New York City Center for Charter School Excellence
The New York City Charter School Center, identified in its filing as NEW YORK CITY CENTER FOR CHARTER, is a public charity based in New York, NY. Formed in 2004, it supports New York City charter schools through school-development assistance, professional learning and operational support, and policy and public-awareness work.
New York City Center for Charter School Excellence at a glance
In short: New York City Center for Charter School Excellence reported $2K in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $1,500 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- Total assets
- $21,159,511
- +35.6% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $7,733,615
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $522,271
- +3.7% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $5,780,536
- -2.5% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to New York City Center for Charter School Excellence
- Contact
Mailing address: 111 Broadway 604, New York, NY 10006
Phone: (212) 437-8300
Website: https://nyccharterschools.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who New York City Center for Charter School Excellence funds
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization is based in New York, NY, and describes its work as supporting the New York City charter-school sector. Its listed 2020 grantees were located in Brooklyn, the Bronx, New York, and Jackson Heights, NY.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2K (2025) to $780K (2020). In 2025 it reported $2K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $21,159,511 | $7,733,615 | $5,780,536 | $1,500 | Total only | $522,271 |
| 2024 | $15,600,896 | $6,626,912 | $5,929,114 | — | — | $503,518 |
| 2023 | $15,414,155 | $6,553,644 | $5,757,159 | — | — | $307,084 |
| 2022 | $13,477,269 | $9,524,074 | $5,224,113 | — | — | $50,389 |
| 2021 | $10,302,066 | $4,396,577 | $4,210,395 | — | — | $85,954 |
| 2020 | $10,097,667 | $5,777,033 | $5,087,663 | $779,920 | 33 | $162,522 |
| 2019 | $9,413,271 | $5,795,088 | $5,528,453 | $2,000 | Total only | $132,594 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to help ensure equitable access to high-quality public school education for New York City children. It says it advocates for laws and policies that enable high-quality schooling, fosters charter-school development and growth, provides professional development, engages the charter community, and builds public and policymaker support.
Its stated program priorities include a favorable policy environment, support for charter schools serving students with disabilities and multilingual learners, operational excellence and sustainability, new-school development, and opportunities to transfer charter-school learning to the wider public-school system. Website highlights also describe coaching and professional development for school teams, an online course platform, a common charter-school application, and policy advocacy.
The listed 2020 grantees included charter schools and a charter-school support organization. The grantees’ own descriptions say, for example, that Explore Schools Inc. provides management support to a network of K–8 charter schools in underserved communities, while New York City Charter School of the Arts aims to connect arts with rigorous academic learning. Other listed school grantees describe work including trauma-sensitive education, college preparation, dual-language learning, and family support.
Grantmaking
The organization’s 2023, 2024, and 2025 filings each report zero grants. Its 2025 website highlights describe support and services for charter schools, but do not state an application process for grants from the Center.
Examples of grants reported for 2020 include:
The Center’s website also provides information about discretionary grants distributed by New York City Council members and Borough Presidents. That information describes funding schools may seek from the city, not a grant program operated by the Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing include:
- Emary Aronson — Chairperson
- Geoffrey Canada — Treasurer through December 2024; Director
- Mark Dunetz — Treasurer effective December 2024
- Melissa Aviles-Ramos — Director ex-officio
- Phoebe Boyer — Director
- Cecily M. Carson — Director
- Spencer Robertson — Director
- Basil A. Smikle Jr. — Director
- David C. Banks — Director ex-officio through September 23, 2024
- Christina Brown — COO/Secretary
New York City Center for Charter School Excellence is led by James Merriman, CEO on every filing since 2019; 8 of 17 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James Merriman
CEO
On filings since 2019
38 hrs/week
$268K (2019) → $304K (2025)
Emary Aronson
Chairperson
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Corey Callahan
Director & Legal Affairs
On filings since 2019
38 hrs/week
$132K (2019) → $221K (2025)
Edith Litt
Director & Administration
Director of Administration → Director & Administration, 2021
On filings since 2019
38 hrs/week
$103K (2019) → $134K (2025)
Melissa Katz
Director & The Cie
Director & Collaborative for Inclusive Education → Director & The Cie, 2024
On filings since 2020
38 hrs/week
$105K (2020) → $148K (2025)
Erik Joerss
Director & Government Affairs
Director & Government Affairs → Director & Government Affai, 2024
Director & Government Affai → Director & Government Affairs, 2025
On filings since 2021
38 hrs/week
$114K (2021) → $144K (2025)
Sherita Smith
Director, School Supports & Development
On filings since 2024
38 hrs/week
$114K (2024) → $124K (2025)
Cecily M. Carson
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phoebe Boyer
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Spencer Robertson
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Basil A. Smikle Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David C. Banks
Director Ex-Officio
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Aviles-Ramos
Director Ex-Officio
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina Brown
COO & Secretary
On filings since 2019
38 hrs/week
$209K (2019) → $255K (2025)
Olga Nechiporenko
Finance Manager
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$103K (2025)
Geoffrey Canada
Treasurer
Treasurer & Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Dunetz
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Jennifer Hall (2024) — Mll & Ell Program Manager
- Former: Alexandra Apfel (2022–2023) — Inclusive Education Specialist
- Former: Randall Iserman (2019–2021) — Director & School Supports
- Former: Richard Carranza (2019–2021) — Director Ex-Officio
- Former: Susan McCarthy (2019–2021) — Director & Finance
- Former: Melissa Katz Director Collab- (2021) — Orative for Inclusive Education
- Former: David Golovner (2019–2020) — Vice President, Policy & Advocacy
- Former: Basil Smilke (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $304K, to James Merriman (CEO). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about New York City Center for Charter School Excellence
How much does New York City Center for Charter School Excellence give each year?
New York City Center for Charter School Excellence reported $2K in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants.
How large is New York City Center for Charter School Excellence?
New York City Center for Charter School Excellence reported $21.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.7M.
What does New York City Center for Charter School Excellence fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to help ensure equitable access to high-quality public school education for New York City children. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from New York City Center for Charter School Excellence?
New York City Center for Charter School Excellence has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check nyccharterschools.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does New York City Center for Charter School Excellence make grants?
The organization is based in New York, NY, and describes its work as supporting the New York City charter-school sector. Its listed 2020 grantees were located in Brooklyn, the Bronx, New York, and Jackson Heights, NY.
What is New York City Center for Charter School Excellence's EIN?
New York City Center for Charter School Excellence's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0759687. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 6, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work New York City Center for Charter School Excellence funds
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