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UNION SQUARE PARTNERSHIP DISTRICT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 133202710 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE S200 · Community Improvement · Medium ($1M-$10M) · unionsquarenyc.org
revenue
$4.3M
expenses
$4.1M
net assets
$1.2M
employees
16
volunteers
18
program ratio
86%
mission · from form 990

PROMOTE THE VITALITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH OF A BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT LOCATED IN NYC.

profile · synthesized from sources

Union Square Partnership is a business improvement district organization that promotes economic vitality and community engagement in New York City's Union Square neighborhood. It supports local businesses, manages public space improvements, and produces cultural programming including art installations and events. The organization also publishes market reports and works to enhance the area's streets, parks, and commercial landscape.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $469K
    COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS - INCREASED COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY, BOLSTERED COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND ENSURED THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S ECONOMIC VITALITY.
  2. #2 $421K
    PROMOTION - PROVIDES POSTERS, BROCHURES AND ADVERTISING FOR THE GENERAL DISTRICT AND SPECIAL EVENTS IN THE PUBLIC PARKS AND AREAS WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

14th Street Busway Mural Program
Public art initiative installing large-scale murals on busway infrastructure in collaboration with artists
Bright Nights Out in Union Square
Evening art installation program featuring interactive light displays and cultural events
Clean & Safe Program
Year-round maintenance and safety services for streets, parks, and plazas in the Union Square district
Harvest Benefit
Annual culinary showcase supporting Union Square Park with participation from local restaurants and chefs
Small Business Saturday Initiative
Program promoting independent retailers through shopping guides and neighborhood-wide events
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Regional Tourism Promotion 2 activities
    • Creates and shares visual content of Union Square
      Makes high-quality photography and video content of Union Square available to the public through its Flickr and Vimeo pages to promote the district and support marketing efforts.
    • Distributes promotional materials and supports business resources
      Distributes posters, brochures, and advertising to promote the district and special events. Provides a Storefront Activation Guide and periodic updates to businesses on city policies, neighborhood news, and resources to support economic vitality.
  • Transportation Policy Advocacy & Infrastructure Reform 1 activity
    • Advocates for public realm improvements in Union Square
      Develops and promotes the USQNext vision and collaborates with NYC DOT and other partners on planning initiatives to advance permanent transit, streetscape, and public space improvements along Manhattan’s 14th Street corridor.
  • Annual Financial and Activity Reporting 1 activity
    • Issues annual reports on programs and financial performance
      Issues an annual report summarizing fiscal year accomplishments, programs, services, budget, and financial information to provide transparency and accountability to stakeholders.
  • Public Space Beautification and Maintenance 1 activity
    • Maintains and beautifies public spaces in partnership with city agencies
      Maintains, manages, and beautifies public spaces including the Broadway Plaza between East 17th and 18th Streets and Union Square Park North, South, and West Plazas in collaboration with NYC DOT and NYC Parks.
  • Supplemental Urban Sanitation Services 1 activity
    • Operates Clean & Safe Teams for cleanliness and public safety
      Operates year-round Clean & Safe Teams to maintain cleanliness, safety, and landscaping across Union Square’s streets, parks, and plazas. This includes street cleaning, public safety patrols, and beautification efforts.
  • Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
    • Organizes community events and public art installations
      Organizes cultural and community events such as outdoor movie nights, Lunchtime Jazz performances, and culinary showcases like the annual Harvest event. Also coordinates public art installations including murals, sculptures, and evening light displays in Union Square Park and surrounding areas.
  • Industry Research and Benchmarking 1 activity
    • Produces commercial real estate research reports
      Produces the annual Commercial Market Report analyzing trends in commercial real estate, demographics, retail activity, and transactions in Union Square, along with quarterly Biz & Broker Reports featuring real estate news and maps of ground-floor retail opportunities.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.30M
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$4.24M98%
Investment income$68K2%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$4.15M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.26M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.75M
Cash$1.30M
Investments$0
Liabilities$531K
Net assets$1.22M
Liquid reserves3.8 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +0.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 4
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
JULIE STEIN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 45 $251K
EDWARD L JANOFF DEPUTY DIRECTOR 40 $216K
TALI CANTOR DIRECTOR OF PLANNING 40 $160K
THOMAS DIRUSSO DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS 40 $149K
board members · 18
  • ALEXIS OFFEN — DIRECTOR
  • ARLENE PERALTA-AVILA — DIRECTOR
  • ASHLEY NATALE — DIRECTOR
  • BRAD KORN — DIRECTOR
  • CHRISTINA POON — DIRECTOR
  • DAVID A BRAUSE — DIRECTOR
  • DR H JAY WISNICKI — DIRECTOR
  • ELDON SCOTT — DIRECTOR
  • ERIC GURAL — DIRECTOR
  • FRED POSNIAK — DIRECTOR
  • GREG GUSHEE — DIRECTOR
  • JEN HENSLEY — PRESIDENT
  • JOHN CINOSKY — DIRECTOR
  • JOSH WEIN — DIRECTOR
  • KENNETH SALZMAN — TREASURER
  • ROBERT FISHER — DIRECTOR
  • SUZANNE APPEL — SECRETARY
  • TIFFANY ONG — DIRECTOR
relationships · 20

Who they work with

  • Council Member Harvey Epstein’s Office Partner — Co-organizes movie nights in Union Square Park.
  • FIT Partner — Collaborated with FIT students on the design of the Bead Maze public art installation.
  • Facebook Partner — Platform for sharing community-focused content about Union Square.
  • Flickr Partner — Hosts district photography for public access.
  • GrowNYC Partner — Proud partner organization that operates the Greenmarket at Union Square Park.
  • Instagram Partner — Platform for sharing social media content about Union Square.
  • International Downtown Association (IDA) Network — Recognized by IDA with the Downtown Achievement Award of Excellence for the 14th Street Busway Mural Program.
  • LinkedIn Partner — Platform for sharing professional and organizational updates about Union Square.
  • Meatpacking District Management Association Partner — Collaborates with Union Square Partnership on the 14th Street visioning process.
  • NYC DOT Partner — Co-leads the 14th Street visioning process with Union Square Partnership.
  • NYC Department of Transportation Government — Partnership to maintain and manage the Broadway Plaza under agreement with DOT.
  • NYC Parks Partner — Co-organizes movie nights in Union Square Park.
  • NYC Parks Partner — Partnered with NYC Parks on the unveiling of the public sculpture "Recess: Reads" in Union Square.
  • NYC Parks Department Government — Supports the Parks Department in maintaining and beautifying Union Square Park plazas.
  • New York City Department of Small Business Services Government — Works within the city's framework for Business Improvement Districts administered by the Department of Small Business Services.
  • The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music Partner — Provides student performers for Lunchtime Jazz series in Union Square Park.
  • The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music Partner — Provides student performers for lunchtime jazz events in Union Square Park.
  • Urbanspace Partner — Manages the Union Square Holiday Market; Union Square Partnership directs vendor inquiries to Urbanspace.
  • Vimeo Partner — Hosts district videos for public access.
  • X Partner — Platform for sharing real-time updates and content about Union Square.
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.

  • Business Improvement District (BID) Model for Neighborhood Revitalization
    methodology: business_improvement_district
    By operating as a Business Improvement District, the organization funds and coordinates supplemental services like sanitation, public safety, landscaping, and public space programming to improve neighborhood conditions, because concentrated investment and stewardship in a defined geographic area produces measurable gains in economic vitality, safety, and quality of life.
  • Data-Driven Urban Economic Development
    methodology: data-driven economic development
    By using data-driven analysis of commercial real estate, demographics, and market trends, the organization informs stakeholder decision-making and guides investment, because evidence-based insights lead to more strategic development, stronger business retention, and increased foot traffic in the district.
  • Place-Based Marketing and Industry Clustering
    methodology: place-based marketing
    By promoting Union Square’s commercial vibrancy through professional media and fostering industry clustering, the organization attracts retailers and consumers, because curated retail ecosystems and strong place branding increase comparison shopping, linked trips, and long-term commercial viability.
  • Public Space Activation Through Cultural Programming
    methodology: cultural_programming_for_public_space_activation
    By programming cultural events such as live jazz, outdoor movies, and public art installations, the organization increases public space usage and fosters community connection, because activating shared spaces with engaging content enhances visitor experience, promotes safety through presence, and strengthens neighborhood identity.