Believe New York Philanthropies

What Believe New York Philanthropies does

Believe New York Philanthropies, Inc. is a grassroots nonprofit incorporated in New York and founded in February 2021 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization is dedicated to uplifting individuals and families across New York City facing poverty, abuse, mental health challenges, domestic violence, unemployment, disability, and other hardships. All services are delivered free of charge in English, Spanish, and Mandarin, with primary outreach across the 5 NYC boroughs and a stated no-turn-away policy for clients outside the metro area.

The organization operates two core programs: GetHelp, which provides ongoing individualized case management and resource referrals (housing, food, medical/mental healthcare, domestic violence safety, legal services, continuing education, employment resources, and SSI/SSDI assistance) through matched volunteer Client Advocates; and The Open Space, a confidential and anonymous mental health peer-support platform offering 45-minute one-on-one sessions via phone, Google Meet audio, or text message. A "Hybrid Track" allows combined enrollment in both programs. Supporting the core services are Peer Groups hosted at partner location Sprout Society HQ (covering topics such as Affordable Housing, Domestic Violence Survivors, and Work Together), and recurring community events including Holiday Gift Drives, Mental Health Resource Fairs, Hot Meal and Clothing Handouts, Community Cleanups, and Summer Haircut events. The proprietary "Believe Plan" is a living document created and managed by each Client Advocate to outline client goals and action steps.

BNY's operating model is volunteer-driven end-to-end: leadership, board members, Client Advocates, and Community Advocates are all unpaid, and there is no paid headcount. Revenue is generated exclusively through tax-deductible donations and event sponsorships processed via Zeffy, PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App. The organization partners strategically with Sprout Society (core operational partner), Toys for Tots (Holiday Gift Drives), and local community organizations and salons to extend reach and capacity. It earned GuideStar/Candid's Platinum Profile Seal in 2025 as a marker of organizational transparency.

Name

Believe New York Philanthropies

Legal name

Believe New York Philanthropies, Inc.

Website

https://believeny.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Believe New York Philanthropies is a grassroots NYC nonprofit that provides free, volunteer-delivered case management, mental health peer support, and community events to individuals and families experiencing poverty, abuse, and hardship across the five boroughs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Housing Services (62422), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Companion Care & Social Support (non-clinical) (HLADAGAB), Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Mental health peer support
• Nonprofit resource referrals
• Crisis intervention services
• Holiday gift drives

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individual donors and corporate sponsors. Donation portal available via Zeffy platform.
2. Event Sponsorship: Partnerships with local businesses to sponsor community events. Sponsors receive benefits including tax deductions, increased foot traffic, social media engagement, and community relationship building.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Believe New York Philanthropies provides free, volunteer-delivered social services to individuals and families facing hardship in New York City. Its core offerings include GetHelp (ongoing personalized case management and resource referrals for housing, food, healthcare, domestic violence, legal, and employment needs) and The Open Space (confidential mental health peer support via phone, text, or Google Meet). Complementary programs include peer support groups and recurring community events such as Holiday Gift Drives and Resource Fairs.

Product overview

Believe New York Philanthropies operates as a grassroots nonprofit offering two core service programs—GetHelp and The Open Space—supported by volunteer Client and Community Advocates. GetHelp provides ongoing, personalized case management and resource referrals for housing, food, healthcare, domestic violence support, and legal services. The Open Space offers confidential, anonymous peer support via phone, text, or Google Meet. The organization also runs Peer Groups at partner location Sprout Society HQ and organizes community events including Holiday Gift Drives, Resource Fairs, and food/clothing distributions. Services are free, 100% confidential, and available to anyone regardless of location, language, or background.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GetHelp Ongoing individualized support and resource referrals connecting clients to housing, food, medical and mental healthcare, domestic violence safety, legal services, continuing education, employment resources, and SSI/SSDI assistance through matched volunteer Client Advocates. Targeted at individuals and families in NYC experiencing poverty, mental illness, domestic violence, or other hardships, with an average 6-month engagement period.
• The Open Space Free, confidential, and anonymous mental health peer support platform providing 45-minute one-on-one talk sessions via phone, Google Meet (audio only), or text, offering non-judgmental emotional support for individuals experiencing loneliness, anxiety, or stress. Open to anyone regardless of location, language, or background; most sessions last 3-6 months.
• BNY Client Advocate Program Volunteer program providing hands-on experience in clinical and counseling skills, client support, case management, and resource navigation with typical caseloads of 1-5 clients and a minimum commitment of 5-10 hours per week. Designed for students and aspiring professionals in clinical/counseling psychology, social services, and related fields.
• BNY Community Advocate Program In-person volunteer program focused on community outreach, peer group facilitation at Sprout Society HQ, and distributing materials in low-income neighborhoods, shelters, and community centers across NYC.
• Peer Groups Safe, welcoming weekly, biweekly, or monthly in-person group sessions at Sprout Society HQ covering Affordable Housing, Domestic Violence Survivors, Work Together, and United Under Uncertainty. Designed for NYC community members seeking peer support around specific hardship themes.
• Community Events Regular community events including Holiday Gift Drives, Resource Fairs (Mental Health and Affordable Housing), Hot Meal and Clothing Handouts, Community Cleanups, and Summer Haircut events held across NYC neighborhoods for underserved residents, shelters, and community centers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 children helped through Holiday Gift Drives since 2021
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Toys for TotscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024In 2024, BNY partnered with Toys for Tots for their Holiday Gift Drive, providing over 250 gifts to more than 144 children. The partnership enabled BNY's largest gift drive to date.
• Local Salon (Washington Square Park)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021In summer 2021, through a partnership with a local salon, BNY provided free haircuts to hundreds of people in Washington Square Park, along with summer meals and lightweight clothing.
• Sprout SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSprout Society is BNY's operational partner providing the physical space to host Peer Groups, refreshments, and staff support during facilitation. Community Advocates work in-person at Sprout Society HQ. Peer Groups serve as an access point for BNY support, resources, and GetHelp enrollment.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• New York Cares: NYC-based volunteer-powered nonprofit mobilizing individuals to address community needs through direct service and partnerships. Directly comparable to Believe New York's volunteer-led, community-event-driven service model across the five boroughs.
• CAMBA: Large Brooklyn-based nonprofit providing housing, homelessness prevention, social services, and youth programs across NYC. Comparable to Believe New York's GetHelp-style case management and resource referral model serving low-income populations.
• Coalition for the Homeless: NYC advocacy and direct-service organization focused on homelessness prevention and housing assistance. Comparable to Believe New York's affordable housing navigation, resource referral, and homelessness-prevention orientation.
• Project Renewal: NYC nonprofit providing housing, employment, health, and social services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Directly comparable to Believe New York's holistic GetHelp model spanning housing, food, employment, and mental health.
• The Bowery Mission: Historic NYC nonprofit serving people experiencing poverty, hunger, and homelessness through direct services, meals, and case management. Comparable to Believe New York's hot meal handouts, clothing distributions, and resource referral approach.
• Henry Street Settlement: Lower East Side-based settlement house delivering social services, mental health support, and community programs to vulnerable New Yorkers. Comparable peer given its mix of mental health programming, social services, and community-event-driven outreach.

Broad incumbents

• Food Bank For New York City: Larger NYC hunger-relief organization operating food pantries, meal programs, and benefits enrollment. Comparable on the food-insecurity and SNAP/WIC navigation dimensions of Believe New York's GetHelp program.
• Volunteers of America Greater New York: Regional affiliate of a national nonprofit providing housing, behavioral health, and supportive services across NYC. Comparable given shared volunteer-driven ethos and behavioral-health/peer-support overlap with The Open Space.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York: Large, established social services provider in NYC delivering housing, immigration, mental health, and family services. Comparable as a broader-incumbent counterpart competing for the same donor base and underserved client population.

Regional players

• NYC Well: NYC-government-funded mental health support line offering free, confidential counseling and peer support 24/7. Comparable as a regional, publicly funded counterpart to Believe New York's The Open Space anonymous peer mental health platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Believe_NewYork
• Facebookfacebook.com/believeny

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Believe New York Philanthropies