named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
GothamGazette.com
Launched in 1999, this award-winning online publication covers New York City politics, policy, and governance, offering daily news, analysis, and commentary on issues affecting the city.
Poll Worker Recruitment Program
Initiated in 2001, this program helps recruit and train poll workers to support fair and efficient election administration across New York City.
Redistricting Reform Campaign
Long-term advocacy effort culminating in the passage of Prop 1 (2014), which established an independent commission to end partisan gerrymandering in New York State legislative districts.
Searchlight on the City Council
Comprehensive monitoring and reporting on the activities and performance of the New York City Council, providing transparency and accountability in local legislative processes.
Voters Directory
Published since 1910, this guide provides nonpartisan information on candidates for elected office, including qualifications and policy positions, to help New Yorkers make informed voting decisions.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Civic Engagement and Voter Mobilization 2 activities
- Advocate for open and fair electionsChampions electoral reforms including open primaries, permanent voter registration, early voting, and the repeal of mandatory re-registration. The organization has advocated for open primary systems allowing unaffiliated voters to participate, opposed slate voting, and promoted election integrity through signature verification and voter registration reforms.
- Publish voter education and election guidance materialsProduces and distributes nonpartisan voters’ guides and directories ahead of elections to inform the public about candidates and their positions. This includes publishing the first Voters Directory in 1910 and issuing candidate evaluations and endorsements in every election since, including for major municipal races and charter amendments.
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Policy Advocacy & Research 2 activities
- Advocate for structural government reforms and good governanceEngages in sustained advocacy to promote honest, accountable, and transparent government in New York City and State. Key efforts include abolishing the Board of Estimate, establishing community boards, securing home rule, advocating for merit-based judicial selection, challenging gerrymandering, and promoting charter reforms such as minimum funding for oversight agencies and improved public participation in the revision process.
- Conduct research and publish policy analysis on New York governanceProduces and disseminates research, policy proposals, and nonpartisan analysis on issues affecting New York City and State, including through long-running publications such as the Voters Directory and Searchlight on the City Council. The organization has published seminal reports on charter reform and government efficiency, and maintains a historical record of publishing candidate evaluations and policy recommendations since 1910.
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Nonprofit Investigative & Community Journalism 1 activity
- Curate and distribute policy and political contentProduces and shares weekly original policy columns, a curated newsletter featuring top New York-focused policy and politics coverage, and publishes contributions from candidates to serve as a resource for voters during election cycles.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Host public events honoring civic leadershipOrganizes the annual Gotham Greats Celebration to recognize individuals for their contributions to public service and civic life in New York City.
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Urban Policy and Equity Research 1 activity
- Integrate public policy programs to improve urban quality of lifeIntegrated the 5BORO Institute in 2025 as a public policy program focused on advancing practical policies that improve quality of life in New York City.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Operate nonpartisan news and information platformsFounded and operated Gotham Gazette (1999–2023), a nonpartisan news outlet covering New York City and State government, policy, and politics. Provided in-depth election coverage, maintained the Eye-Opener newsletter, produced a podcast, and operated an Albany bureau. The platform served as a definitive source on post-9/11 recovery and major municipal elections, including the first ranked-choice voting election in 2021.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$707K
Contributions & grants$723K102%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$28K4%
Other revenue$-44K
expenses
Total expenses$736K
Program expenses64%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising22%
Salaries & benefits$530K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$752K
Cash$360K
Investments$360K
Liabilities$47K
Net assets$705K
Liquid reserves11.7 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -2.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELISABETH GOTBAUM | Executive Dir. | 32 | $144K |
board members · 24
- ALLAN DOBRIN — Director
- ANTHONY CROWELL — Director
- ANTHONY MATTIA — Treasurer
- ANTHONY R SMITH — Director
- CHARLES O'BYRNE — Director
- CHRISTINA R DAVIS — Secretary
- ERIC GIOIA — Director
- ESTER FUCHS PH D — Director
- GAIL ERICKSON — Director
- GARY NAFTALIS — Director
- GRACE LYU VOLCKHAUSEN — Director
- GREGORY CAMP — Director
- GREGORY SILBERT — Director
- JASON STEWART — Director
- JOHN P AVLON — Director
- JUANITA SCARLETT — Director
- JUDI RAPPOPORT BLITZER — Vice Chair
- KEN SEPLOW — Director
- MARJORIE TIVEN — Director
- NANCY BOWE — Director
- NICHOLAS STABILE — Director
- NICOLE GORDON — Director
- PENELOPE L CHRISTOPHOROU — Vice Chair
- PETER JW SHERWIN — Director
relationships · 21
Who they work with
- 5BORO Institute Partner — Joined Citizens Union in 2025 as a public policy program focused on advancing practical policies to improve quality of life in New York City.
- American Planning Association Funder — Recognized Gotham Gazette with journalism awards
- Bloomberg Associates Partner — Honors a principal from Bloomberg Associates, indicating a connection to the organization through civic engagement.
- Citizens Union of New York Network — John Avlon serves as Chairman of Citizens Union of New York, indicating organizational affiliation.
- Commission on Government Efficiency Coalition — Engaged with the Commission by submitting policy recommendations and testimony on government efficiency and anti-corruption funding.
- Commission to Strengthen Local Democracy Coalition — Referenced as a prior charter commission whose vetted charter amendments on watchdog funding align with Citizens Union's advocacy.
- Conflicts of Interest Board Government — Advocates for guaranteed minimum funding to ensure the board’s independence and effectiveness.
- Department of Investigation Government — Advocates for sustained and increased funding for the agency as a key city watchdog body.
- George S. Kaufman Charitable Foundation Funder — Provided generous support to launch the Searchlight platform.
- Guidepost Solutions Partner — Honors the founder and chairman of Guidepost Solutions, indicating a professional connection through public service recognition.
- Knight Foundation Funder — Recognized Gotham Gazette with journalism awards
- NYC Bar Association Partner — Collaborates with or recognizes individuals affiliated with the NYC Bar Association.
- New York City Campaign Finance Board Government — Oversees the public matching funds program that Citizens Union advocates for participation in.
- New York City Council Partner — Engaged with the Council through testimony and advocacy on the elected officials' compensation bill.
- Online News Association Funder — Recognized Gotham Gazette with journalism awards
- Pew Center for Civic Journalism Funder — Recognized Gotham Gazette with journalism awards
- The New York Times Partner — Praised Citizens Union in 1938 as a trusted and constructive civic force in New York City politics.
- U.S. Department of Justice Government — Upheld Citizens Union’s 1982 challenge to racially discriminatory City Council district lines.
- United States Supreme Court Government — Declared the Board of Estimate unconstitutional in 1988, affirming Citizens Union’s long-standing advocacy position.
- WCBS-TV Partner — Honors the chief political correspondent from WCBS-TV, reflecting a relationship through media and civic discourse.
- WNBC Partner — Partnered with WNBC for the broadcast of Citizens Union Searchlight.
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.
- Integrated Research, Advocacy, and Public Education for Systemic Reformmethodology: research-advocacy-educationBy combining nonpartisan research, policy advocacy, and public education, the organization drives systemic political reform and strengthens democratic governance because sustained change requires both informed public discourse and targeted institutional pressure.
- Nonpartisan Civic Journalism to Strengthen Democratic Accountabilitymethodology: civic-journalismBy using journalistic curation and nonpartisan reporting to inform citizens and elevate evidence-based policy analysis, the organization enhances civic discourse and promotes government accountability because informed publics are more capable of demanding responsive governance.
- Structural Democratic Reforms to Enhance Participation and Accountabilitymethodology: institutional-reformBy advocating for institutional reforms such as public campaign financing, independent compensation reviews, open primaries with ranked choice voting, and legislative guardrails on bureaucracy, the organization strengthens democracy because these mechanisms reduce corruption risks, increase electoral fairness, and improve accessibility of public service.