Right to the City Alliance
Right to the City Alliance is a public charity based in Brooklyn, New York. It is a national alliance of grassroots organizations working to build power with working-class tenants and residents and advance housing and community justice.
Key facts about Right to the City Alliance
In short: Right to the City Alliance gave $2.4M across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $79K), top state New York. 23% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 94-3462187
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,438,616
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- Average grant
- $78,665
- Median grant
- $70,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (7 of 31, 2024)
- Total assets
- $30,558,355
- Primary geography
- New York (27% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$30.6M
-3.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.4M
+16.3% YoY
Grant Count
31
-13.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$79K
+35.0% YoY
Is Right to the City Alliance open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 31 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $61K; repeat grants $84K. How we count
Medians: $70K first-time, $70K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization describes its mission as building a national movement for racial justice, urban justice, human rights, and democracy. It says its work includes opposing gentrification and the displacement of low-income people of color from historic neighborhoods, as well as addressing policy changes affecting cities. Its broader vision is that housing is a human right and that communities should have control over their land, housing, and resources.
The 2024 grants included support for organizations working on housing justice and community organizing. For example, Housing Justice League says it works with renters and homeowners to defend their right to remain, preserve affordable housing, and build community power. Chinatown Community Land Trust says it works for community control of land, development without displacement, and permanently affordable housing. North Bay Organizing Project describes its work as developing member leadership and organizing participation in public activity.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the alliance reported 31 grants totaling $2,438,616. The median grant was $70,000; grants ranged from $6,200 to $470,000. Among the largest grants were $470,000 to Saint Joseph House of Hospitality, $201,516 to Housing Justice League, $110,000 each to Inquilixs Unidxs Por Justicia and Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs Inc., and $100,000 each to Podemos Movement AZ 501C3 and Urban Habitat. The filing listed the grant purposes as “organization” or “grant.”
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The alliance says its member organizations organize in 45 cities and 26 states. In 2024, the largest shares of its grant dollars went to recipients in New York (27%), California (22%), Georgia (8%), Massachusetts (8%), and Minnesota (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2020) to $2.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Saint Joseph House of Hospitality ($470K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
150 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 73 grants of 150 (49%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Joseph House of Hospitality Rochester, NY | Organization | $470,000 |
| Housing Justice League Marietta, GA | Organization | $201,516 |
| Inquilixs Unidxs Por Justicia Minneapolis, MN | Organization | $110,000 |
| Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs Inc Calabasas, CA | Organization | $110,000 |
| Podemos Movement AZ 501C3 Tucson, AZ | Organization | $100,000 |
| Urban Habitat Oakland, CA | Organization | $100,000 |
| Met Council Research and Educational Fund Brooklyn, NY | Organization | $80,000 |
| North Bay Organizing Project Santa Rosa, CA | Organization | $80,000 |
| Tenants Union of Washington State Seattle, WA | Organization | $80,000 |
| Canopy Young Adult Community House Inc Georgetown, KY | GRANT | $70,900 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $30,558,355 | $14,367,886 | $15,831,639 | $2,438,616; 31 grants |
| 2023 | $31,557,820 | $21,540,403 | $11,597,555 | 0 grants |
| 2022 | $21,680,265 | $11,048,179 | $9,338,054 | $2,031,000; 32 grants |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,558,355 | $31,557,820 | $21,680,265 |
| Revenue | $14,367,886 | $21,540,403 | $11,048,179 |
| Expenses | $15,831,639 | $11,597,555 | $9,338,054 |
| Net Investment Income | $774,671 | $368,038 | $30,860 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 20, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing were Tomas Rivera, chair; Alison Johnson, vice chair; Pambana Uishi, treasurer; and Lupe Arreola, secretary. Directors listed were Denise Matthews-Turner, Cesiah Guadarrama Trejo, Darius Gordon, Maria Zamudio, Allyson Putt, and Ryan Acuff.
Right to the City Alliance is led by Dawn Phillips, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 6 of 17 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Dawn Phillips
Executive Director
Executive Di → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$95K (2020) → $140K (2024)
Tomas Rivera
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Khalida Smalls
Director of Organizing
Director of Organ → Director of Organizing, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$113K (2022) → $132K (2024)
Mark Swier
Director of Finance & Administrator
Director of Finan → Director of Finance & Administrator, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$113K (2022) → $128K (2024)
Paige Kumm
Director of Org. Strategy
Director of Org. → Director of Org. Strategy, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$106K (2022) → $127K (2024)
Lorraine Deguzman
Director of Development
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$124K (2024)
Denise Matthews-Turner
Director
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adrian Madriz
Director
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allyson Putt
Director
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cesiah Guadarrama Trejo
Director
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Darius Gordon
Director
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maria Zamudio
Director
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Acuff
Director
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kamau Walton
Associate Director of Communications
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$124K (2024)
Alison Johnson
Vice Chair
Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lupe Arreola
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pambana Uishi
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Trenise Bryant (2020–2023) — Chair
- Former: Andrea Chiriboga (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Coya Crespin (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Dwaign Tyndal (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth McGriff (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Julissa Sanchez (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Alia Trindle (2022–2023) — Director of Resource Development
- Former: Mia Mingus (2023) — Project Director
- Former: Malcolm Torrejon Chu (2021–2022) — Assc Director of
- Former: Kiah Bryant (2021) — Director
- Former: Camilo Sol Zamora (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Lisa Owens (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Rachel Laforest (2020) — Archivist
- Former: Sakajawea Hall (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Tony Samara (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 $140K, to Dawn Phillips (Executive Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 388 Atlantic Ave 2Nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: (347) 569-5540
Website: https://righttothecity.org
Frequently asked questions about Right to the City Alliance
How much does Right to the City Alliance give each year?
Right to the City Alliance gave $2.4M across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $2.1M across 36 grants.
What is Right to the City Alliance's typical grant size?
Right to the City Alliance's median grant in 2024 was $70,000, and its average grant was $78,665, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Right to the City Alliance that year got $61K on average.
Where does Right to the City Alliance give grants?
Right to the City Alliance's top state is New York, with 27% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (22%) and Georgia (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (3 grants), Oakland, CA (2 grants), San Francisco, CA (2 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants).
Does Right to the City Alliance give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 31 grants with a stated purpose on Right to the City Alliance's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Organization" (22 grants) and "Grant" (9 grants).
Who are Right to the City Alliance's largest grantees?
Right to the City Alliance's largest 2024 grantees include Saint Joseph House of Hospitality ($470,000), Housing Justice League ($201,516) and Inquilixs Unidxs Por Justicia ($110,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Right to the City Alliance?
Right to the City Alliance reported $30.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $14.4M.
What does Right to the City Alliance fund?
The organization describes its mission as building a national movement for racial justice, urban justice, human rights, and democracy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Right to the City Alliance?
Right to the City Alliance has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check righttothecity.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Right to the City Alliance's EIN?
Right to the City Alliance's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3462187. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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