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RESTAURANT WORKERS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 822737963 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE K12 · Food, Agriculture & Nutrition · Small ($100K-$1M) · restaurantworkerscf.org
revenue
$173K
expenses
$576K
net assets
$953K
employees
2
volunteers
15
program ratio
27%
mission · from form 990

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO GROW THE POWER OF RESTAURANT WORKERS IN PUBLIC DISCLOSURE AND WORKPLACE POICIES ON WAGES, EQUITY, AND HEALTH

profile · synthesized from sources

Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation (RWCF) strengthens the power of restaurant workers through grantmaking, advocacy, and impact investing. It supports nonprofit partners that advance fair wages, racial and gender equity, mental health access, and immigrant rights in the hospitality industry. RWCF also funds crisis relief and invests in worker-centered businesses to drive systemic change.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $886K
    -RESTAURANT WORKERS COVID-19 CRISIS RELIEF FUND, WHICH HAD THREE MAIN COMPONENTS WITH THREE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT POPULATIONS, BUT ALL ULTIMATELY SERVING THE INTERESTS OF RESTAURANT WORKERS. MOST DONORS DESIGNATED FUNDS TO ALL THREE COMPONENTS OF THE CRISIS FUND (WITH EXPLICIT UNDERSTANDING THAT 10% OF ANY DONATION OVER $10,000 WOULD BE DIRECTED TO GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR RWCF'S CORE OPERATIONS:* DIRECT FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR RESTAURANT WORKERS, WITH OUR CASE MANAGEMENT PARTNER SOUTHERN SMOKE FOUNDATION, RWCF DIRECTED 50% OF ALL FUNDS RAISED FOR THE CRISIS RELIEF FUND IN THIS AREA. A SMALL PORTION OF DONORS REQUESTED THAT THEIR FUNDS GO ONLY TO THIS PORTION OF THE CRISIS FUND, WHICH OUR ACCOUNTING SYSTEM TRACKED. *GRANTS TO NONPROFITS PROVIDING WORKERS EMERGENCY SERVICES, WITH CRISIS SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDING THINGS LIKE PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES, FOOD ASSISTANCE, EMPLOYMENT DISTRIBUTING FOOD TO OTHER POPULATIONS, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE HELP, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELP, ETC. NO FUNDERS DIRECTED THEIR DONATIONS ONLY TO THIS PORTION OF THE FUND. *RESTAURANT FUTURES LOAN PROGRAM, WITH OUR CDFI PARTNER ASCENDUS (FORMERLY ACCION EAST), 25% OF THE CRISIS FUND GOES TO THIS ZERO-INTEREST LOAN PROGRAM TO HELP SMALL RESTAURANT BUSINESSES THAT ARE WILLING TO EXAMINE THEIR LABOR PRACTICES, WITH THE GOAL OF CREATING A GREATER NUMBER OF PRO-WORKER BUSINESSES AND A PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS STORIES TO COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC. A SMALL PORTION OF DONORS TO THE CRISIS FUND SAID THAT THEIR FUNDS COULDN'T SUPPORT THIS AREA OF THE FUND, WHICH OUR ACCOUNTING SYSTEM TRACKED.
  2. #2 $0
    -RESTAURANT WORKERS RACIAL JUSTICE FUND (DEVELOPED IN 2020 BUT PUBLICLY LAUNCHED IN 2021).*THIS INITIATIVE WILL RAISE FUNDS AND DISTRIBUTE GRANTS TO SUPPORT NONPROFITS WHERE LEADERS ARE ADVOCATING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE WITHIN THE RESTAURANT, FOOD MEDIA AND RELATED HOSPITALITY AREAS. RWCF DID NOT START RAISING FUNDS OR BUDGET ITS OWN OPERATING FUNDS TO THIS INITIATIVE UNTIL 2021.
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

#RWCFTalks Series
Public education and community engagement series featuring discussions on industry challenges and solutions
Restaurant Futures Loan Program
Established with $1.2 million in funding to Ascendus to provide loans to restaurant workers and businesses committed to fair labor practices
Restaurant Managers Network
Networking and support group for restaurant managers to exchange best practices and promote equitable workplace policies
Restaurant Workers COVID-19 Crisis Relief Fund
Provided emergency financial assistance, food, housing, legal services, and healthcare support to restaurant workers during the pandemic; distributed over $3.3 million through partner Southern Smoke and $845,000 to nonprofits
Restaurant Workers Racial Justice Fund
Grants initiative focused on dismantling white supremacy and anti-Blackness in the restaurant industry
Restaurant Workers Speakers Bureau
Platform for restaurant workers to share their experiences and advocate for change in public forums and media
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Worker Rights Advocacy & Wage Protection 2 activities
    • Building collaborative networks for industry change
      Builds networks among restaurant workers, nonprofits, and restaurants to develop solutions for equitable wages, inclusion, and mental health access, including communication platforms and collaborative structures.
    • Support for nonprofit capacity in worker equity and advocacy
      Supports nonprofits working on career training, research, and advocacy for fair wages and worker rights; includes allocating $1.2 million to Ascendus for the Restaurant Futures Loan Program to support financial recovery for restaurant workers.
  • Civil Rights Advocacy & Litigation 1 activity
    • Advocacy for racial justice and worker rights in the restaurant industry
      Conducts advocacy to address systemic racism and anti-Blackness through initiatives like the Restaurant Workers Racial Justice Fund and allocates one third of raised funds to community-building and advocacy efforts.
  • Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Communication and community engagement for restaurant workers
      Distributes a newsletter (“Restaurant Workers’ Community News”) and hosts social networking events to engage and inform members of the restaurant worker community.
  • Professional Association Capacity Building 1 activity
    • Development of resources and programming for unemployed restaurant workers
      Creates and shares resources such as the #RWCFTalks Series, Restaurant Managers Network, and Restaurant Workers Speakers Bureau to support unemployed restaurant workers.
  • Direct Financial Assistance to Individuals 1 activity
    • Emergency financial assistance for restaurant workers
      Provides direct financial aid to restaurant workers during crises, such as distributing over $3.325 million through Southern Smoke in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Charitable Grantmaking to Specific Causes 1 activity
    • Grantmaking to nonprofit organizations supporting restaurant workers
      Distributes grants to nonprofit organizations providing emergency relief, career training, legal assistance, food, housing, mental health services, and advocacy for restaurant workers. Examples include $13,500 in grants to 11 organizations in 2019 and over $3.325 million distributed through Southern Smoke for direct financial assistance during the pandemic.
  • Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
    • Impact investing in ethical restaurant businesses
      Deploys raised funds into impact investments in restaurant businesses that improve working conditions and allocates one third of funds toward such investments and future shareholder advocacy.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$173K
Contributions & grants$90K52%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$88K51%
Other revenue$-5K
expenses
Total expenses$576K
Program expenses27%
Admin / overhead57%
Fundraising16%
Salaries & benefits$369K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$977K
Cash$119K
Investments$840K
Liabilities$25K
Net assets$953K
Liquid reserves20.0 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue -81.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
JAYANTHI DANIEL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $202K
CHERYL WILLIAMS FINANCE DIRECTOR 40 $129K
board members · 15
  • ALEX PEMOULIE — TREASURER
  • BEETA JAHEDI — BOARD MEMBER
  • CAROLINE HATCHETT — VICE PRESIDENT
  • DANA KOTEEN — BOARD MEMBER
  • EDEN EGZIABHER — BOARD MEMBER
  • JOHN DEBARY — PRESIDENT
  • KAREN FU — BOARD MEMBER
  • LIZZIE ASHER — BOARD MEMBER
  • LYNETTE MARRERO — BOARD MEMBER
  • PAOLA VALEZ — BOARD MEMEBER
  • PIM TECHAMUANVIVIT — BOARD MEMBER
  • RACHEL BIEN — BOARD MEMBER
  • SAM PENIX — BOARD MEMBER
  • TIFFANY LANGSTON — SECRETARY
  • ZACH LITIF — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 14

Who they work with

  • Ascendus Partner — Partner organization that received funding to establish the Restaurant Futures Loan Program.
  • Brandworkers Partner — Recipient of a $1,000 grant in RWCF's first year of grantmaking.
  • Drive Change Partner — Recipient of grant funding in 2019.
  • Hot Bread Kitchen Partner — Recipient of grant funding in 2019.
  • OutsmartNYC Partner — Recipient of a $1,000 grant in RWCF's first year of grantmaking.
  • Restaurant After Hours Partner — Recipient of grant funding in 2019.
  • Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York Partner — Consulted with Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York to reestablish the One Fair Wage Coalition and support research on after-hours childcare.
  • Restaurant Opportunities Centers United Partner — Recipient of a $1,000 grant in RWCF's first year of grantmaking.
  • Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Partner — Consulted with the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation to design an automated resource directory for Leadership Development programs available to New Yorkers.
  • Southern Smoke Partner — Case management partner for distributing direct financial assistance through the Restaurant Workers COVID-19 Crisis Relief Fund.
  • Women in Hospitality United Partner — Recipient of grant funding in 2019.
  • nonprofits Partner — Collaborates with nonprofit organizations serving restaurant workers to advance equity and improve industry practices.
  • nonprofits Partner — Organizations receiving grants to deliver emergency services to restaurant workers
  • restaurants Partner — Works with restaurant businesses that are improving conditions for workers through investment and collaboration.
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.

  • Collective-Action Network Building
    methodology: collective-action network building
    By convening restaurant workers, nonprofits, and employers into collaborative networks, the organization produces systemic industry change, because collective action builds shared power and amplifies marginalized voices to transform workplace norms.
  • Community Foundation Model for Grassroots Support
    methodology: community foundation model
    By using a community foundation model to raise and redistribute funds, the organization strengthens grassroots initiatives, because resourcing local, worker-led movements ensures culturally relevant and sustainable social change.
  • Impact Investing for Systemic Industry Transformation
    methodology: impact_investing_for_systemic_change
    By deploying capital through impact investments, loans, and shareholder advocacy, the organization produces systemic change in the hospitality industry, because market-based leverage can shift business practices toward worker prosperity.
  • Public Education for Policy Change
    methodology: public_education_for_policy_change
    By educating the public on labor issues in the restaurant industry, the organization produces policy change and shifts workplace culture, because informed public opinion creates political and market pressure for reform.
  • Systems-Changing Grantmaking
    methodology: systems-change grantmaking
    By focusing grantmaking on root causes like wage fairness, racial and gender equity, and mental health, the organization produces long-term industry reform, because addressing structural inequities transforms systems more effectively than isolated interventions.