ($100K-$1M) · thegiftofchess.org
revenue
$428K
expenses
$403K
net assets
$25K
employees
0
program ratio
99%
mission · from form 990

DISTRIBUTING CHESS SETS TO GENERAL PUBLIC AND STUDENTS ACROSS NEW YORK CITY AND GLOBALLY.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Gift of Chess Inc distributes chess sets made from recycled plastic to students, prisoners, and refugees globally, with a focus on underserved communities. Founded in New York City in 2020, the organization uses chess as a tool for education, personal development, and cross-cultural connection. It operates programs in over 70 countries and aims to distribute 1 million chess sets by 2030.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $0
    THE ORGANIZATION HAS VARIOUS OUTREACH INITIATIVES, WHICH INCLUDE EDUCATION, PRISON, AND REFUGEE OUTREACH IN THE UNITED STATES AS WELL AS GLOBALLY. EACH PARTNER COUNTRY HAS AN ASSIGNED EMBASSADOR WHO IS LEADING OUR MIRO DISTRIBUTION EFFORTS ACROSS SCHOOLS, ORPHANAGES, PRISIONS, REFUGEE CAMPS, COMMUNITY CENTERS AND CHESS CLUBS. TO DATE THE ORGANIZATION HAS PRODUCED OVER 75,000 CHESS SETS FOR GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION. THOSE CHESS SETS HAVE BEEN DONATED TO NEARLY 30 COUNTRIES.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Education Outreach
Distributes chess sets and supports programs in schools globally, including in New York City, Kenya, and Malawi
Global Ambassador Program
Deploys country-specific ambassadors to lead micro-distribution of chess sets across schools, orphanages, prisons, and community centers
Prison Outreach
Provides chess sets and programming to prisoners as a tool for cognitive development and rehabilitation
Recycled Chess Set Manufacturing
Produces chess sets from waste plastic in Kibera, Kenya and Goma, DRC, creating local jobs and environmentally sustainable products
Refugee Outreach
Donates chess sets to refugee camps, including Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, to support mental engagement and community building
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Youth & Community Chess Education 3 activities
    • Chess education and training programs
      Hosts summer training camps in New York City, including for Women Candidate Master Monalisha Khamboo, and launched a program to distribute 1,000 chess sets in Nepal through its ambassador, targeting schools, prisons, and refugee communities.
    • Global distribution of chess sets
      Distributes approximately 200,000 chess sets across 70 countries, targeting schools, orphanages, prisons, refugee camps, community centers, and chess clubs. Recent large-scale distributions include 10,000 sets in New York City and 200 sets to Kakuma Refugee Camp.
    • Support for international chess events and championships
      Supports and hosts international chess events, including a chess championship in Kenya with over 400 participants and the 3rd Annual United Nations Games held at the UN Global Headquarters in New York City.
  • Community Recycling & Reuse Education 2 activities
    • Production of recycled plastic chess sets in Goma, DRC
      Produces full chess sets in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo using recycled plastic waste, with a projected output of nearly 40 sets per day, five days a week, and distributes them to local children for educational and community development purposes.
    • Recycled chess set production in Kibera, Kenya
      Transforms waste plastic into custom-made chess sets in Kibera, Kenya, and distributes them to local schools and community centers as part of community education and sustainability initiatives.
  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Global "Chess is Art" exhibition and public engagement
      Organized a global "Chess is Art" exhibition in Times Square, New York City, featuring over 80 artists worldwide, and conducted an open global call for submissions to promote community building through chess.
  • SDG Advancement & Global Advocacy 1 activity
    • Global ambassador coordination and engagement
      Organized the first gathering of its global team of ambassadors from New York City and across Africa to strengthen international outreach and program impact.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$428K
Contributions & grants$428K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$403K
Program expenses99%
Admin / overhead1%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$399K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$25K
Cash$25K
Investments$0
Liabilities$24
Net assets$25K
Liquid reserves0.8 mo
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +39.4%
relationships · 22

Who they work with

  • Bashige Akili Lwende Partner — Ambassador for The Gift of Chess in DRC.
  • Edgar Barone Partner — Ambassador for The Gift of Chess in Kenya.
  • Erick Takawira Partner — Appointed as Global Director of Development to lead programs and build partnerships.
  • FIDE Network — Featured at the Global FIDE Conference on Chess in Society and Education, reflecting participation in a global chess network.
  • FIDE Partner — Partnered with FIDE through participation in the Global FIDE Conference on Chess in Society and Education.
  • FIDE Chess Partner — Partnered with The Gift of Chess to support chess education in refugee communities.
  • Julien Josh Partner — Ambassador for The Gift of Chess in Zambia.
  • Kijii Solutions Partner — Partnered to source chess sets made from waste plastic in Kibera, Kenya.
  • Kijiji Solutions Partner — Partner organization in Kibera, Kenya for manufacturing chess sets from waste plastics.
  • MIRO Partner — Collaborates with MIRO on chess set distribution efforts in partner countries.
  • Monalisha Khamboo Partner — Appointed as The Gift of Chess Ambassador to Nepal to lead distribution of chess sets and promote chess in schools, prisons, and refugee communities.
  • Peace Corps Partner — Provided the original chess set in Malawi that inspired Susan Namangale's involvement with The Gift of Chess.
  • Phylis Ngigi Partner — Ambassador for The Gift of Chess in Kenya.
  • Ronald Twikirize Partner — Ambassador for The Gift of Chess in Uganda.
  • Soga Chess Partner — Local team in Goma, DRC responsible for factory preparation, production, and community distribution of recycled chess sets.
  • Susan Namangale Partner — Collaborator discussing future initiatives of The Gift of Chess.
  • Susan Namangale Partner — First female president of an African Chess Federation and named Global Head of The Gift of Chess.
  • Susan Namangale Partner — Global Head of The Gift of Chess and Ambassador.
  • Tunde Onakoya Partner — Ambassador for The Gift of Chess in Nigeria.
  • United Nations Partner — Hosted the 3rd Annual United Nations Games, indicating collaborative programming.
  • Vivan Ibrahim Partner — Ambassador for The Gift of Chess in Malawi.
  • baronedgar Partner — Film creator who produced content for The Gift of Chess.
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.

  • Chess as a Transformative Educational Tool
    methodology: chess-for-social-impact
    By using chess as a universal, low-cost activity, we develop critical thinking and create inclusive opportunities in underserved communities because chess transcends language and cultural barriers to foster cognitive and social development.
  • Decentralized, Ambassador-Led Distribution Model
    methodology: decentralized-local-leadership
    By empowering local ambassadors to lead distribution and outreach, we increase program relevance and sustainability because community-led efforts ensure cultural appropriateness, deeper engagement, and long-term ownership.
  • Local Production from Recycled Materials for Integrated Community Development
    methodology: integrated-community-development
    By manufacturing chess sets locally from recycled plastic waste, we create jobs, clean the environment, and build community assets because this integrated model turns waste and underutilized labor into sustainable educational and economic opportunities.