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ATD FOURTH WORLD MOVEMENT INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 237135119 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE P010 · Human Services · Medium ($1M-$10M) · atdfourthworld-usa.org
revenue
$1.1M
expenses
$1.2M
net assets
$849K
employees
20
volunteers
62
program ratio
68%
mission · from form 990

ATD FOURTH WORLD MOVEMENT IS THE UNITED STATES BRANCH OF THE INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT ATD (ALL TOGETHER IN DIGNITY) FOURTH WORLD, AN INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION WHICH AIMS TO ERADICATE PERSISTENT POVERTY AND EXCLUSION THROUGH PARTNERSHIP AMONG FAMILIES IN POVERTY AND OTHER MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. MEMBERS FROM DIFFERENT SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS ACT TOGETHER FROM THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF: THE INALIENABLE DIGNITY OF EACH HUMAN BEING, THE NECESSITY TO LEARN FROM FAMILIES LIVING IN PERSISTENT POVERTY, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL PEOPLE TO UNITE AND STRIVE TOGETHER TO END POVERTY.

profile · synthesized from sources

ATD Fourth World Movement Inc is the U.S. branch of an international NGO working to eradicate persistent poverty and social exclusion. The organization builds relationships with families in poverty to co-create programs focused on education, advocacy, and community development. It operates in urban and rural communities across the United States, emphasizing the leadership of people with lived experience of poverty.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $385K
    ACTIVITIES WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ATD FOURTH WORLDS FIRST STEP IS TO REACH OUT AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES ARE MOST IMPACTED BY THE INJUSTICES OF POVERTY AND WITH THEM FORM AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY. WITH A SOLID LOCAL GROUNDING AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS STORY GARDEN AND FESTIVALS OF ARTS AND LEARNING, WE REGULARLY ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING POVERTY AND SUPPORT THEIR ASPIRATIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN. STORY GARDENS IN NEW MEXICO AND NEW YORK PROVIDE SPACES FOR LEARNING, OUTREACH, AND RELATIONSHIP- BUILDING, USING ART TO CULTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND SCHOOLS. FESTIVALS OF ARTS AND LEARNING, HELD IN STORY GARDEN LOCATIONS IN NEW YORK, ARE ANNUAL CELEBRATIONS THAT FOSTER CREATIVITY, TALENT, COLLABORATIVE LEARNING, AND ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND CULTURES. RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ATD FOURTH WORLD STAFF AND MEMBERS WITH DIRECT EXPERIENCE OF POVERTY ARE NOT LIMITED TO INTERACTIONS DURING OUR PROGRAMS: ATD FOURTH WORLD TEAM MEMBERS ARE ENGAGED DAILY IN BUILDING FRIENDSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS OF TRUST WITH PEOPLE WHO PERSISTENTLY EXPERIENCE POVERTY. WHETHER VISITING INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR HOMES OR SPENDING TIME WITH THEM ON THE PHONE, OUR LOCAL TEAMS KEEP CLOSE CONTACT WITH MEMBERS EXPERIENCING POVERTY AND DIFFICULTIES. ATD FOURTH WORLD ACTIVISTS WHO ARE LONG-TIME PARTICIPANTS AND PARTNERS COLLABORATE TO REACH OUT TO AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS DEEPLY IMPACTED BY POVERTY, BEGINNING A NEW CYCLE AND CREATING NEW PROGRAMS. THE THOUGHTS AND EXPERTISE OF ATD FOURTH WORLD MEMBERS WITH EXPERIENCES OF POVERTY AND INJUSTICE HELP DESIGN OR INSPIRE OUR PROGRAMS. IN NEW YORK CITY, A MEMBER WITH DIRECT EXPERIENCES OF POVERTY SERVES ON THE FACILITATION TEAM OF VARIOUS PARTICIPATORY PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE ATD FOURTH WORLD NYC EVALUATION PLANNING WORK OR THE FOURTH WORLD PEOPLES UNIVERSITY. IN NEW MEXICO, THE NEW STRONGER TOGETHER ADVOCACY GROUP WAS DIRECTLY INSPIRED BY TWO LONG-TERM ATD FOURTH WORLD ACTIVISTS WITH EXPERIENCE OF POVERTY WHO WANTED TO SEE A SPACE FOR ADULTS TO COME TOGETHER TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND DIFFICULTIES, ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER, AND BUILD A COLLECTIVE VOICE. THEIR VISION IS TO ADVOCATE DIRECTLY FOR THE COMMUNITY CHANGES THAT WOULD MAKE THE BIGGEST POSITIVE DIFFERENCE FOR FAMILIES IMPACTED BY POVERTY AND EXCLUSION.
named programs · 7 · from sources

What they call their work

Festivals of Arts and Learning
Annual celebrations in Story Garden locations that foster creativity, collaborative learning, and cross-cultural encounters among people of different backgrounds.
Fourth World People's University
Participatory educational program in New York City facilitated by members with direct experience of poverty, focusing on shared learning and evaluation.
Learning Co-op
Community education initiative in Southwest Virginia that promotes the exchange of knowledge and skills, blending cultural traditions with new technologies.
Multidimensional Aspects of Poverty (MAP) Research
Participatory research project (2016–2019) co-led by people with lived experience of poverty, practitioners, and academics to identify the complex dimensions of poverty in the U.S.
Story Garden
Community-based learning and outreach spaces in New York and New Mexico that use art and education to build relationships with families in poverty and support school readiness.
Street Libraries
Mobile library programs in New Orleans public housing developments that promote literacy and community engagement among children and families.
Stronger Together Advocacy Group
Youth and family advocacy group in New Mexico inspired by long-term ATD members to address poverty and injustice through collective action.
activities · 13 groups

What they do

  • Friendly Visiting & Social Companionship Programs 1 activity
    • Conduct daily relationship-building with individuals in poverty
      Engages in sustained personal contact through home visits and phone calls to build trust and provide ongoing support to individuals living in persistent poverty.
  • Library and Community Facility Renovation 1 activity
    • Establish and operate community centers and cooperatives
      Renovated an abandoned basement in New York’s Lower East Side into a community center with a library, preschool, and activity room; also opened the ATD Fourth World Learning Co-op in Southwest Virginia in 2006 to support skill-sharing and knowledge exchange in under-resourced communities.
  • Leadership & Policy Dialogue Forums 1 activity
    • Facilitate collaborations between people in poverty, academics, and policymakers
      Builds partnerships with researchers and think tanks in Boston and New York to create collaborative spaces where people experiencing poverty co-engage with academics and policy experts on social issues.
  • Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
    • Host Festivals of Arts and Learning and public cultural events
      Organizes annual Festivals of Arts and Learning at Story Garden locations in New York to promote creativity, collaborative learning, and cross-cultural exchange among people experiencing poverty and the broader community.
  • Community-Engaged Public Art Projects 1 activity
    • Operate Story Garden programs in New York and New Mexico
      Runs Story Garden initiatives in New York and New Mexico as community spaces that use art, storytelling, and relationship-building to address social isolation, stigma, and exclusion among people experiencing poverty. Programs engage families, schools, and organizations through creative learning and outreach.
  • Inclusive Social & Recreational Events 1 activity
    • Organize community-building trips for families in poverty
      Plans group excursions outside New York City to strengthen family and community bonds among residents of impoverished neighborhoods.
  • Public Awareness and Educational Outreach 1 activity
    • Organize public events for knowledge exchange on poverty
      Hosts panel discussions, conferences, and commemorations of October 17 (International Day for the Eradication of Poverty) to enable people with lived experience of poverty to share knowledge with policymakers and concerned citizens.
  • Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Produce newsletters and maintain organizational communications
      Distributes monthly email newsletters and printed news every two months, and maintains a website to inform members and the public about programs, advocacy efforts, and membership opportunities.
  • Youth Development and Support Services 1 activity
    • Provide youth support services in impoverished neighborhoods
      Offers support for teens including employment assistance, court accompaniment, and group meetings to deter gang involvement and provide safe spaces in the Lower East Side of New York City.
  • Published Narrative Projects 1 activity
    • Publish collaborative works featuring first-hand accounts of poverty
      Produces publications such as 'Not Meant To Live Like This,' a book co-authored by 50 people from affected communities in New Orleans, documenting lived experiences of Hurricane Katrina and systemic neglect.
  • Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
    • Run capacity-building programs for community activists
      Operates community projects that enable children and adults from under-resourced neighborhoods to develop skills and become Fourth World Activists who advocate for and facilitate programs within their communities.
  • Youth & Emerging Filmmaker Training 1 activity
    • Support youth digital storytelling on education experiences
      Empowers youth in Gallup, New Mexico to share their educational journeys through digital storytelling, amplifying their voices and perspectives within their communities.
  • Uncategorized 4 activities
    • Challenge stereotypes and narratives about poverty through data and advocacy
      Advocates against misconceptions by highlighting evidence such as high employment rates among people in poverty, higher drug use prevalence in higher-income groups, and the widespread lifetime risk of poverty, using research and public messaging to reframe public understanding.
    • Conduct participatory multidimensional poverty research
      Conducted the U.S. component of an international participatory research project (2016–2019) on the multidimensional aspects of poverty in partnership with the University of Oxford, integrating perspectives from people with lived experience, practitioners, and academics. Included 23 peer group meetings across six U.S. sites and a national Merging of Knowledge session.
    • Document and amplify impacts of disasters on poor communities
      Provided on-the-ground documentation and national visibility into the effects of Hurricane Katrina on impoverished communities in New Orleans, centering affected voices.
    • Facilitate participatory programs with people with lived poverty experience
      Includes individuals with direct experience of poverty as equal facilitators in programs such as the Fourth World People's University and evaluation planning work in New York City, ensuring their leadership in program design and implementation.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.14M
Contributions & grants$1.14M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$1K0%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.17M
Program expenses68%
Admin / overhead28%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$794K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$860K
Cash$210K
Investments$10K
Liabilities$10K
Net assets$849K
Liquid reserves2.3 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +22.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
JANE HSIAO MEMBER 12 $83K
MONICA JAHANGIR-CHOWDHURY EXECUTIVE DI 40 $28K
DIERDRE STEIB MAUSS MEMBER 12 $24K
board members · 7
  • CHRISTIAN JOSZ — CHAIR & TREA
  • FAITH LEMON — MEMBER
  • JANET NELSON-ARAZI — MEMBER
  • JULIA SICK — SECRETARY
  • LAURA JIJON — MEMBER
  • LAURENT FERRARI — MEMBER
  • STACEY SMITH BELL - OUTGOING — MEMBER
relationships · 12

Who they work with

  • ATD Fourth World International Network — ATD Fourth World USA is part of the ATD Fourth World International movement.
  • ATD Fourth World International Network — ATD Fourth World USA is part of the global ATD Fourth World movement founded by Joseph Wresinski.
  • Boston academics in social policy research Partner — Collaborates with academics in social policy research in Boston to create training sessions and dialogues between people in poverty, researchers, and policymakers.
  • Caritas Partner — Alliance with Caritas in New Orleans beginning in the 1970s, collaborating on art and early childhood education programs in underserved areas.
  • Center for Social Policy at UMass-Boston Partner — Partnership to support national and international research on poverty, including framing and nourishing evaluations and dialogues.
  • Joseph Wresinski Partner — Founder of ATD Fourth World, whose philosophy guides the organization's approach to poverty.
  • New York academics in social policy research Partner — Partners with academics in social policy research in New York to facilitate conversations, training, and collaboration among people in poverty, academics, and policymakers.
  • UMass Boston Center for Social Policy Partner — Collaborated with Donna Haig Friedman, former Director and Senior Research Fellow, on collective efforts to impact root causes of poverty using Merging of Knowledge.
  • United Nations Partner — Collaborates through shared research and position papers on poverty.
  • United Nations Partner — Collaborates with the United Nations on advocacy efforts related to poverty and social development.
  • University of Oxford Partner — Partnered with ATD Fourth World on the Multidimensional Aspects of Poverty (MAP) research project from 2016 to 2019.
  • University of Oxford Partner — Research partner in the Multidimensional Aspects of Poverty study conducted from 2016 to 2019.
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.

  • Creative and Narrative Practices for Mutual Transformation
    methodology: creative-practices-for-mutual-transformation
    By using creative practices such as storytelling and art, the organization enables mutual transformation among participants and allies, because these tools humanize experiences of poverty, shift dominant narratives, and empower individuals to reclaim their voice and identity.
  • Lived Experience as Expert Knowledge
    methodology: lived-experience_led_design
    By centering the lived experience of people in poverty as expert knowledge, the organization produces more accurate analyses and effective solutions to poverty, because those most impacted possess unique insights into its root causes and systemic barriers. This informs program design, research, and advocacy that is grounded in reality rather than assumptions.
  • Participatory Co-Learning and Research
    methodology: participatory_research
    By conducting research and program development through participatory methods that merge lived experience with professional expertise, the organization generates holistic understandings of multidimensional poverty, because inclusive collaboration produces deeper insight and more sustainable solutions than top-down approaches.
  • Relationship-Centered Community Transformation
    methodology: relationship-centered engagement
    By building long-term, reciprocal relationships across social divides—especially between people in poverty and allies—the organization fosters transformative personal and collective action, because trust and solidarity unlock agency, reduce isolation, and enable sustained resistance to structural oppression.
  • Systemic Advocacy Rooted in Human Rights
    methodology: systemic-advocacy-for-social-justice
    By grounding advocacy in a human rights framework, the organization challenges systems that prioritize profit over well-being, because affirming the inherent dignity of all individuals creates moral and political leverage for structural change.