Urban Upbound
Urban Upbound is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 that runs seven integrated programs—employment, college access, financial counseling, tax prep, worker cooperative development, a federal credit union, and mental health—to break poverty cycles for NYCHA residents and low-income New Yorkers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersLong Island City, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Urban Upbound does
Urban Upbound is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2004 (originally incorporated as East River Development Alliance) that addresses poverty in New York City public housing and other low-income neighborhoods. The organization operates seven integrated programs: Employment Services (job readiness, vocational training, OSHA/SST site safety certification), College Access and Youth Development (SAT prep, tutoring, college enrollment), Financial Counseling and Affordable Housing (financial fitness, HUD-certified housing counseling), Tax Preparation and Income Support (VITA free tax prep), Business Innovation (worker cooperative incubation), the Urban Upbound Federal Credit Union (checking, savings, credit-builder loans, NYCHA rent payment processing), and Mental Health and Wellness (free short-term counseling up to 15 sessions). All services are delivered free of charge to clients, and within the last three years the organization reports serving 38,500 New Yorkers, returning $25.77 million in tax refunds, processing 12,867 NYCHA rent payments, and achieving a 100% college acceptance rate for College Access participants.
Urban Upbound firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Urban Upbound
- Legal name
- East River Development Alliance
- Website
- https://urbanupbound.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Urban Upbound is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 that runs seven integrated programs—employment, college access, financial counseling, tax prep, worker cooperative development, a federal credit union, and mental health—to break poverty cycles for NYCHA residents and low-income New Yorkers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Urban Upbound industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Social Services
- NAICS
- Community Housing Services (62422)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Affordable Rental & Multifamily Housing Finance Programs (LIHTC/Tax Credits/Subsidized Loans) (FSALAKAF), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)
Keywords
Where Urban Upbound is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Long Island City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices9 records
Markets served
Urban Upbound business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individual supporters, including monthly recurring donations ($15/month suggested) and one-time gifts. The organization operates a Monthly Supporter Community program.
- Corporate Giving and Grants: Funding from corporate partners such as Spectrum's $25,000 contribution to the Workforce Development Program. Includes corporate giving programs, sponsorships for the annual gala, and in-kind support.
- Government Funding: Funding from NYC City Council's Construction Site Safety Initiative for OSHA training programs. Support from various government workforce development programs through Jobs-Plus centers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free comprehensive poverty alleviation services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Urban Upbound product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Urban Upbound delivers a portfolio of free, integrated poverty-alleviation programs for NYCHA public housing residents and other low-income New Yorkers, spanning employment and workforce training (including OSHA/SST construction safety certification), college access and youth development, financial counseling and HUD-certified affordable housing support, free IRS-certified tax preparation, worker cooperative business incubation, mental health and wellness counseling, and a community-owned Federal Credit Union offering checking, savings, credit-builder loans, and NYCHA rent payment services.
Product overview
Urban Upbound is a nonprofit organization offering seven integrated programs designed to break cycles of poverty in New York City public housing and low-income neighborhoods. The organization operates as a multi-service community hub combining Employment Services (job readiness, vocational training, OSHA/SST safety certification), College Access and Youth Development (academic support, SAT prep, college enrollment), Financial Counseling and Affordable Housing (financial fitness, HUD housing counseling), Tax Preparation and Income Support (VITA free tax prep), Business Innovation (worker cooperative development), an Urban Upbound Federal Credit Union (banking services, loans, credit building), and Mental Health and Wellness (free short-term counseling). These programs work collaboratively to provide comprehensive support for economic mobility and self-sufficiency.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Employment Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 38,500 New Yorkers served within the last three years
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Urban Upbound
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Urban Upbound technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Urban Upbound partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Rise, Light & PowercoreRise, Light & Power championed Urban Upbound's Mental Health & Wellness Program as a Diamond Sponsor for the 2023 Gala, kickstarting the mental health initiative. The organization is committed to supporting mental health services for low-income families.
- Renewable RavensnwoodminorDiamond sponsor for Urban Upbound's 21st Anniversary Gala, supporting the organization's fundraising efforts.
- 59E59 TheatersminorPlatinum sponsor for Urban Upbound's 21st Anniversary Gala.
- AmazonminorWarrior sponsor for Urban Upbound's 21st Anniversary Gala.
- DurstminorUplifter sponsor for Urban Upbound's 21st Anniversary Gala.
- WildflowerminorUplifter sponsor for Urban Upbound's 21st Anniversary Gala.
- SHoP ArchitectscoreSHoP Architects founded by Gregg Pasquarelli received the Urban Upbound Design Legacy Award. The firm has partnered with Urban Upbound to create employment opportunities for NYCHA residents through development projects.
- OnPoint SecurityminorThe first cooperative business started by Urban Upbound through its Business Innovation program. Urban Upbound provides technical assistance, governance support, and access to capital through the UUFCU.
- OSHA SolutionsminorWorker cooperative business incubated through Urban Upbound's Business Innovation program, receiving technical assistance and support services.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Urban Upbound competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- The Door: NYC youth-serving nonprofit offering education, career development, housing, and health services to young people — comparable to Urban Upbound's College Access and Youth Development program.
- The Fortune Society: NYC nonprofit providing workforce development, housing, and mental health services, with overlap in employment and mental-health programming targeting under-served populations.
- Red Hook Initiative: Brooklyn-based community nonprofit serving NYCHA's Red Hook Houses with youth development, workforce, and community programs — comparable footprint and NYCHA-embedded model.
- South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (SoBro): NYC-based nonprofit providing workforce development, small business, and financial empowerment services to low-income Bronx residents — overlapping mission on employment and financial inclusion.
Direct peers
- Year Up: National nonprofit providing workforce training, corporate internships, and wraparound supports for young adults from low-income communities — directly paralleling Urban Upbound's Employment Services and College Access combination.
- Per Scholas: Nonprofit providing tuition-free tech workforce training to low-income adults, with sites in NYC. Closely mirrors Urban Upbound's vocational training and job placement model.
- Henry Street Settlement: Long-running NYC settlement house offering social services, education, employment, and arts programming to Lower East Side residents — a direct comparable in multi-program community-based service delivery.
- Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation: Brooklyn-based community development nonprofit providing youth, education, housing, and workforce services to public housing residents — highly comparable integrated-services model in NYC.
Broad incumbents
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community development financial institution supporting affordable housing, economic development, and financial empowerment — comparable in mission on financial inclusion and housing counseling for low-income communities.
- Goodwill Industries International: Largest U.S. nonprofit workforce development and social services operator. Comparable in mission around employment, training, and financial empowerment for low-income populations, though at national scale rather than NYC-specific.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Urban Upbound social profiles
Digital presenceUrban Upbound compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Urban Upbound financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Urban Upbound leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles23 records
Urban Upbound subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Urban Upbound funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Urban Upbound 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 Urban Upbound
What does Urban Upbound do?
Urban Upbound delivers a portfolio of free, integrated poverty-alleviation programs for NYCHA public housing residents and other low-income New Yorkers, spanning employment and workforce training (including OSHA/SST construction safety certification), college access and youth development, financial counseling and HUD-certified affordable housing support, free IRS-certified tax preparation, worker cooperative business incubation, mental health and wellness counseling, and a community-owned Federal Credit Union offering checking, savings, credit-builder loans, and NYCHA rent payment services.
Is Urban Upbound a public or private company?
Urban Upbound is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Urban Upbound founded?
Urban Upbound was founded in 2004. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Urban Upbound based?
Urban Upbound is headquartered in Long Island City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Urban Upbound make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Giving and Grants and government Funding.
Who are Urban Upbound's main competitors?
Regional players on record are The Door, The Fortune Society, Red Hook Initiative and South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (SoBro). Direct peers are Year Up, Per Scholas, Henry Street Settlement and Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation. Broad incumbents are Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Goodwill Industries International.
Does Urban Upbound have an API?
No public API is recorded for Urban Upbound.
What industry is Urban Upbound in?
Urban Upbound's product category is Community Development Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAB, Housing Assistance & Homeless Services, with a secondary code of FSALAKAF, Affordable Rental & Multifamily Housing Finance Programs (LIHTC/Tax Credits/Subsidized Loans). Its NAICS code is 62422 and its SIC code is 8300.