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THE BELLA ABZUG LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE INC
BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 300280807 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B99 · Education · Small ($100K-$1M) · abzuginstitute.org
revenue
$343K
expenses
$630K
net assets
$103K
employees
4
volunteers
11
program ratio
77%
mission · from form 990

MENTOR AND TRAIN YOUNG WOMEN OF MIDDLE, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AGE, IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONFIDENCE AND THE CRITICAL SKILLS NEEDED TO BECOME EFFECTIVE, DYNAMIC AND VISIONARY 21ST CENTURY LEADERS.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Bella Abzug Leadership Institute trains young women from middle school through college age in leadership, public speaking, and debate skills. Based in New York City, it serves underserved communities and partners with public, private, and charter schools across the city. The organization emphasizes confidence-building and civic engagement, offering free programs rooted in the legacy of Congresswoman Bella Abzug.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

BALI Internship Program
Opportunity for former trainees to return as interns, continuing engagement and leadership development through mentorship and program support
Bella Bulletin
Monthly newsletter created and edited by BALI interns and alumni, fostering feminist writing and editorial leadership among young women
Leadership and Debate Training Program
Free skills-based training in public speaking, debate, and leadership development for middle and high school students from underserved communities in NYC
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Mentorship and Professional Development Programs 2 activities
    • Guest lectures and professional workshops
      Hosts guest lecturers and workshops led by accomplished professionals from corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors as part of youth training programs.
    • Mentorship and professional development for youth
      Operates year-long and cohort-based mentorship programs that match high school juniors, seniors, and college students—particularly BALI alumni—with professional mentors in their desired career fields. Includes resume review, mock interviews, college application support, and professional development workshops.
  • Youth Debate and Public Speaking Programs 2 activities
    • Leadership and debate training for youth
      Provides year-long, in-school, after-school, summer, and one-day leadership and debate skills programs for youth aged 13–21, with a focus on underserved communities in New York City and the tri-state area. Programs include training in public forum and parliamentary debate styles, delivered through weekly sessions, citywide competitions, and virtual formats.
    • Summer leadership and debate cohorts
      Conducts two two-week summer cohorts of intensive leadership and debate training for youth aged 13–21 from the NYC Metropolitan Area, hosted at Hunter College.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 2 activities
    • Leadership development for marginalized youth
      Provides leadership development, social-emotional learning, and skill-building programs focused on female-identifying, LGBTQI, and gender-expansive youth to build confidence and leadership capabilities.
    • Short-term leadership training programs
      Operates the Journey to Leadership program, a 6-week leadership and debate training program offered in three cohorts annually, training 60 youth per cohort during weekday sessions.
  • Gender Equity Research and Advocacy 1 activity
    • Advocacy for women's rights and gender equity
      Co-founded the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) to advance global economic rights and equal representation for women, and supported historic legislation including Title IX and laws banning sex-based discrimination in credit access.
  • Youth-Led Student Publications 1 activity
    • Publication and communication opportunities for youth
      Produces a monthly newsletter, the Bella Bulletin, providing writing and youth development opportunities for young women through after-school and summer programs.
  • Youth Entrepreneurship & Financial Literacy Education 1 activity
    • Youth entrepreneurship training programs
      Offers annual 3-day and 4-day intensive entrepreneurship training programs at Hunter College for high school seniors and college students, covering small business strategy, social entrepreneurship, brand marketing, financial structuring, and "one for one" business models.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • National leadership and policy advocacy
      Presided over the 1977 National Conference on Women, which convened 2,000 elected delegates and 18,000 observers to develop a National Platform of Action for women.
    • Research and publication on gender and leadership
      Authored influential books including “Bella: Ms. Abzug Goes to Washington” and “The Gender Gap,” contributing to research on women in politics and leadership.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$343K
Contributions & grants$343K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$2190%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$630K
Program expenses77%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$356K
Grants paid out$30K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$222K
Cash$61K
Investments$0
Liabilities$119K
Net assets$103K
Liquid reserves1.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -52.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
LIZ J ABZUG FOUNDER AND CEO 55 $103K
board members · 10
  • A J LEDERMAN — BOARD MEMBER
  • CYNTHIA MCKNIGHT — TREASURER
  • DEENA BAIKOWITZ — BOARD MEMBER
  • EIJA AYRAVAINEN — BOARD MEMBER
  • GARRY IRELAND — BOARD MEMBER
  • HAROLD HOLZER — BOARD MEMBER
  • JERRY GOLDFEDER — BOARD MEMBER
  • JONATHAN GREENBERG — CHAIR
  • MEG HOLZER — SECRETARY
  • NY WHITAKER — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 144

Who they work with

  • Academy of Mount St. Ursula Partner — Partner private school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Acorn Community High School Partner — Partner public high school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Alfred University Partner — Partner college or university collaborating with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Baccalaureate School For Global Education Partner — Partner public high school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Bank Street School Partner — Partner private school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Bard High School Early College Long Island City Partner — Partner public high school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Bard High School Early College Manhattan Partner — Partner public high school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Barnard College Partner — Teaches courses in Urban Studies and Women and Leadership.
  • Barnard College / Columbia University Partner — Liz Abzug teaches courses on Women and Leadership at Barnard College/Columbia University, connecting academic leadership training with BALI’s mission.
  • Baruch College Partner — Collaborates with BALI through staff education and program participation; staff members hold degrees from and are active in student organizations at Baruch College.
  • Baruch College Campus High School Partner — Partner public high school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Bayside High School Partner — Partner public high school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Benjamin Banneker Academy Partner — Partner public high school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Bergen Community College Partner — Partner college or university collaborating with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School Partner — Partner private school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Borough of Manhattan Community College Partner — Partner college or university collaborating with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Bowling Green State University Partner — Partner college or university collaborating with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Bread & Roses Integrated Arts High School Partner — Partner public high school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Bronx High School of Science Partner — Partner public high school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Bronx Leadership Academy Partner — Partner public high school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Bronx School of Government Law and Justice Partner — Partner public high school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Brooklyn College Partner — Staff member graduated from Brooklyn College and participated in programs there; ongoing connection through alumni engagement and peer mentoring.
  • Brooklyn Technical School Partner — Partner public high school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Brown University Partner — BALI intern is currently a student at Brown University, reflecting an educational partnership through alumna engagement and leadership development.
  • Business, Computer Applications and Entrepreneurship High School Central Park East High school Partner — Partner public high school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Chapin School Partner — Partner private school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Cheltenham High School Partner — Partner public high school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Christo Rey New York High School Partner — Partner private school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • City As School Partner — Partner public high school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
  • Clara Barton High School Partner — Partner public high school participating in programs with the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
+ 114 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.

  • Contextually Customized Youth Leadership Programs
    methodology: needs-based_customization
    By customizing leadership programming to the needs of specific communities and students, the organization increases relevance and engagement because locally informed, adaptive curricula respond to lived experiences and systemic barriers.
  • Debate as a Core Leadership Pedagogy
    methodology: debate-for-leadership-development
    By integrating debate into leadership training, the organization develops critical thinking, communication, and civic engagement skills because structured argumentation builds academic readiness and intellectual confidence essential for leadership.
  • Experiential Exposure to Higher Education
    methodology: college_immersion
    By hosting leadership programs on college campuses, the organization inspires educational aspirations and demystifies higher education because immersive experiences in academic environments expand perceived possibilities for underserved youth.
  • Feminist and Social Justice Framework in Leadership Training
    methodology: gender-specific_and_social_justice_lens
    By delivering leadership programming through a gender-specific and social justice lens, the organization empowers underserved youth because grounding leadership in identity, equity, and civil rights principles fosters agency and commitment to systemic change.
  • Mentorship-Driven Leadership Development
    methodology: mentorship-based_training
    By pairing youth with accomplished professionals and role models, the organization builds leadership capacity, confidence, and career-specific skills because sustained mentorship fosters trust, identity development, and real-world application of learning.