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CODE FOR LIFE USA INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 921885645 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B90 · Education · Small ($100K-$1M) · codeforlife.us
revenue
$473K
expenses
$482K
net assets
$124K
employees
13
volunteers
10
program ratio
78%
mission · from form 990

TO EQUIP YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN UNDER-SERVED AND HIGH POVERTY COMMUNITIES, WITH PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGICAL PROFICIENCY THEY NEED TO THRIVE IN THE DIGITALLY-DRIVEN ECONOMY.

profile · synthesized from sources

Code for Life USA is a Bronx-based nonprofit that equips youth ages 11–18 from under-resourced communities with practical life and technological skills. Through after-school and in-school programs, it teaches coding, robotics, and web development to transform students into creators and makers in the AI and automation-driven economy. The organization serves primarily Latino and African American youth in high-poverty neighborhoods of the South Bronx.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Capstone Projects
Student-led projects that integrate skills learned across courses, presented at annual Capstone Dinners
JavaScript and Advanced JS
Intermediate to advanced programming course covering JavaScript fundamentals and applications
Machine Learning
Advanced course teaching foundational concepts in machine learning and AI applications
Robotics
Course introducing students to robotics using Arduino and related technologies
Web Basics
Introductory course teaching HTML, CSS, collaboration, idea development, and presentation using Git, GitHub, and Slack
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
    • Deliver technology and life skills education programs to youth in underserved communities
      Operates in-school, after-school, and summer programs for youth ages 11–18 in under-resourced neighborhoods, primarily in the South Bronx and Harlem, equipping them with practical life skills and technological proficiency. Serves over 350 students annually through a continuum of courses focused on preparing youth for careers in technology.
  • Digital Literacy Training and Technology Access 1 activity
    • Distribute laptops to student participants to support continued learning
      Provides laptops to students following capstone presentations to enable ongoing development of coding, creation, and digital making skills beyond the program duration.
  • K–12 Computer Science & AI Education 1 activity
    • Operate a dedicated technology education incubator space in the South Bronx
      Runs a 2,300-square-foot Incubator in the South Bronx launched in 2025 to deliver advanced technology courses and programming to youth in a dedicated learning environment.
  • Youth Cultural and Educational Travel Programs 1 activity
    • Organize site visits to tech companies and universities for career exposure
      Arranges educational site visits for youth to technology companies and universities to increase awareness of career pathways and opportunities in the tech sector.
  • Youth One-on-One Mentoring 1 activity
    • Provide mentoring, college planning, and personal support to youth
      Offers ongoing mentoring to students ages 11–17 in Harlem and the Bronx, including tutoring, college planning, and personal development support to promote long-term success.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Conduct research on tech job market accessibility in New York City
      Produces and highlights research showing that 44% of New York City’s 291,000 tech jobs do not require a bachelor’s degree and offer wages 49% above the city average, informing program design and advocacy.
    • Deliver Web Basics and coding instruction using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Git, GitHub, and Slack
      Teaches foundational web development skills through structured courses including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Ruby, Git, GitHub, and Slack, with an emphasis on collaboration, idea development, implementation, and presentation. Courses are delivered in-person and supported by guest instructors.
    • Facilitate student-led capstone projects and public presentations
      Guides students in developing capstone projects that integrate technical and soft skills learned during the program, including team-based website development with full student ownership over topic, mission, content, and design. Culminates in public capstone events featuring student presentations, code demonstrations, and leadership remarks.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$473K
Contributions & grants$394K83%
Program service revenue$79K17%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$482K
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$300K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$140K
Cash$83K
Investments$0
Liabilities$16K
Net assets$124K
Liquid reserves2.1 mo
2 years on record · 2023–2024 · YoY revenue +28.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
CHRISTOPHER TROY CEO 5 $93K
board members · 6
  • ALBERT CHUN — BOARD MEMBER TO 12/10/25
  • BOB TACCONI — BOARD MEMBER
  • PETER SAM RAJ — BOARD CHAIR
  • RICHARD RICKS — BOARD MEMBER
  • VANCE LEON — TREASURER & CLERK
  • WENDELL WILSON — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 22

Who they work with

  • Access Bronx Charter Partner — Collaborates with Code for Life USA to equip youth with life and tech skills in the South Bronx.
  • Access Bronx Charter School Partner — Partner organization collaborating with Code for Life USA in program delivery
  • Associate for a Better New York Partner — Commissioned a report on tech job accessibility in New York City.
  • Citi Partner — Commissioned a report on tech job accessibility in New York City.
  • DYCD Partner — Collaborates with Code for Life USA to equip youth with life and tech skills in the South Bronx.
  • DYCD Partner — Partner organization collaborating with Code for Life USA in program delivery
  • Democracy Prep High School Partner — Hosted the first Code for Life Capstone Dinner event.
  • FPWA Partner — Collaborates with Code for Life USA to equip youth with life and tech skills in the South Bronx.
  • FPWA Partner — Partner organization collaborating with Code for Life USA in program delivery
  • Google Partner — Commissioned a report on tech job accessibility in New York City.
  • Hope For New York Partner — Collaborates with Code for Life USA to equip youth with life and tech skills in the South Bronx.
  • Hope for New York Partner — Partner organization collaborating with Code for Life USA in program delivery
  • Magic Labs Media Partner — Represented by Andi Lichtenfeld, visited Code for Life’s South Bronx Incubator on February 4, 2026, to support the organization and engage with students.
  • Metro Hope Church Partner — Represented by Pastor Jose Humphrys, who gave the closing prayer at the capstone event.
  • NY Tech Meetup Partner — Commissioned a report on tech job accessibility in New York City.
  • National Black Theater Partner — Hosted the Code for Life Capstone Dinner event.
  • NextGen Thriving Partner — Collaborates with Code for Life USA to equip youth with life and tech skills in the South Bronx.
  • NextGenThriving Partner — Partner organization collaborating with Code for Life USA in program delivery
  • Operation Equivalency Partner — Program partner represented by Francisco Lantigua at the capstone event.
  • Taino Towers Partner — Program partner represented by Maria Cruz at the capstone event.
  • Van Jones Partner — Visited the South Bronx Incubator on February 4, 2026, engaged with students, and supported the organization’s vision.
  • XRC Labs Partner — Hosted a Tech Talk in collaboration with Code for Life.
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.

  • Creator-Maker Empowerment Model
    methodology: creator_mindset_empowerment
    By teaching youth to create and build with technology rather than consume it passively, the organization fosters identity transformation and future readiness, because becoming a "creator" cultivates agency, innovation, and belonging in a tech-driven economy.
  • Cross-Sector Collaboration for Program Impact
    methodology: collaborative_partnership
    By partnering with community organizations and tech sector entities, the organization enhances program reach and relevance, because collaborative partnerships increase access to resources, mentorship, and real-world context that improve youth outcomes.
  • Project-Based Learning for Skill Synthesis
    methodology: project_based_learning
    By engaging students in self-directed, team-based projects that require technical and collaborative problem-solving, the organization deepens learning and real-world readiness, because hands-on creation reinforces both technological proficiency and ownership of outcomes.
  • Skills-Based Pathway to Economic Mobility
    methodology: skills_based_empowerment
    By equipping youth from under-resourced communities with life and technology skills, the organization enables economic advancement in tech-driven industries, because practical skills and technological fluency open access to higher-earning, degree-agnostic STEM careers.
  • Vision Casting Through Exposure
    methodology: vision_casting
    By exposing youth to tech workplaces and higher education environments, the organization strengthens their aspirations and identity formation around STEM careers, because seeing oneself in a future role increases motivation and belief in attainable pathways.