City Dibs Society
City Dibs Society is a New York, NY-based organization formed in 2018. Its filing type is Form 990 (a public charity). It says it supports leaders of color in cultivating intentional community and economic sovereignty, and invests in communities that have historically struggled to maintain vibrant economies.
City Dibs Society at a glance
In short: City Dibs Society gave $995K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $55K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $994,500
- +695.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- +800.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $55,250
- -11.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $17,500
- Total assets
- $394,068
- -83.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (77% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to City Dibs Society
- Contact
Mailing address: 228 Park Ave S Ste 37846, New York, NY 10003
Phone: (510) 878-6558
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who City Dibs Society funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Ernestine Reems Community Services ($210K). Together the top 10 received $918K.
Grant Size Distribution
25 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 25 (52%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grants were reported across California and Maryland: 77% of grant dollars went to California recipients and 23% to Maryland recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $125K (2023) to $995K (2024). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $995K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ernestine Reems Community Services Oakland, CA | Affordable Housing and Covid Recovery | $210,000 |
| East Bay Permanent Real Estate Corp Oakland, CA | Affordable Housing and Covid Recovery | $200,000 |
| Holistic Underground San Francisco, CA | Affordable Housing and Covid Recovery | $135,000 |
| Norcal Resist Fund Sacramento, CA | Affordable Housing and Covid Recovery | $125,000 |
| Brown Girl Wellness Baltimore, MD | Affordable Housing and Covid Recovery | $60,000 |
| Fusion Partnerships Baltimore, MD | Affordable Housing and Covid Recovery | $52,500 |
| Acta Non Verba Oakland, CA | Affordable Housing and Covid Recovery | $50,000 |
| Black Cultural Zone Oakland, CA | Affordable Housing and Covid Recovery | $50,000 |
| Whitelock Community Farm Baltimore, MD | Facilitate Organization Programming | $20,000 |
| Holistic Wellness and Health Baltimore, MD | Affordable Housing and Covid Recovery | $15,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $394,068 | $394,890 | $2,278,828 | $994,500 | 18 | $32,168 |
| 2023 | $2,407,157 | $910,134 | $1,020,982 | $125,000 | 2 | $40,533 |
| 2022 | $1,137,806 | $1,852,610 | $724,970 | $256,755 | 5 | $2,610 |
| 2021 | $10,138 | $189,926 | $182,786 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states: “We support leaders of color to cultivate intentional community and economic sovereignty. We invest in communities that historically struggle to maintain vibrant economies. We provide support for businesses, social justice organizations, community land trusts, grassroots urban plans.”
Its filing says the BrioxyLife Fellowship trains Black nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs to create and develop community-based organizations; it reported training 55 fellows. Its City Dibs LGBTQ Permaculture and Land Stewardship Hub focuses on environmental sustainability and collective leadership. The filing says more than 70 leaders were trained in organizing and land stewardship in 2023, and more than 100 leaders were served through an online wellness community for LGBTQ people of color. It also describes community organizing work with more than seven partners and capacity-building support for two community anchor third spaces.
In describing two 2024 grantees, the grantees state their own missions: Holistic Underground says it strengthens the capacity and sustainability of nonprofit organizations, community initiatives, and social enterprises through fiscal sponsorship, financial management, operational infrastructure, and strategic advisory services. Brown Girl Wellness says it helps families create new, empowering narratives about their lives and claim their authentic voice to thrive.
Grantmaking
In 2024, City Dibs Society reported 18 grants totaling $994,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $210,000, with a median of $17,500. The filing describes the funding as supporting affordable housing and COVID recovery programs.
Among the largest reported grants were $210,000 to Ernestine Reems Community Services and $200,000 to East Bay Permanent Real Estate Corp, both in Oakland, California; $135,000 to Holistic Underground in San Francisco, California; $125,000 to NorCal Resist Fund in Sacramento, California; and $60,000 to Brown Girl Wellness in Baltimore, Maryland. The filing also lists $52,500 to Fusion Partnerships, $50,000 each to Acta Non Verba and Black Cultural Zone, $20,000 to Whitelock Community Farm, and $15,000 each to Holistic Wellness and Health and Plant Mama Alchemy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists B Cole and Aisha Pew as co-executive directors, Ryann Holmes as president, Karissa Lewis as secretary, and Luckie Alexander as a director.
City Dibs Society is led by Aisha Pew, Co-Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 2 of 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Aisha Pew
Co-Executive Director
President → Co-Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$29K (2021) → $150K (2024)
B. Cole
Co-Executive Director
President → Co-Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$60K (2022) → $150K (2024)
Ryann Holmes
President
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Luckie Alexander
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karissa Lewis
Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Christian West (2023) — Secretary
- Former: Daniel Alejandro Leon-Davis (2023) — Director
- Former: Julius Tillery (2023) — Director
- Former: Leticia Rindal (2023) — President
- Former: A. Pew (2022) — Secretary
- Former: Breonna Cole (2021) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $150K, to B Cole (Co-Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about City Dibs Society
How much does City Dibs Society give each year?
City Dibs Society gave $995K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $125K across 2 grants.
What is City Dibs Society's typical grant size?
City Dibs Society's median grant in 2024 was $17,500, and its average grant was $55,250, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does City Dibs Society give grants?
City Dibs Society gives mostly in California: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maryland (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (9 grants) and Oakland, CA (4 grants).
Does City Dibs Society give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on City Dibs Society's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Affordable Housing and Covid Recovery" (17 grants).
Who are City Dibs Society's largest grantees?
City Dibs Society's largest 2024 grantees include Ernestine Reems Community Services ($210,000), East Bay Permanent Real Estate Corp ($200,000) and Holistic Underground ($135,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is City Dibs Society?
City Dibs Society reported $394K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $395K.
What does City Dibs Society fund?
The organization states: “We support leaders of color to cultivate intentional community and economic sovereignty. We invest in communities that historically struggle to maintain vibrant economies. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from City Dibs Society?
City Dibs Society has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is City Dibs Society's EIN?
City Dibs Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-4679614. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-EZ for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 15, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 3, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 24, 2024)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). City Dibs Society funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/city-dibs-society-morg_c66bb893ba2340c290d53b11474ca782
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_834679614_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{City Dibs Society funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/city-dibs-society-morg_c66bb893ba2340c290d53b11474ca782},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from City Dibs Society's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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