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THE FORTUNE SOCIETY INC

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY · EIN 132645436 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE F22Z · Mental Health & Crisis Intervention · Very Large (>$50M) · fortunesociety.org
revenue
$81.9M
expenses
$82.3M
net assets
$26.7M
employees
972
volunteers
55
program ratio
86%
mission · from form 990

THE FORTUNE SOCIETY'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL RE-ENTRY FROM INCARCERATION. PROMOTE ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION, THUS STRENGTHENING THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITIES. WE DO THIS BY OFFERING A COMPREHENSIVE ARRAY OF SERVICES, INCLUDING CAREER DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, HEALTH SERVICES, HOUSING, SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, COUNSELING, DROP-IN-SERVICES AND ADVOCACY, TO SUPPORT EACH INDIVIDUAL'S NEEDS AND EXPERIENCES AS THEY ENTER THE FORTUNE SOCIETY.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Fortune Society supports successful re-entry from incarceration and promotes alternatives to incarceration through comprehensive services including housing, employment, education, mental health, and substance use treatment. The organization serves individuals impacted by the criminal justice system in New York City, with a focus on reducing recidivism and strengthening communities. Founded in 1967, it combines direct service, advocacy, and policy work to address systemic barriers faced by formerly incarcerated people.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $22.88M
    OUR ATI PROGRAM, FREEDOM REDUCES THE PRISON AND JAIL POPULATIONS, SAVE TAXPAYERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND EACH YEAR HELP HUNDREDS OF MEN AND WOMEN LEARN HOW TO LEAD CRIME-FREE, PRODUCTIVE LIVES. CLIENTS PARTICIPATING IN OUR ATI PROGRAM RECEIVE INDIVIDUAL CASE MANAGEMENT AND GROUP COUNSELING, UTILIZING EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM, AS WELL AS ACCESS TO FORTUNE'S WRAP-AROUND SERVICES. THOSE WHO COMPLETE THEIR PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY RECEIVE SENTENCES THAT REQUIRE NO FURTHER INCARCERATION, INCLUDING PROBATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. IN FY2025, WE SERVED 314 PARTICIPANTS IN OUR ATI PROGRAM AND SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATED 82% OF CLIENTS ELIGIBLE FOR COMPLETION. ADDITIONALLY, OUR ATI ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES ENHANCED SERVICES TO THOSE RECEIVING ATI SERVICES THROUGH OUR FREEDOM PROGRAM. SERVICES CAN BE PROVIDED THROUGH FORTUNE OR BY WAY OF REFERRALS TO EXTERNAL PROVIDERS. ALL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO MEET IDENTIFIED NEEDS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH CRIMINAL LEGAL INVOLVEMENT ESTABLISH STABILITY, REUNITE WITH THEIR FAMILIES, ACHIEVE GREATER SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND REINTEGRATE FULLY INTO THE COMMUNITY. IN FY25, WE SERVED 5988. LASTLY, OUR PAROLE SERVICES PROGRAM (PSP) SERVES INDIVIDUALS ON PAROLE AND ALSO OPERATE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION (ATI) AND ALTERNATIVE TO DETENTION (ATD) FOR INDIVIDUALS FACING PAROLE VIOLATIONS BY OFFERING ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS ADVOCACY AND SERVICES. IN FY25, WE SERVED 806 INDIVIDUALS.
  2. #2 $5.08M
    FORTUNE HAS OFFERED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES SINCE JULY 2011 THROUGH THE BETTER LIVING CENTER (BLC), OUR OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) MENTAL HEALTH OUTPATIENT TREATMENT AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES (MHOTRS) CENTER. THE BLC WORKS TO FACILITATE A SEAMLESS TRANSITION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WHO ALSO HAVE HISTORIES OF INCARCERATION BY PROVIDING THE SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, TREATMENT, AND THERAPY THEY NEED TO MANAGE THEIR MENTAL ILLNESS, WHILE ALSO MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS ACHIEVING THEIR OTHER LIFE GOALS. IN FY2025, WE SERVED 308 CLIENTS THROUGH THE BLC'S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. OUR NYS OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS (OASAS)-LICENSED OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT SERVICES PROGRAM EMPOWERS CLIENTS TO ADDRESS AND OVERCOME SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES. OUR OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAM SUPPORTS CLIENTS' EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE RECOVERY FROM THE LIFE-LONG CHRONIC ILLNESS OF SUBSTANCE USE AND AS PART OF THEIR LARGER TRANSITION TO A PRO-SOCIAL, SELF-DIRECTED LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WE PROVIDE CLIENT-CENTERED TREATMENT THAT IS GEARED TOWARDS THE OVERALL IMPROVEMENT OF EACH CLIENT'S MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING. ALL PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE A FULL ASSESSMENT AND PROGRAM ORIENTATION, FOLLOWED BY INTENSIVE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING. WE ALSO OFFER LIFETIME AFTERCARE, SO OUR CLIENTS KNOW THEY CAN RELY ON US TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE FUTURE CHALLENGES. IN FY2025, WE SERVED 322 CLIENTS IN OUR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM. 45% OF THE CLIENTS DISCONTINUED SUBSTANCE USE UPON DISCHARGE FROM FORTUNE'S SUBSTANCE USE PROGRAM.HEALTH SERVICES: FALLING UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, OUR DROP IN CENTER AND CARE MANAGEMENT UNIT (CMU). DIC OFFERS CLIENTS RAPID HIV TESTING, PREVENTION EDUCATION, CASE MANAGEMENT AND CONNECTION TO QUALITY, COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT AND CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH OR AT-RISK FOR HIV/AIDS. THIS HOLISTIC AND INTEGRATED APPROACH TO SERVING FORMERLY INCARCERATED MEN AND WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS, OR AT RISK OF DEVELOPING HIV/AIDS, HELPS ENSURE THEIR SAFE AND HEALTHY TRANSITION BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. IN FY2025, WE SERVED 510 INDIVIDUALS IN OUR DROP-IN CENTER PROGRAM WHICH HELPS PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS ON RIKERS ISLAND, MANHATTAN DETENTION COMPLEX, BROOKLYN DETENTION COMPLEX AND VERNON C. BAIN CENTER TRANSITION BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY WITH ON-SITE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING AND REFERRAL SERVICES. WE ALSO ENROLLED 336 CLIENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM; THEY RECEIVED CASE MANAGEMENT, INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, GROUP SERVICES, AND MEDICATION SUPPORT. OUR CARE MANAGEMENT UNIT IS A COMPREHENSIVE TEAM OF SERVICE PROVIDERS WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP THOSE WITH CHRONIC OR COMPLEX; MEDICAL CONDITIONS RECEIVE THE HEALTH CARE THEY NEED. ONCE ENROLLED, STAFF SCHEDULE KEY APPOINTMENTS AND HELP PROVIDE ACCESS TO SERVICES INCLUDING CONNECTIONS TO PRIMARY CARE (AND SPECIALISTS WHEN NEEDED), ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND/OR SUBSTANCE USE PROVIDERS, ASSISTANCE WITH PRESCRIPTION REFILLS, MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, SOCIAL SERVICES SUPPORT AND APPLICATION ASSISTANCE (BENEFITS, SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM/SNAP, ID, HOUSING REFERRALS), PATIENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT, AND MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT. THE CARE MANAGEMENT UNIT IS OPEN TO ALL PARTICIPANTS CURRENTLY ON MEDICAID THAT HAVE CHRONIC MEDICAL AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. IN FY25, CMU SERVED 270 INDIVIDUALS.
named programs · 11 · from sources

What they call their work

Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI)
Provides case management, counseling, and wrap-around services to individuals diverted from incarceration; helps participants avoid further incarceration through probation and community service
Better Living Center (BLC)
NYS OMH-licensed outpatient mental health clinic providing therapy and rehabilitative services to individuals with mental health issues and histories of incarceration
Castle Gardens
Permanent supportive housing facility offering long-term housing for individuals with justice involvement and their families, as well as affordable units for the broader community
David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy (DRCPP)
Engages in policy development, advocacy, research, and training to reform the criminal justice system and promote equitable treatment for justice-impacted individuals
Education Program
Provides literacy and educational support, initially founded to improve vocabulary and grammar skills among participants
Employment Services
Offers job training, placement support, and advocacy to help formerly incarcerated individuals overcome employment barriers
Food and Nutrition Services
Offers nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and serves three daily meals in a client-accessible cafeteria
Mandaelda Community
Provides 57 permanent supportive apartments for seniors with justice involvement, focusing on stability and well-being
Parole Services Program (PSP)
Serves individuals on parole and acts as an alternative to detention for those facing parole violations by offering advocacy and support services
Substance Use Treatment Program
OASAS-licensed outpatient program offering assessment, counseling, and lifetime aftercare to support recovery from substance use disorders
The Fortune Academy ("The Castle")
Emergency and transitional housing development in West Harlem providing safe, supportive housing for individuals reentering society after incarceration
activities · 18 groups

What they do

  • Reentry Support Services 4 activities
    • Fortune Academy ("the Castle")
      Provides emergency and transitional housing in West Harlem for individuals reentering society after incarceration, supporting successful transitions to stable housing.
    • In-house one-stop-shop services
      Provides integrated, in-house services using a one-stop-shop model to over 8,000 individuals with justice involvement annually, encompassing housing, employment, education, mental health, and legal support.
    • Parole Services Program (PSP)
      Supports individuals on parole or facing parole violations through case management and reentry services, serving 806 individuals in FY2025.
    • Reentry support and alternatives to incarceration
      Supports individuals reentering society after incarceration and promotes systemic alternatives to incarceration through direct programming and partnerships like the Bronx County Reentry Taskforce.
  • Podcast and Radio Production 3 activities
    • External media engagement
      Participates in external podcasts such as "Graves to Gardens," "Prison: the Hidden Sentence," and "From Bars to Bridges" to discuss reentry, mental health, employment, education, and the role of the arts in rehabilitation.
    • Podcast production: Inside Fortune
      Produces the "Inside Fortune" podcast featuring interviews with people impacted by the justice system and advocates for change, examining reentry challenges and necessary reforms.
    • Podcast production: The Reentry Reality Check
      Produces "The Reentry Reality Check" podcast that explores reentry challenges and support systems through conversations with impacted individuals, experts, and advocates.
  • Housing Policy Advocacy & Tenant Organizing 2 activities
    • Fair Chance for Housing Act advocacy
      Supported advocacy efforts leading to the passage of the Fair Chance for Housing Act in New York City, which takes effect January 1, 2025, expanding housing access for people with criminal records.
    • National fair housing legal precedent
      Achieved a landmark legal settlement in 2014 establishing a national precedent allowing organizations to challenge private landlords' blanket bans on renting to individuals with criminal records under the Fair Housing Act.
  • Union and Association Benefit Funds 1 activity
    • Benefits Access services
      Provides on-site tax preparation and benefits enrollment assistance to participants through its Benefits Access team.
  • Outpatient Mental Health Clinic Services 1 activity
    • Better Living Center (BLC)
      Operates as a state-licensed outpatient mental health clinic providing clinical services to individuals with rehabilitative and mental health needs, serving 308 clients in FY2025.
  • Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 1 activity
    • Castle Gardens
      Offers long-term, environmentally sustainable housing with supportive services in West Harlem for individuals with justice involvement, their families, and members of the broader community.
  • Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
    • Civic participation campaigns
      Engages individuals in civic life through initiatives like The People’s Money campaign to promote democratic inclusion and community empowerment.
  • Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Community storytelling and communications
      Publishes weekly stories on its blog about participants, staff, and members of the Fortune Society community to build awareness and connection.
  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Creative Arts community program
      Hosts cultural events including film screenings and promotes arts engagement as part of community building and reentry support.
  • Organizational DEI Capacity Building 1 activity
    • Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
      Facilitates internal conversations and implements recommendations to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization.
  • High School Equivalency Preparation 1 activity
    • Education program
      Provides one-on-one tutoring in literacy, vocabulary, grammar, writing, math, and GED preparation to support educational advancement for participants.
  • Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
    • Employment Services
      Offers job search support, resume coaching, mock interview training, and employment readiness programs aligned with professional expectations to help individuals secure employment.
  • Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
    • Food distribution services
      Operates food distribution programs in Harlem and Long Island City to address food insecurity among individuals with justice involvement.
  • Criminal Justice Policy Advocacy 1 activity
    • Justice reform advocacy and publications
      Produces research and policy publications to highlight mission-critical issues, amplify voices of impacted individuals, and advocate for justice reform.
  • Low-Income Senior Housing Operations 1 activity
    • Mandaela Community senior housing initiative
      Established 57 permanent supportive apartments for seniors in 2021 through The Mandaela Community initiative.
  • Outpatient Substance Use Treatment 1 activity
    • Substance Use Treatment program
      Provides outpatient substance abuse treatment to support recovery from substance use and incarceration-related trauma, serving 322 clients in FY2025 with 45% discontinuing substance use upon discharge.
  • Digital Literacy Training and Technology Access 1 activity
    • Tech access and skills development
      Hosts an annual tech fair to promote technology access and digital literacy for program participants.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) program
      Provides court-mandated supervision and support services for individuals arraigned for offenses such as gang activity, diverting them from incarceration. Served 314 participants in FY2025, with 82% of eligible clients graduating successfully and saving $35,716,165 in taxpayer costs in FY2021.
    • Enhanced Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI Enhancement Program)
      Expands services within the ATI framework to provide broader support, serving 5,988 individuals in FY2025.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$81.88M
Contributions & grants$79.26M97%
Program service revenue$2.36M3%
Investment income$4K0%
Other revenue$253K
expenses
Total expenses$82.33M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$49.68M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$105.29M
Cash$4.12M
Investments$0
Liabilities$78.61M
Net assets$26.68M
Liquid reserves0.6 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +8.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 11
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
STANLEY RICHARDS PRESIDENT & CEO (OUTGOING) 35 $332K
STEVEN HICKMAN CFO (OUTGOING) 35 $293K
RANDI ROTHSCHILD CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER 35 $257K
ROBERT DELEON INTERIM PRESIDENT & CEO 35 $257K
LEONARD CHAVIS VP ADMINISTRATION 35 $249K
SHERRY GOLDSTEIN VP AGENCY OPERATIONS 35 $248K
JOANNE PAGE PRESIDENT & CEO (FORMER) 35 $239K
MARC PIPARO CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER 35 $228K
RONALD DAY SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT 35 $203K
BENJAMIN METSCH CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER 35 $202K
BRIAN ROBINSON VP, DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS 35 $190K
board members · 13
  • ALAN PATRICOF — DIRECTOR
  • ALPHONZO ELDER — VICE CHAIRPERSON
  • ANDREA SHAPRIO DAVIS — DIRECTOR
  • ANTHONY M MASTELLONE — DIRECTOR
  • BETTY P RAUCH — DIRECTOR
  • CARLOS POLANCO — DIRECTOR (OUTGOING)
  • CAROLINE MARSHALL — DIRECTOR
  • DANNY FRANKLIN — DIRECTOR (OUTGOING)
  • DAVID A KOCHMAN — DIRECTOR
  • DAVID SICHER — DIRECTOR (OUTGOING)
  • DYJUAN TATRO — DIRECTOR
  • E PATRICIA HAVERSHAM-BROWN — DIRECTOR
  • ERIC A SEIFF — DIRECTOR
relationships · 9

Who they work with

  • Better Living Center (BLC) Partner — Provides OMH-licensed outpatient mental health treatment and rehabilitative services for individuals with histories of incarceration.
  • Bloomberg Partner — Collaborates on the Bloomberg Fortune Fellows program.
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Coalition — Internal committee guiding organizational commitment to equity and inclusion.
  • From Bars to Bridges Partner — Engaged in a podcast discussion on reentry challenges related to employment and education.
  • Graves to Gardens Partner — Collaborated on a podcast episode highlighting the role of the arts in reentry and mental health.
  • NYS Office of Mental Health Government — Licensed the Better Living Center as an outpatient mental health clinic.
  • New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) Government — Licenses Fortune Society's outpatient substance use treatment program.
  • New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) Government — Licenses the Better Living Center as a mental health outpatient treatment provider.
  • Prison: the Hidden Sentence Partner — Participated in a podcast episode discussing the history and impact of The Fortune Society.
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.

  • Housing-First Reentry Approach
    methodology: housing_first
    By ensuring access to stable, supportive housing—particularly through fair chance and community-based models—the organization enables successful reintegration because housing is foundational to personal stability, mental health, and engagement with other services.
  • Integrated Employment and Mental Health Readiness
    methodology: integrated_readiness
    By combining employment readiness training with mental health and holistic support, the organization increases job placement sustainability because professional preparedness must be accompanied by psychological and structural readiness to succeed in the workplace.
  • One-Stop-Shop Integrated Support Model
    methodology: one-stop-shop
    By providing comprehensive in-house services through a one-stop-shop model, the organization improves reentry outcomes and reduces recidivism because integrated support reduces systemic barriers and increases access to critical resources.
  • Participant-Centered, Lived-Experience-Informed Programming
    methodology: participant_centered
    By designing programs around the lived needs and experiences of justice-impacted individuals, the organization increases program relevance and effectiveness because participant-centered approaches foster dignity, engagement, and sustainable personal development.
  • Storytelling and Narrative Change for Advocacy
    methodology: story_amplification
    By amplifying the voices of directly impacted people through podcasts, digital media, and publications, the organization shifts public perception and advances policy change because personal storytelling builds empathy and challenges systemic stigma.