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INTERFAITH CENTER OF NEW YORK INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 133926970 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE Z99 · Unknown · Medium ($1M-$10M)
revenue
$1.8M
expenses
$1.2M
net assets
$1.7M
employees
8
volunteers
17
program ratio
69%
profile · synthesized from sources

Interfaith Center of New York supports asylum seekers and migrants by mobilizing houses of worship to provide shelter and services, while also building the capacity of faith leaders through training and grants. The organization runs leadership programs for religious leaders focused on civic engagement and racial justice, and offers educational initiatives for K-12 teachers on religious diversity. Based in New York City, it partners with faith communities and city agencies to address humanitarian and social justice needs.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $123K
    ASYLEE SEEKER SHELTER PROGRAM - THE ASYLEE SEEKER SHELTER PROGRAM WAS A PROGRAM WHERE ICNY WAS THE SUBCONTRACTOR OF NEW YORK DISASTER INTERFAITH SERVICES, IN AN INITIATIVE TO CONVERT HOUSES OF WORSHIP INTO OVERNIGHT STABILIZATION BED SHELTERS FOR POPULATIONS OF ASYLUM-SEEKING NEW YORKERS. ICNY SUCCESSFULLY DID OUTREACH TO HUNDREDS OF HOUSES OF WORSHIP TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM AND ADDITIONALLY TOURED HOUSES OF WORSHIP TO HELP IDENTIFY STRONG CANDIDATES FOR THE PROGRAM. THROUGH WORKING DIRECTLY WITH FAITH LEADERS, WE WERE NOT ONLY ABLE TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE SHELTER SITES, WE ALSO SUPPORTED HOUSES OF WORSHIP AS THEY NAVIGATED THE PROCESS OF BECOMING AN OVERNIGHT SHELTER.
  2. #2 $118K
    EQUIPPING HOUSES OF WORSHIP - WITH THE HELP OF TRINITY GRANTS, ICNY CREATED THE "EQUIPPING HOUSES OF WORSHIP TO SUPPORT MIGRANTS" PROGRAM IN RESPONSE TO THE RAPID INCREASE IN MIGRANTS AND ASYLUM SEEKERS ARRIVING IN NEW YORK CITY BEGINNING THE SUMMER OF 2022 TO CATALYZE DIVERSE HOUSES OF WORSHIP TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND SHELTER FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS. WITH THIS GOAL, ICNY 1) DISTRIBUTED SMALL GRANTS TO DIVERSE FAITH COMMUNITIES AND 2) CREATED A LEARNING COMMUNITY THAT CONVENES VIRTUALLY ON A BIMONTHLY BASIS TO OFFER A SHARED SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION, RECEIVE AND GIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PROBLEM SOLVE, AND DEVELOP ADVOCACY STRATEGIES. IN ADDITION TO ADDRESSING THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF MIGRANTS, THIS WORK BUILDS THE CAPACITY OF DIVERSE HOUSES OF WORSHIP ALLOWING THEM TO TAKE PART IN WIDER CITY-RUN BED STABILIZATION PROPOSED INITIATIVES FOR THE FUTURE.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Asylee Seeker Shelter Program
Subcontracted initiative with New York Disaster Interfaith Services to convert houses of worship into overnight stabilization shelters for asylum seekers in New York City.
Equipping Houses of Worship to Support Migrants
Distributes small grants to faith communities and convenes a bimonthly learning community for technical assistance, problem-solving, and advocacy strategy development to support migrant shelter efforts.
Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy (ICLA)
Cohort-based leadership program for NYC religious leaders offering workshops in civic engagement, legal literacy, community organizing, and interfaith dialogue, with small grants for community projects.
Multi-faith Racial Justice Organizing
Initiative that convenes religious leaders for public programs, coalition meetings, advocacy campaigns, and direct actions focused on racial justice and gun violence prevention in New York City.
Religious Worlds of NY Summer Institute for K-12 Teachers
Professional development program for teachers to learn about American religious diversity through scholar-led sessions, interfaith dialogue, and site visits, supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Interfaith Dialogue & Peacebuilding 2 activities
    • Build citywide interfaith networks across New York City
      Has convened thousands of religious and civic leaders since 1998 and built a religiously diverse, civically engaged network of grassroots and immigrant religious leaders across all five boroughs. Formed a coalition of over 100 congregations and faith-based organizations in 2022 to coordinate responses to arriving migrants.
    • Organize multifaith advocacy campaigns and public actions
      Co-leads weekly Multifaith Monday vigils at Columbus Circle for collective lament and resistance since March 2025, organizes public programs on gun violence and racial justice, coordinates coalition meetings, press conferences, demonstrations, and clergy sign-on letters. Also recruited congregations to provide sanctuary and accompaniment for families facing deportation during the Trump Administration.
  • Interfaith and Spiritual Dialogue Programs 1 activity
    • Convene religious and civic leaders through conferences, retreats, and learning communities
      Hosts annual conferences, one-day events at the Interchurch Center, and semi-annual social justice retreats for 80–120 diverse religious leaders. Convenes the monthly Hands Off Faith Table and a bimonthly virtual learning community for faith communities supporting asylum seekers, providing space for coordination, technical assistance, and strategy development.
  • Political Leadership Training for Underrepresented Groups 1 activity
    • Deliver leadership development and civic training for religious leaders
      Runs the Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy, a six-month cohort-based program with weekly workshops on civic engagement, policy advocacy, community organizing, restorative justice, and interfaith dialogue. Has trained six cohorts since 2018 and provided post-training support including small grants and technical assistance.
  • General Support for Catholic and Faith-Based Organizations 1 activity
    • Distribute small grants to faith-based programs and community projects
      Funds interfaith community initiatives through mini-grants, including $500 project grants and personal stipends for fellows in the Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy. Also regranted $140,000 to faith-based programs supporting asylum seekers, indirectly impacting 86,000 new New Yorkers.
  • Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Produce and distribute educational communications
      Distributes a monthly newsletter featuring programs and events of interest to its audience.
  • Human Rights & Peace Education Curriculum 1 activity
    • Provide religious diversity and legal education training
      Delivers religious diversity training to law students, attorneys, faith leaders, and civic officials; has trained over 2,500 New York Law School students and 500 additional participants. Also provides Know Your Rights trainings, Community Safety and ICE Defense trainings, and developed a 15-minute religious diversity training film shown to all NYPD recruit classes since 2017.
  • Immigrant Rights Education & Legal Preparedness 1 activity
    • Publish practical guides and resources for faith communities
      Developed and published a legal guide to help congregations serve as sanctuaries for immigrants while minimizing ICE disruption, and created a step-by-step guide for communities responding to ICE arrests, including locating detained members and supporting release applications.
  • Religious Holiday Food & Charity Distribution 1 activity
    • Support immigrant and asylum-seeking communities through direct services and advocacy
      Provides culturally competent meals during Ramadan, distributes school supply backpacks to children in humanitarian relief centers, offers case management for vulnerable New Yorkers, facilitates vaccinations in vaccine-hesitant communities, and mobilized faith communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also conducts outreach to houses of worship to convert spaces into overnight shelters for asylum seekers as a subcontractor of New York Disaster Interfaith Services.
  • Educator Training in Equity and Inclusion 1 activity
    • Train K-12 educators on teaching religious diversity
      Co-leads the Religious Worlds of NY Summer Institute for K-12 teachers with Union Theological Seminary, offering scholar-led sessions, interfaith engagement, site visits, and curriculum development to train educators from across the U.S. in academic (non-devotional) frameworks for teaching about American religious diversity.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.76M
Contributions & grants$1.64M93%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$10K1%
Other revenue$106K
expenses
Total expenses$1.20M
Program expenses69%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising20%
Salaries & benefits$653K
Grants paid out$227K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.89M
Cash$923K
Investments$244K
Liabilities$163K
Net assets$1.73M
Liquid reserves11.6 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +65.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
JONILL MAYER DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT 40 $140K
REV DR CHLOE BREYER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $93K
board members · 16
  • DAVID R MARRIOT — DIRECTOR
  • DR KUSUMITA P PEDERSON — DIRECTOR
  • HUSSEIN RASHID PHD — DIRECTOR
  • MARY ANN THOMPSON — DIRECTOR
  • RABBI BOB KAPLAN — DIRECTOR
  • RABBI JOSEPH POTASNIK — VICE CHAIR
  • RABBI SHARON KLEINBAUM — DIRECTOR
  • REV ALFONSO WYATT — VICE CHAIR
  • REV FREDERICK A DAVIE — CO-CHAIR
  • REV JAMES A LYNCH — DIRECTOR
  • REV MICHAEL J LYNCH — CO-CHAIR
  • REV TED PARDOE III — TREASURER
  • RT REV MATTHEW F HEYD — DIRECTOR
  • RUTH MESSINGER — CO-CHAIR
  • STEVEN CHANANIE — CO-CHAIR
  • SYLVIE SUN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 53

Who they work with

  • Bluesky Partner — Social media presence
  • COPO Coalition — Member of the Interfaith 2020 Census Coalition working to increase census participation.
  • Catholic Charities Coalition — Member of the Interfaith 2020 Census Coalition working to increase census participation.
  • Common Cause New York Partner — Partners with Common Cause New York to organize faith leaders and defend democracy.
  • Congregation B’nai Jeshurun Partner — Former spiritual home of Rabbi Marshall Meyer, with whom ICNY founder had a close relationship
  • Episcopal Diocese of New York Partner — Co-leads Multifaith Monday vigils at Columbus Circle.
  • FPWA Coalition — Member of the Interfaith 2020 Census Coalition working to increase census participation.
  • Facebook Partner — Social media presence
  • Hands Off NYC Partner — Collaborates with Hands Off NYC to organize faith leaders and train communities to resist federal encroachment and defend civil rights.
  • Horizons Project Partner — Co-developed toolkits with Horizons Project for faith communities to counter authoritarianism.
  • Instagram Partner — Social media presence
  • Interchurch Center Partner — Current venue for ICNY’s one-day conferences in Morningside Heights
  • Interfaith Alliance Partner — Collaborated with Interfaith Alliance on the Religious Resistance to Authoritarianism conference and resource development.
  • Jamaica First Ward Church of Latter-Day Saints Partner — Collaborated with ICNY to vaccinate individuals in vaccine-hesitant faith communities.
  • Jewish Theological Seminary Partner — Co-leads Multifaith Monday vigils at Columbus Circle.
  • Lily Auchincloss Foundation Partner — Contributed to the James Parks Morton Fund for Interfaith Justice at ICNY.
  • LinkedIn Partner — Social media presence
  • Manhattan Borough President Government — Supported ICNY’s efforts to vaccinate individuals in vaccine-hesitant faith communities.
  • Masjid Al Aqsa Partner — Collaborated with ICNY to vaccinate individuals in vaccine-hesitant faith communities.
  • NYC Test & Trace Partner — Supported ICNY’s efforts to vaccinate individuals in vaccine-hesitant faith communities.
  • NYPD’s Collaborative Policing Department Partner — Partnered to develop and deliver religious diversity training for police recruits and officers.
  • National Endowment for the Humanities Funder — Supported the Religious Worlds of NY Summer Institute for K-12 Teachers.
  • New York City Law Department Partner — Receives religious diversity trainings from ICNY.
  • New York Community Trust Funder — Funder of ICNY’s consortium and direct service initiatives for new New Yorkers.
  • New York Disaster Interfaith Services Partner — Subcontracted partner for the Asylee Seeker Shelter Program to convert houses of worship into overnight shelters for asylum seekers.
  • New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS) Partner — Collaborated with ICNY and Thrive NYC to create a mental health toolkit for faith leaders during the pandemic.
  • New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS) Partner — Contributed to the James Parks Morton Fund for Interfaith Justice at ICNY.
  • New York Law School Partner — Collaborates on religious diversity education programs for law students and attorneys, including workshops, community service, and continuing legal education (CLE) conferences and webinars.
  • New York Law School Partner — Partners to lead religious diversity education courses for immigration law students and attorneys.
  • Protect Democracy Partner — Utilizes toolkits from Protect Democracy to support faith communities countering authoritarianism.
+ 23 more
strategies · 4

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 Faith Leader Mobilization for Social Change
    methodology: grassroots_leadership_activation
    By training and activating grassroots religious leaders to engage in civic action and design community projects, the organization builds sustained interfaith leadership capacity and drives locally rooted social change, because empowered faith leaders can leverage their communities' moral authority and networks to address justice issues more effectively.
  • Interfaith Dialogue as a Foundation for Justice and Relationship-Building
    methodology: interfaith_dialogue
    By using structured interfaith dialogue and religious diversity education, the organization fosters trust and collaborative relationships across religious lines, enabling joint action on social justice issues, because shared understanding reduces prejudice and creates a foundation for effective coalition-building.
  • Interfaith Moral Witness to Defend Democracy
    methodology: interfaith_moral_witness
    By organizing sustained multifaith public gatherings and moral witness events grounded in shared religious values, the organization builds collective resistance to authoritarianism and threats to democracy, because visible, values-based solidarity strengthens civic resilience and public accountability.
  • Re-granting to Strengthen Grassroots Faith-Based Asylum Support
    methodology: re-granting_model
    By using a re-granting model to channel resources to local congregations and faith-based initiatives, the organization reduces fiscal barriers and builds the capacity of grassroots programs serving asylum seekers, because decentralized, community-led responses are more agile and culturally grounded than top-down systems.