irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $483KGROW BROOKLYN PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO SUPPORT HOUSING STABILITY IN NEW YORK CITY'S MOST IMPACTED NEIGHBORHOODS. OUR COMPREHENSIVE FORECLOSURE PREVENTION COUNSELING AND ESTATE PLANNING SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES FACED BY THESE COMMUNITIES. EACH YEAR, OUR FORECLOSURE PREVENTION PROGRAM ASSISTS APPROXIMATELY 300 HOMEOWNERS, HELPING MANY TO SUCCESSFULLY MODIFY THEIR MORTGAGES AND REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES. RECOGNIZING THAT 1015% OF OUR CLIENTS FACING FORECLOSURE ALSO CONTEND WITH ESTATE ISSUES, GROW BROOKLYN OFFERS A TARGETED ESTATE PLANNING PROGRAM CALLED "PROTECT YOUR TREASURE". THIS INITIATIVE EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES TO PRESERVE THEIR FINANCIAL ASSETS, INCLUDING THEIR HOMES, BY PROVIDING ESTATE PLANNING, ESTATE ADMINISTRATION ADVICE, AND LIMITED LEGAL SERVICES IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR FORECLOSURE PREVENTION EFFORTS.
- #2 $3KGrow Brooklyn conducts targeted outreach across New York City to connect low- and moderate-income homeowners with free housing stability services. Through in-person and virtual events, the organization reaches approximately 2,000 individuals annually, raising awareness and providing direct access to foreclosure prevention, estate planning, property tax and water lien support, scam prevention, repair assistance, and resiliency resources. Outreach efforts prioritize communities at high risk of displacement and focus on education, early intervention, and trusted guidance to help New Yorkers preserve homeownership and generational wealth
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Financial Capability Coaching
Provides holistic financial coaching to help clients build budgets, improve credit, save for goals, and access public benefits, with a focus on long-term financial stability.
Foreclosure Prevention Counseling
HUD-approved counseling program offering homeowners at risk of foreclosure guidance on mortgage modification, reinstatement options, and legal referrals to help maintain homeownership.
Free Tax Prep
Offers free tax preparation services to over 6,000 low- and moderate-income individuals annually through 13 sites in Kings County, including specialized support for self-employed filers.
Outreach and Education
Conducts in-person and virtual outreach events citywide to connect low-income homeowners with housing stability, tax, and legal services, reaching approximately 2,000 individuals annually.
Protect Your Treasure
Provides free estate planning, Surrogate’s Court representation, and legal services to help low-income families preserve assets, including homes, through wills, powers of attorney, and probate assistance.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
-
Free Tax Preparation Services 2 activities
- Free tax preparation servicesProvides free tax preparation and filing assistance through IRS-certified preparers to over 6,000 clients annually at 13 locations across Brooklyn. Operates as Brooklyn's largest non-commercial tax provider, serving thousands of residents each year since 2002.
- Support services for self-employed individuals and small businessesProvides year-round tax preparation, personalized consultations, group workshops on tax filing and recordkeeping, and online toolkits for freelancers, gig workers, and small business owners. Services include completion of federal and state quarterly estimated tax filings and connections to city resources for asset building and business growth.
-
-
Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 1 activity
- Estate planning and administration legal servicesProvides end-of-life legal services, including estate planning, estate administration advice, and limited legal representation in Surrogate’s Court or Supreme Court processes. Through the "Protect Your Treasure" program, has preserved $25.2 million in assets and offers low-cost preparation of simple probate and administration petitions for a $150 fee.
-
-
Financial Coaching and Credit Counseling 1 activity
- Financial education and coaching programsOffers no-cost financial education programs, workshops, and one-on-one coaching for individuals and seniors, covering budgeting, savings, credit improvement, debt management, homeownership preparation, and public benefits access. Programs include Financial Foundations for young adults and are delivered in-person or virtually, in partnership with organizations like Financial Beginnings.
-
-
First-Time Homebuyer Support Services 1 activity
- Foreclosure prevention counseling and legal servicesProvides free foreclosure prevention counseling and legal representation to homeowners in New York City, including mortgage modification support, negotiation with lenders, budgeting guidance, documentation assistance, and representation in settlement conferences. Serves approximately 300 homeowners annually and operates as a HUD-approved housing counseling agency in one of NYC’s hardest-hit neighborhoods.
-
-
Self-Sufficiency Empowerment Workshops 1 activity
- Outreach and community education on housing stabilityConducts outreach through in-person and virtual events, reaching approximately 2,000 individuals annually in New York City with education and access to housing stability and financial services.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$1.43M
Contributions & grants$1.42M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$30%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$1.49M
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.20M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$839K
Cash$436K
Investments$0
Liabilities$18K
Net assets$821K
Liquid reserves3.5 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -6.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samira Rajan | Board Member | 4 | $152K |
| Charles Harris | Director of Legal | 40 | $104K |
| Makeela Brathwaite | Executive Dir. | 40 | $92K |
board members · 4
- Aissatou Barry — Chairman
- Darren Liddell — Treasurer
- Nnenne Okarafor — Secretary
- Seth Narine — Board Member
relationships · 33
Who they work with
- APNA Community Center Partner — Community partner supporting financial empowerment services
- BCoop Partner — Collaborates with BCoop on fiscal and cooperative initiatives.
- Brooklyn Community Foundation Funder — Supports Grow Brooklyn's mission of protecting and growing the wealth of Brooklyn families.
- Brooklyn Coop Federal Credit Union Partner — Grow Brooklyn is an affiliate of Brooklyn Coop Federal Credit Union, a nonprofit financial institution providing affordable financial services.
- Brooklyn Coop Federal Credit Union Partner — Grow Brooklyn operates as an affiliate of Brooklyn Coop Federal Credit Union, a certified CDFI providing financial services to low- and moderate-income communities.
- Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union Partner — Refers clients to Brooklyn Coop for safe, affordable banking services and collaborates on financial stability initiatives.
- Brooklyn Public Library Partner — Community partner supporting financial empowerment services
- Brownsville Partnership Partner — Community partner supporting financial empowerment services
- CitiBank Partner — Financial institution partner supporting financial empowerment services
- Financial Beginnings Partner — Partner organization providing financial literacy curriculum and programming delivered by Grow Brooklyn.
- HOPP Funder — Supported the development of Grow Brooklyn's specialized foreclosure prevention programming.
- HSBC Bank Partner — Financial institution partner supporting financial empowerment services
- Internal Revenue Service Government — Works with IRS-certified preparers to provide free tax preparation services.
- John Esposito, Home Detective Partner — Community partner supporting financial empowerment services
- Law Offices of Ryan J. Walsh Partner — Legal services partner supporting financial empowerment services
- Lower East Side People’s Federal Credit Union Partner — Financial institution partner supporting financial empowerment services
- M&T Bank Partner — Financial institution partner supporting financial empowerment services
- NCRC Network — Member organization affiliated with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition.
- Neighborhood Trust Partner — Community partner supporting financial empowerment services
- New York Cares Partner — Community partner supporting financial empowerment services
- New York City Government — Connects self-employed filers to free city services and resources for asset building and business growth.
- New York Health + Hospitals Gotham Health Center Partner — Healthcare partner supporting financial empowerment services
- New York Health + Hospitals Gouverneur Partner — Healthcare partner supporting financial empowerment services
- New York Health + Hospitals Kings County Partner — Healthcare partner supporting financial empowerment services
- Office of State Senator Andrew Gounardes Government — Government partner supporting financial empowerment services
- Riseboro Partner — Community partner supporting financial empowerment services
- St. John’s Bread and Life Partner — Community partner supporting financial empowerment services
- St. Nicks Alliance Partner — Community partner supporting financial empowerment services
- Supreme Court Government — Provides guidance and support for clients navigating Supreme Court processes related to estate matters.
- Surrogate’s Court Government — Works within Surrogate’s Court processes to assist clients with estate administration and probate petitions.
+ 3 more
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.
- Community-Rooted Systems Changemethodology: community-led_financial_equityBy advancing financial equity through community-led leadership and systemic advocacy, the organization addresses root causes of economic disparity, because sustainable change requires shifting policies and institutional practices in addition to serving individuals.
- Holistic Financial Capability Coachingmethodology: financial_capabilityBy using a holistic coaching model that integrates financial knowledge, goal-setting, and mindset development, the organization fosters sustained behavior change and long-term financial success, because practical application and personal agency are more effective than knowledge alone in improving financial outcomes.
- Integrated Legal and Financial Servicesmethodology: legal-financial-integrationBy combining legal services with financial support, the organization helps clients protect assets and build wealth securely, because legal barriers (e.g., unclear title or estate issues) often undermine financial stability and must be addressed alongside financial coaching.