irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $864KClient Relationship Management oversaw client eligibility and applications in addition to conducting business needs assessments (intakes) and directing clients to Start Small Think Big programs as required. The CRM team also offered a series of networking events and workshops for small businesses.
- #2 $472KMarketing and Sales Program provided entrepreneurs with free marketing services including branding assessments and support with digital marketing strategies.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Capital Fund Pilot
Provides capital grants to small businesses with growth potential but limited access to funding, paired with technical assistance to support business development.
Client Relationship Management
Oversees client eligibility, applications, and business needs assessments; directs clients to appropriate programs and offers networking events and workshops.
Emergency Relief Fund
Offers immediate cash grants to active clients, particularly businesses owned by people of color and women, to meet urgent business and personal needs during crises such as the pandemic.
Marketing and Sales Program
Provides free marketing services including branding assessments and digital marketing strategy support to entrepreneurs.
Rapid Response Program
Designed to help small businesses owned by people of color, women, and immigrants survive and recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19; served over 900 businesses in 2020.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Small Business Technical Assistance 3 activities
- Deliver free financial consulting and literacy servicesOffers free financial consulting and literacy support including bookkeeping, financial projections, growth planning, cost analysis, and financial statement training to underserved entrepreneurs through one-on-one guidance and workshops.
- Host educational workshops and webinars for entrepreneursOffers free workshops and webinars on topics such as financial management, pitch deck creation, and business development, including the "Start Small 101" orientation and funding-focused sessions in partnership with Citi.
- Offer free marketing and sales support to small businessesProvides free marketing services including branding assessments, digital marketing strategy, and sales program support to help entrepreneurs increase customer acquisition and revenue.
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Women Entrepreneurs Grant Programs 2 activities
- Operate a pilot Capital Fund to award growth grants to small businessesFunds small businesses through a pilot Capital Fund, awarding $67,500 in grants to 4 businesses along with wraparound technical assistance to support sustainable growth.
- Provide emergency cash relief grants to small business ownersFunds emergency cash grants to small business owners, primarily women and people of color, who were ineligible for public relief, distributing $507,145 in aid through the Emergency Relief Fund program during the pandemic.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Connect entrepreneurs with skilled volunteers and professional networksOperates volunteer programs that connect entrepreneurs with a network of over 2,400 skilled professionals in marketing, finance, and legal services to support business development and growth.
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Facility-Based Service Delivery 1 activity
- Expand service delivery to national and regional marketsExpanded operations to serve small businesses across all five boroughs of New York City and established offices in Oakland and San Jose, California, while transitioning all programs online to enable national access during the pandemic.
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Professional Field Knowledge Development 1 activity
- Maintain online educational resources for small business ownersProvides access to a video library, guides, how-to resources, and expert-led content on finance, legal, marketing, and leadership topics through its blog and educational hub.
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 1 activity
- Provide pro bono legal assistance to entrepreneursOperates a pro bono Legal Program that connects entrepreneurs in New York and California with legal experts to assist with entity formation, contract review, intellectual property, employment issues, and commercial lease review.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.57M
Contributions & grants$3.50M98%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$67K2%
Other revenue$3K
expenses
Total expenses$3.99M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$3.25M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.93M
Cash$2.69M
Investments$242K
Liabilities$105K
Net assets$3.83M
Liquid reserves8.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -1.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josephine Panzera | CFO/ Executive Director (Eff. Feb 2024) | 40 | $230K |
| Sara Schlossberg | Chief Programs Officer | 40 | $175K |
| Niya Branham | Chief Operating Officer | 40 | $145K |
| Shiri Wolf | VP Programs | 40 | $133K |
| Ian Brown | Senior Director | 40 | $125K |
| Satjeet Kaur Nayar | Executive Director (from July 2023 to January 2024) | 40 | $16K |
board members · 19
- Alison McKinnel King — Director
- Angela McCray — Director
- Carol Villegas — Director
- Chinnu Joseph — Director
- Daniel Oquendo — Director
- Erica Lock Munsky — Director
- Erik Knutzen — Director
- Francesca Odell — Chair
- Jason Ewart — Director
- Joseph Kaufman — Director
- Kenetia Lee — Director
- Kevin Boon — Director
- Kristen Scheyder — Director
- Kristin Johnston — Director
- Marci Brenholz — Director
- Mark Kesslen — Secretary
- Michael Pastor — Director
- Navneet Kaur — Treasurer
- Steven Slutzky — Director
relationships · 32
Who they work with
- #AllforSmall Partner — Collaborative community initiative supporting small businesses.
- Accenture Partner
- Airbnb Partner
- American Express Partner
- BARCUTS Partner — Client business supported through Start Small Think Big's service programs
- BlackRock Partner
- Blackstone Charitable Foundation Funder — Representative from Blackstone Charitable Foundation is listed among supporters, indicating funding or strategic partnership.
- Bloomberg Partner
- Citi Partner — Citi employees engage with Start Small Think Big, indicating a partnership through professional involvement.
- Citi Partner — Co-presents the "Create a Pitch Deck for Funding Opportunities" webinar with Start Small Think Big.
- Citi Partner — Co-presents webinars for small business owners on creating pitch decks for funding.
- Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP Partner — Partner from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is listed, indicating legal collaboration.
- Edy's Grocer Partner — Client business supported through Start Small Think Big's service programs
- Entrepreneurs Partner — Collaborates with entrepreneurs as part of community engagement initiatives.
- Fingersnaps Media Arts Partner — Client business supported through Start Small Think Big's service programs
- Google Partner
- Harlem Cycle Partner — Client business supported through Start Small Think Big's service programs
- Jones Day Partner — Legal professionals from Jones Day contribute as pro bono partners to support small business entrepreneurs.
- Kirkland & Ellis LLP Partner — Partner from Kirkland & Ellis LLP is affiliated with the organization, indicating legal partnership.
- Lakou Cafe Partner — Received legal, marketing, and financial services from Start Small Think Big to support business recovery and growth.
- Lowenstein Sandler Partner — Partner from Lowenstein Sandler is listed among legal supporters, indicating pro bono or collaborative legal partnership.
- Mabell Fernandez Partner — Appointed as Executive Director of Start Small Think Big
- Marlin Kinzey Partner — Marketing and Sales Program Volunteer who supports entrepreneurs through skills-based volunteering.
- Morgan Stanley Partner
- NYU Langone Health Partner — Senior Director of Development from NYU Langone Health is listed, indicating cross-sector partnership.
- New York Law School Partner — Dean for Technology Law Programs at New York Law School is affiliated with the organization, suggesting institutional collaboration.
- New York Life Partner
- PayPal Partner — Provides financial resources, advice, and mentorship to small business owners through employee volunteering and collaboration with Start Small Think Big.
- Salesforce Partner
- Salesforce Partner — Corporate counsel from Salesforce is affiliated with the organization, suggesting a professional partnership.
+ 2 more
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.
- Equity-Centered Ecosystem Developmentmethodology: equity-centered_supportWe build equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems by centering the voices of underserved entrepreneurs and aligning support services with community needs, because inclusive design leads to more relevant, accessible, and effective interventions that drive equitable community development.
- Integrated Capital and Technical Assistance Modelmethodology: integrated_capital_and_assistanceBy combining capital grants with wraparound technical assistance—including legal, financial, and operational support—we produce more sustainable small business growth than funding or advice alone, because financial resources are most effective when paired with capacity-building aligned to the entrepreneur’s specific context.
- Network-Enabled Resource Accessmethodology: network-enabled capacity buildingBy connecting entrepreneurs to corporate partners, skilled volunteers, and digital marketplaces, we expand their access to resources and customers, because network effects amplify visibility, credibility, and growth opportunities that are otherwise inaccessible to isolated small businesses.
- On-Demand Digital Knowledge Platform for Scalable Educationmethodology: on-demand digital educationBy delivering expert-led, video-based education through an accessible digital hub, we increase small business capacity at scale, because on-demand learning removes time, geography, and cost barriers that limit participation in traditional training.
- Pro-bono Professional Network for Equitable Entrepreneurial Supportmethodology: pro_bono_professional_networkBy connecting underserved entrepreneurs with pro-bono professionals in legal, financial, and marketing fields, we strengthen foundational business systems and level the playing field between small and large businesses, because access to expert networks compensates for systemic inequities in resource distribution.