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.
Right to the City Alliance at a glance
In short: Right to the City Alliance gave $2.7M across 47 grants in 2025 (avg $57K), top state Massachusetts. 49% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,658,350
- +9.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 47
- +51.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $56,561
- -28.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $26,430,370
- -13.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 49% first-time grantees (23 of 47, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (25% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Right to the City Alliance
- Contact
Mailing address: 388 Atlantic Ave 2Nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: (347) 569-5540
Website: https://righttothecity.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Right to the City Alliance funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was City Life Vida Urbana ($255K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
171 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 86 grants of 171 (50%).
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 2025 grant dollars across all 47 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Right to the City Alliance open to new grantees?
49%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 23 of 47 grantees (49%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $37K; repeat grants $76K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $60K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2020) to $2.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 47 grants totaling $2.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| City Life Vida Urbana Jamaica Plain, MA | GRANT | $255,000 |
| United for a New Economy Commerce City, CO | GRANT | $230,000 |
| Housing Right Committee of San Francisco Inc San Francisco, CA | GRANT | $155,000 |
| Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs Inc Calabasas, CA | GRANT | $150,000 |
| Tenants Together San Francisco, CA | GRANT | $125,000 |
| Third Sector New England Inc Boston, MA | GRANT | $95,000 |
| New England Community Project Inc Dorchester, MA | GRANT | $90,000 |
| 9TO5 National Association of Working Women Inc Milwaukee, WI | GRANT | $75,000 |
| Canopy Young Adult Community House Inc Georgetown, KY | GRANT | $75,000 |
| Housing Justice League Marietta, GA | GRANT | $75,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $26,430,370 | $11,548,107 | $15,262,574 | $2,658,350 | 47 | $610,176 |
| 2024 | $30,558,355 | $14,367,886 | $15,831,639 | $2,438,616 | 31 | $774,671 |
| 2023 | $31,557,820 | $21,540,403 | $11,597,555 | $2,097,500 | 36 | $368,038 |
| 2022 | $21,680,265 | $11,048,179 | $9,338,054 | $2,031,000 | 32 | $30,860 |
| 2021 | $20,024,588 | $12,252,091 | $6,691,239 | $1,471,000 | 25 | $2,437 |
| 2020 | $14,305,425 | $14,767,796 | $4,785,046 | $1,075,000 | 26 | $6,796 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
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.” Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 47 grants totaling $2.7 million.
Other 2024 recipients included Canopy Young Adult Community House, which says it supports housing justice efforts such as tenant organizing and social housing; Miami Workers Center, which says it builds power with working-class tenants, workers, women, and families; and Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative, which says it works toward sustainable, democratic, and economically just communities using a community land trust model.
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); 10 of 21 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dawn Phillips
Executive Director
Executive Di → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$95K (2020) → $138K (2025)
Tomas Rivera
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paige Kumm
Managing Director
Director of Org. → Director of Org. Strategy, 2023
Director of Org. Strategy → Managing Director, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$106K (2022) → $136K (2025)
Alia Trindle
Director of Political Strategy
Director of Resou → Director of Resource Development, 2023
Director of Resource Development → Director of Political Strategy, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$106K (2022) → $132K (2025)
Mark Swier
Director of Finance & Administration
Director of Finan → Director of Finance & Administrator, 2023
Director of Finance & Administrator → Director of Finance & Administration, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$113K (2022) → $132K (2025)
Malcolm Torrejon Chu
Associate Director of Programs
Director of → Assc Director of, 2022
Assc Director of → Associate Director of Programs, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$103K (2021) → $127K (2025)
Khalida Smalls
Co-Dir. of Membership Organizing
Director of Organ → Director of Organizing, 2023
Director of Organizing → Co-Dir. of Membership Organizing, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$113K (2022) → $132K (2025)
Lorraine Deguzman
Associate Director of Resource Development
Director of Development → Associate Director of Resource Development, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$124K (2024) → $124K (2025)
Aja Leilam Love
Associate Director of Infrastructure Development
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$124K (2025)
Chris Genese
Associate Director of Campaigns
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$130K (2025)
Whitney Walton
Associate Director of Communications
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$124K (2025)
Alison Johnson
Vice Chair
Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denise Matthews-Turner
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lupe Arreola
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pambana Uishi
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adrian Madriz
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allyson Putt
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cesiah Guadarrama Trejo
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darius Gordon
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Zamudio
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Acuff
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Kamau Walton (2024) — Associate Director of Communications
- 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: Mia Mingus (2023) — Project Director
- 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, 2020–2025. "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 $138K, to Dawn Phillips (Executive Director). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
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 $2.7M across 47 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.4M across 31 grants.
What is Right to the City Alliance's typical grant size?
Right to the City Alliance's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $56,561, across 47 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Right to the City Alliance that year got $37K on average.
Where does Right to the City Alliance give grants?
Right to the City Alliance's top state is Massachusetts, with 25% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (23%) and Colorado (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (5 grants), San Francisco, CA (3 grants), Los Angeles, CA (3 grants) and Miami, FL (2 grants).
Does Right to the City Alliance give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 47 grants with a stated purpose on Right to the City Alliance's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Grant" (47 grants).
Who are Right to the City Alliance's largest grantees?
Right to the City Alliance's largest 2025 grantees include City Life Vida Urbana ($255,000), United for a New Economy ($230,000) and Housing Right Committee of San Francisco Inc ($155,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Right to the City Alliance?
Right to the City Alliance reported $26.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $11.5M.
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 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 23, 2026)
- 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
Live grants for the work Right to the City Alliance funds
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Right to the City Alliance's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Right to the City Alliance funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/right-to-the-city-alliance-morg_2310e31784ff4ee5b3063142615983dc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_943462187_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Right to the City Alliance funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/right-to-the-city-alliance-morg_2310e31784ff4ee5b3063142615983dc},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-13. 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 Right to the City Alliance'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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