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IMAGINE SOCIETY INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 834213452 · Form 990EZ · FY2021 · NTEE O51 · Youth Development · Micro (<$100K) · theimaginesociety.org
revenue
$45K
expenses
$46K
net assets
$9K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

OUR MISSION IS TO CULTIVATE LEADERSHIP IN OUR DIVERSE YOUTH GROUPS AND YOUTH MEMBERS AND HELP THEM DEVELOP AND EXECUTE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Imagine Society Inc cultivates youth leadership by mentoring diverse youth groups in community service, social justice, and compassion. It supports youth-led initiatives through events, service projects, and a national youth-led newsletter. The organization operates primarily in New York City but has expanded to include national and international engagement, especially through virtual platforms during and after the pandemic.

named programs · 8 · from sources

What they call their work

#FoodForFamilies
Service initiative providing food support to families in need, particularly during the pandemic.
#Messagesof❤️
Youth-led project creating and distributing messages of love and encouragement to isolated individuals and frontline workers.
#VirtualVolunteering
Remote service opportunities enabling youth to contribute during periods of social distancing.
Muslim Volunteers for New York (MV4NY)
Youth and community volunteer group focused on education, health, environmental protection, and poverty alleviation, including food and book drives and meal delivery for the elderly.
Spark and Ignite
Youth groups from St. Ignatius Loyola engaging in monthly service days focused on community improvement and intergroup collaboration.
The Imagine Chef’s Series
Youth-run cooking initiative preparing and delivering meals to vulnerable populations.
The Imagine Society Newsletter
100% youth-led monthly publication featuring essays on social justice, service, and civic issues, created during the pandemic and sustained as a platform for youth voices.
The Spirit Squad
Youth group that runs a food pantry serving over 80 families weekly, organizes clothing and food drives, and supports homeless individuals with Metro cards and outreach to drop-in centers.
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 2 activities
    • Emergency and essential supplies distribution during crises
      Conducted pandemic response efforts including raising over $100,000 in funds and in-kind donations to deliver meals to frontline workers and support food pantries and shelters. Organized production and distribution of face masks, wellness baskets, and essential items such as food, sanitizers, and toiletries. Also raised targeted funds to provide thousands of meals to organizations like The Bowery Mission.
    • Youth-led food pantry and food distribution services
      Operates a youth-run food pantry that serves over 80 families per week and delivers 1,000 pounds of healthy food monthly. Organizes volunteer-based grocery packing at the Ascension Food Pantry and Saturday deliveries to clients, supported by an on-call driver network. Also conducts emergency food distribution, including collecting and delivering surplus restaurant food in partnership with Columbia students.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 2 activities
    • Youth advocacy and inclusion campaigns
      Runs youth-led advocacy initiatives such as the #OneFiftyNine Campaign focused on inclusion and social justice. Hosts inspirational events that galvanize youth action, facilitate discussions on building a better future, and create platforms for youth to express their voices and lead peer groups.
    • Youth leadership development and community service programs
      Identifies and trains middle and high school students in youth groups to develop and lead strategic community service projects, providing structured opportunities for leadership through peer facilitation, group engagement, and school service requirement fulfillment. Brings together youth from across New York City to collaborate across cultural backgrounds and build cross-community relationships in an inclusive, non-judgmental environment.
  • Community Event-Based Giving Programs 1 activity
    • Youth engagement and service drives for community needs
      Organizes targeted service initiatives such as calculator drives, professional attire distribution, infant comfort item creation (e.g., peek-a-boo toys and paracord bracelets), and sewing projects for community giving. Supports educational, health, and job readiness needs through material donations and volunteer-led campaigns like Operation Gratitude.
  • Youth-Led Student Publications 1 activity
    • Youth publication and creative expression platform
      Produces a monthly youth-led digital and print newsletter featuring essays, art, photography, and stories from teens on societal issues and visions for equity, with contributions from a diverse youth editorial staff. The publication serves as a safe outlet for expression and continued dialogue, especially during the pandemic when in-person events were replaced with this format.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$45K
Contributions & grants$45K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$46K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$5K
balance sheet
Total assets$11K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$9K
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue -68.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

Who runs it

board members · 1
  • DANIELLE BLUMSTEIN — DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH
relationships · 20

Who they work with

  • Ascension Food Pantry Partner — Collaborates with the Ascension Food Pantry to organize volunteer-based grocery packing and delivery services.
  • CAMBA Partner — Partner organization to which The Spirit Squad refers homeless individuals for support services.
  • Catholic Charities Partner — Collaborates with The Spirit Squad through its food hub distribution programs.
  • Columbia University Partner — Collaborates with The Spirit Squad to collect and deliver leftover food from restaurants to the needy.
  • Feeding Our Neighbors Funder — Granted funding to The Spirit Squad to support its food distribution programs.
  • Gilcroy Designs Partner — Donor participant in the Special Friends Food For Families Campaign supporting distribution of essential items.
  • Green Hill Juvenile Detention Center Partner — Collaborated to display student artwork in a public exhibit.
  • Instagram Partner — Platform used to share current activities and engage youth and mentors; organization maintains an official presence at @TheImagineSociety.
  • Instinet Holdings Incorporated Partner — Matched funds raised for the #OneFiftyNine campaign to provide meals at The Bowery Mission.
  • Muslim Volunteers for New York Partner — Collaborates with The Imagine Society on youth engagement initiatives.
  • New York Beverage Partner — Supports The Imagine Society’s programs, likely through in-kind or financial contributions.
  • Olive’s Cards & Books Partner — Donor participant in the Special Friends Food For Families Campaign supporting distribution of essential items.
  • The Bowery Mission Partner — Named as a Friend of The Imagine Society, indicating a supportive partnership.
  • The Child Mind Institute Partner — Collaborates with The Imagine Society in supporting youth mental health and advocacy.
  • The Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation Partner — Supports The Imagine Society’s youth-focused initiatives.
  • The Trautschold Family Foundation, Inc. Funder — Provides financial support to The Imagine Society.
  • T’s Timeless Treasures Partner — Donor participant in the Special Friends Food For Families Campaign supporting distribution of essential items.
  • Woolco Foods Partner — Partner organization that has donated food and supplies for Ascension Pantry services.
  • Woolco Foods, Inc. Partner — Partner in food distribution efforts, particularly through the Food For Families Campaign.
  • adult mentors Partner — Collaborates with adult mentors to guide young leaders in service projects and personal development.
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.

  • Arts and Culture as Empathy Catalyst
    methodology: arts_for_empathy
    By integrating arts and culture into youth service programs, we produce deeper empathy, cross-cultural understanding, and compassion because creative expression enables emotional connection across differences.
  • Service-Aligned Engagement Model
    methodology: interest_aligned_engagement
    By aligning service opportunities with youth interests, school requirements, and enjoyable activities, we produce higher participation and retention because relevance and engagement reduce barriers to sustained involvement.
  • Youth Voice Amplification Through Media
    methodology: youth_led_media
    By using a 100% youth-led media platform, we produce authentic youth narratives and informed advocacy because centering youth voices in editorial control strengthens credibility and models leadership in action.
  • Youth-Led Service Model
    methodology: youth_led_service
    By placing youth in leadership roles to design and implement community service and advocacy initiatives, we produce greater engagement, resilience, and lasting social impact because youth ownership fosters authenticity, commitment, and peer influence.