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National Urban League (National Office)

CharityWatch rating issued
February 2025

Top-Rated Charity
A-
CharityWatch Rating
Our independent rating based
on a number of factors.
 
83%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$16
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

National Urban League (National Office)
80 Pine Street
9th Floor
New York, NY 10005

Other Names

Urban Empowerment Fund

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

www.nul.org

Stated Mission

To enable African-American and other under-served urban residents to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power, and civil rights.

View similar charities
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2023

Program Percentage: 83%

The percentage of National Urban League (National Office)'s cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$101,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $16

How many dollars National Urban League (National Office) spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$39,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

25% to 49%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
National Urban League Consolidated Audited Financial Statements Multiple
National Urban League IRS Form 990 13-1840489
Urban Empowerment Fund IRS Form 990 90-0853595
ULEC Leverage Inc. IRS Form 990 85-4352949
Entity: National Urban League
Document Type: Consolidated Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: Multiple
Entity: National Urban League
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 13-1840489
Entity: Urban Empowerment Fund
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 90-0853595
Entity: ULEC Leverage Inc.
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 85-4352949

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
National Urban League (National Office)
meets governance benchmarks.
 
National Urban League (National Office)
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-Out Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Marc H. Morial President / CEO $1,284,284
2 Dennis Serrette EVP / COO, Partnership & Advancement $481,522
3 Wanda Jackson SVP of Talent Management $403,764
1
Name: Marc H. Morial
Title: President / CEO
Compensation: $1,284,284
2
Name: Dennis Serrette
Title: EVP / COO, Partnership & Advancement
Compensation: $481,522
3
Name: Wanda Jackson
Title: SVP of Talent Management
Compensation: $403,764

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

CharityWatch's rating of the National Urban League (National Office) also includes the financial activities of the Urban Empowerment Fund (UEF) and the other entities consolidated in the League's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023. All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated during the audit consolidation.

According to the National Urban League consolidated audit of December 31, 2023 (Note 21, Related-Party Transactions):

"Affiliates of the League are separately incorporated, non-profit organizations. Franchise fees are paid annually based on the budget size of the affiliates for an amount not to exceed $5,000. In 2023 and 2022, NUL recognized franchise fees of $208,500 and $207,500, respectively.

Subcontract payments are made by the League to affiliates for their services in carrying out specific projects. In 2023 and 2022, subcontract payments to affiliates totaled $31,851,822 and $36,213,469, respectively..."

According to the National Urban League consolidated audit of December 31, 2023 (Note 12, Contributions of Nonfinancial Assets), the League received contributions of nonfinancial assets in 2023 on which it placed a value of $4,094,508. Of this amount, $2,144,169 consisted of donated "television airtime." 

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

According to the National Urban League (the League or NUL) consolidated audit of December 31, 2023 (Note 7, Development Project):

"In 2020, the League...entered into a development agreement with 125 W. 125 Developer LLC to develop a New York State-owned parking garage in Harlem into a 414,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art mixed-use project totaling $242 million. The development is comprised of the headquarters and conference center for the League, a Museum of Urban Civil Rights (the first Civil Rights museum in New York State), office space, retail, community facility space, and affordable housing. The League's headquarters, conference center and museum will be directly owned and operated by NUL or affiliates of NUL.

As part of the closing transaction, the League entered into a bridge loan agreement (the Agreement) with Goldman Sachs to borrow, if needed, up to $29,799,979 to finance a portion of actual costs of the project. These funds will be used to support construction and development costs for the project...Cash deposits held in escrow pursuant to the agreement totaled $23,634,385 and $25,017,935, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively...

The League entered into a ground lease with New York State Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State Development (ESD), to lease the land upon which the mixed-use space will be developed. Construction began in 2020, and the League expects to occupy the new headquarters by 2025..."

According to the National Urban League (NUL) tax filing for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, NUL reports re: Compensation, Supplemental Information (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III):

Regarding "first-class or charter travel" and "travel for companions" for officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 1a):

"The spouse of the CEO has traveled first-class for any of the League's out of town events. The first class travel for the CEO's spouse was not included as taxable."


NUL reports providing "bonus & incentive compensation" during 2023 to two individuals. Marc H. Morial, President & CEO, received $400,000 with total reported compensation of $1,284,284, and Sidney H. Evans, SVP/CFO, received $50,000 with total reported compensation of $376,445.


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