Red Hook Initiative
Red Hook Initiative is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving approximately 6,500 residents of NYCHA Red Hook Houses annually through youth development programs, two urban farms producing 20,000+ pounds of produce, community organizing, and local hiring initiatives funded by a $4.5M annual grant and donation budget.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Red Hook Initiative does
Red Hook Initiative (RHI) is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 as a community health initiative and operating as an independent organization since 2006, headquartered at 767 Hicks Street in Red Hook. The organization serves approximately 6,500 residents annually of NYCHA Red Hook Houses, Brooklyn's largest public housing development with roughly 10,000 residents, addressing systemic inequities through three integrated program pillars: youth development (engaging 350+ youth annually ages 11-24 across middle school, high school, and young adult pipelines), urban agriculture (operating Columbia Street Farm at 2.75 acres and Red Hook Houses/Wolcott Farm at 1.1 acres, producing over 20,000 pounds of produce annually), and community building and local hiring (employing 150+ staff from the community and contributing over $1.8M to the local economy in 2023).
The organization's technology and physical infrastructure centers on urban farming systems built on compost-based soil layers over concrete, including one of the first urban farms on public housing land (built 2013 in collaboration with Green City Force and NYCHA). Distinct infrastructure includes an AQMesh small-sensor air quality monitoring system tracking up to 6 gases plus particulate matter, Purple Air monitors, a Red Hook WIFI community mesh network, and a 3,000 sq ft sustainable green building community center. Core programs include Youth Farmers paid apprenticeships ($17/hour), Farm Stand produce distribution with sliding scale pricing and a 20% NYCHA discount, Food as Medicine vouchers, local hiring pipelines, and a Health & Wellness program offering clinical counseling.
RHI's revenue model is grant- and donation-driven on a $4.5M annual operating budget, with 91 cents of every dollar supporting programs and services. Major funders include Bloomberg Philanthropies, Robin Hood Foundation, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, NYC Department of Youth & Community Development, NYC Human Resources Administration, and Yield Giving ($1M from MacKenzie Scott, March 2024), supplemented by corporate partnerships (Google, Jordan Brand, DoorDash, Con Edison), individual donations, and modest farm produce sales. The organization is led by Executive Director Michael Partis, appointed June 2023, with a senior team spanning operations, development, community development, college and workforce success, and youth development.
Red Hook Initiative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Red Hook Initiative
- Legal name
- Red Hook Initiative, Inc.
- Website
- https://rhicenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Red Hook Initiative is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving approximately 6,500 residents of NYCHA Red Hook Houses annually through youth development programs, two urban farms producing 20,000+ pounds of produce, community organizing, and local hiring initiatives funded by a $4.5M annual grant and donation budget.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Red Hook Initiative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Youth Development Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Community Food Services (624210)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Alternative Education & Dropout Prevention / Re-Engagement Programs (EDANAJAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)
Keywords
Where Red Hook Initiative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Red Hook Initiative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation and Government Grants: RHI operates on a $4.5M annual budget funded primarily through foundation grants and government support. Major funders include Bloomberg Philanthropies, Robin Hood Foundation, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, NYC Department of Youth & Community Development, NYC Human Resources Administration, and numerous other foundations and government agencies.
- Corporate and Individual Donations: Corporate partners and individual donors contribute to RHI's operations. 91 cents of every dollar directly supports programs and services. Major corporate partners include Google, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Jordan Brand, DoorDash, Con Edison, and others.
- Farm Stand and Produce Sales: Red Hook Farms operates farm stands selling fresh produce at sliding scale pricing with 20% discount for NYCHA residents. Also offers CSA shares, Fresh Food Box program, and produce to local restaurants and partner organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Youth Farmers paid apprenticeship for ages 14-19 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Farm Stand produce sales with NYCHA discount |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Farmstand for NYCHA Residents |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Red Hook Initiative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Red Hook Initiative (RHI) is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that delivers a continuous pipeline of youth development programming for ages 11–24, urban agriculture and food access through two farms, community organizing and emergency preparedness training, health and wellness counseling, and local hiring that contributes over $1.8M annually to the Red Hook NYCHA community. All programs are offered free or sliding scale to public housing residents, with services delivered at the RHI Community Center and two Red Hook Farms.
Product overview
Red Hook Initiative operates as a community-based nonprofit organization offering a unified set of interconnected community programs rather than a technology product platform. The core offerings include: Youth Development Programs (Middle School, High School, and Young Adult Programs) that form a continuous pipeline serving youth ages 11-24; Red Hook Farms, a youth-centered urban agriculture initiative with two farm sites producing over 20,000 pounds of produce annually through programs like the Youth Farmers apprenticeship and Community Food Access (farm stands, Food as Medicine); Health & Wellness services providing counseling and peer healing; Community Building through organizing and advocacy; and Investing in Residents through local hiring contributing over $1.8M to the local economy. These programs work together to confront systemic inequities in Brooklyn's largest public housing community.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Red Hook Farms: Youth-centered urban agriculture and food justice program operating one of Brooklyn's largest farms, producing over 20,000 pounds of produce annually
- Red Hook WIFI
- Health & Wellness Program
Products and services
- Youth Development Pipeline (Middle School, High School, Young Adult Programs)
- Red Hook Houses Farm (Wolcott Farm)
- Columbia Street Farm
- Youth Farmers Paid Apprenticeship Program
- Community Food Access (Farm Stands, CSA, Food as Medicine)
- Health & Wellness Program
- Community Building and Organizing Programs
- Red Hook WIFI Community Mesh Network
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 6,500 residents impacted annually; $1.8M+ contributed to local economy in 2023; 91 cents of every dollar directly supports programs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Red Hook Initiative
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Red Hook Initiative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Red Hook Initiative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Green City ForcecorePartner in creation of Red Hook Houses Farm in 2013. Collaborates on urban farming initiatives on public housing land with Mayor's Office and NYC Housing Authority.
- NYC Housing AuthoritycoreCritical partner providing land and collaboration for Red Hook Houses Farm on public housing property. Also partner in Sandy Resiliency and Renewal Program ($550M FEMA-funded).
- NYU Langone Health Family Health CenterscorePartner in Red Hook Community Health Network, working to improve health outcomes for Red Hook residents and expand access to health services.
- Good Shepherd ServicescorePartner in Red Hook Community Health Network and collaborative community development initiatives.
- The Alex House ProjectcorePartner in Red Hook Community Health Network and Caring for Red Hook community dialogue sessions.
- Red Hook Community Justice CentercorePartner in Red Hook Community Health Network focused on community health advocacy and access.
- DoorDashminorCorporate partner supporting RHI's community programs and food access initiatives.
- Jordan BrandminorCorporate partner providing Wings Scholarships to RHI youth and community support.
- Enterprise Community PartnerscorePartner in Community Organizer Fellowship and NYCHA Just Recovery initiative. Supports community organizing priorities around displacement and affordable housing.
- Legal Aid SocietycorePartner in Know Your Rights Ambassador Training Series, teaching teens how to navigate police interactions.
Scale indicators17 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Red Hook Initiative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- NYC Mission Society: One of NYC's oldest social service organizations providing youth development, education, workforce, and community programs. RHI board VP previously served as SVP of Program Operations there, signaling close operational philosophy.
- CAMBA: Large Brooklyn-based social services nonprofit providing housing, workforce, youth, and family services. Broader portfolio but overlapping service categories and NYC public housing focus.
- BronxWorks: Large Bronx-based human services nonprofit offering youth education, workforce, housing, immigration, and senior services. Similar multi-service community-based model serving low-income public housing residents at greater scale.
- Henry Street Settlement: Long-established NYC Lower East Side settlement house providing youth services, workforce development, senior programs, and community arts. Broader scope than RHI but comparable settlement-house model serving low-income NYC residents.
Direct peers
- Green City Force: NYC nonprofit that co-founded Red Hook Houses Farm in 2013 and operates urban agriculture, climate resilience, and workforce development programs on NYCHA properties. Direct operational and strategic partner with overlapping programs.
- Good Shepherd Services: Large NYC-based youth development and family services nonprofit serving high-need communities with case management, education, workforce, and mental health programs. Direct comparable to RHI given shared service population, NYC geography, and Red Hook Community Health Network partnership.
- The Door (Broome Street): NYC nonprofit providing integrated youth services (ages 12-24) including education, career development, health, mental health, and legal services. Directly comparable operating model to RHI's youth development pipeline with a similar comprehensive service integration approach.
- East Side House Settlement: Bronx-based community organization providing education, youth development, and workforce programs to public housing residents. Comparable mission and youth development pipeline, especially in NYCHA communities.
- Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation: Brooklyn-based community development corporation providing youth services, housing, workforce development, and community organizing in a NYCHA-adjacent neighborhood. Comparable place-based model with similar mix of youth and community programs.
- The Alex House Project: Red Hook-based nonprofit serving immigrant families with youth, adult education, and family support programs. Direct neighbor and Red Hook Community Health Network partner with overlapping service population.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Red Hook Initiative social profiles
Digital presenceRed Hook Initiative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Red Hook Initiative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Red Hook Initiative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Red Hook Initiative M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Red Hook Initiative
What does Red Hook Initiative do?
Red Hook Initiative (RHI) is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that delivers a continuous pipeline of youth development programming for ages 11–24, urban agriculture and food access through two farms, community organizing and emergency preparedness training, health and wellness counseling, and local hiring that contributes over $1.8M annually to the Red Hook NYCHA community. All programs are offered free or sliding scale to public housing residents, with services delivered at the RHI Community Center and two Red Hook Farms.
Is Red Hook Initiative a public or private company?
Red Hook Initiative is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Red Hook Initiative founded?
Red Hook Initiative was founded in 2002. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Red Hook Initiative based?
Red Hook Initiative is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Red Hook Initiative make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Foundation and Government Grants are the primary driver. The others are corporate and Individual Donations and farm Stand and Produce Sales.
Who are Red Hook Initiative's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are NYC Mission Society, CAMBA, BronxWorks and Henry Street Settlement. Direct peers are Green City Force, Good Shepherd Services, The Door (Broome Street), East Side House Settlement, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation and The Alex House Project.
Does Red Hook Initiative have an API?
No public API is recorded for Red Hook Initiative.
What industry is Red Hook Initiative in?
Red Hook Initiative's product category is Community Youth Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDANAJAF, Alternative Education & Dropout Prevention / Re-Engagement Programs, with a secondary code of BPADAEAK, Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8300.