Center for an Urban Future

What Center for an Urban Future does

The Center for an Urban Future (CUF) is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) think tank founded in 1996 and headquartered at 80 Eighth Avenue, Suite 704, in Manhattan. The organization produces data-driven policy research, data briefs, commentary, and policy recommendations focused on expanding economic opportunity, growing and diversifying New York City's economy, and strengthening the upward mobility of lower-income New Yorkers. Its portfolio spans tech-sector growth (Sustaining NYC's Tech Edge, New Tech City), K-12 and higher education (Ten Years of CS4All, From Degree to Career), small business support (Smarter Small Businesses, Breaking Through), creative economy, parks and street safety, and municipal revenue generation (5 Revenue-Raising Ideas for NYC). All research is published free of charge on nycfuture.org and supplemented by policy forums, summits (e.g., the annual NYC Economic Mobility Summit), and direct engagement with city and state officials.

CUF's revenue model is foundation- and philanthropic-grant-driven rather than commercial. General operating support comes from a core set of foundations (The Clark Foundation, the Altman Foundation, the Bernard F. and Alva B. Gimbel Foundation), with project-specific funding from corporate and civic sponsors including Citi Community Development, HSBC, Capital One, AT&T New York, the Association for a Better New York, and Fisher Brothers. In December 2025, CUF added the Siegel Family Endowment to its funder base. The organization is led by Executive Director Jonathan Bowles and operates with 11-50 employees total.

The organization's go-to-market is community- and policy-led rather than sales-led. Its outputs (publications, testimony at City Council hearings, op-eds in outlets including Crain's NY Business and NY Daily News, and events) function as catalysts for policy adoption. Documented downstream impact includes more than 150 policy proposals and budget investments since 2016, FY 2025 New York State budget items totaling roughly $190 million influenced by CUF research (NYSCA grantmaking increase, Environmental Bond Act campus decarbonization allocation), and a proposed $1.4 billion in recurring annual NYC revenue. Geographic scope is concentrated in New York City and New York State; the technical stack is not technology-product oriented — CUF licenses third-party data (Crunchbase, Lightcast) for analytics but does not ship its own software or AI products.

Name

Center for an Urban Future

Legal name

Center for an Urban Future

Website

https://nycfuture.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Center for an Urban Future is a New York City-based nonprofit think tank founded in 1996 that produces data-driven policy research on economic growth, mobility, and opportunity to influence city and state government decisions. Its reports and events are made freely available to policymakers, nonprofits, and business leaders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Research

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL)

Keywords

• Public policy research
• Urban policy analysis
• Economic mobility research
• Workforce development research
• Urban planning studies

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Philanthropic Support: The organization receives general operating support from foundations including The Clark Foundation and the Altman Foundation. Additional project-specific funding comes from organizations like The Bernard F. and Alva B. Gimbel Foundation and Fisher Brothers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Center for an Urban Future (CUF) is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) public policy think tank that produces data-driven research reports, data briefs, and policy commentaries focused on New York City's economic growth, opportunity, and mobility. Its work provides evidence-based recommendations to policymakers, business leaders, and nonprofit practitioners to strengthen the city's economy and expand economic opportunity.

Product overview

Center for an Urban Future (CUF) is a think tank that produces research reports, data briefs, and policy recommendations rather than a traditional software product company. Its portfolio consists of published research on urban policy topics including technology sector growth, small business development, education, economic mobility, and urban infrastructure. The organization also hosts policy forums and events and tracks its impact on influencing government policy. The main offerings are its branded research publications (reports, data briefs, commentaries) and event programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Libraries and Street Safety Data Brief

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 150 policy proposals and budget investments influenced by CUF research since 2016
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Tech:NYCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCUF produced its 'Sustaining NYC's Tech Edge' report in partnership with Tech:NYC, a nonprofit that works to make New York a better place to grow and build a tech company. This partnership combines CUF's research capabilities with Tech:NYC's industry expertise.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Manhattan Institute: NYC-based public policy think tank producing research on urban economics, education, and state/local policy. Closely comparable to CUF in scope (NYC-focused, data-driven reports), target audience (policymakers and civic leaders), and business model (foundation-funded, free publications).
• Regional Plan Association: Tri-state urban planning and policy organization that produces research and recommendations on economic development, housing, and infrastructure. Directly comparable to CUF in its focus on regional economic mobility, data-driven reports, and influence on state and city budgets.
• Community Service Society of New York: NYC nonprofit research and advocacy organization focused on economic inequality, workforce, and poverty. Comparable to CUF in producing data-driven reports on NYC economic mobility that inform state and city budget and program decisions.
• Center for New York City Affairs (The New School): The New School-affiliated policy institute focused on NYC social, economic, and education policy. Comparable to CUF in producing data briefs and reports on urban inequality, CUNY, and workforce pathways for New Yorkers.
• Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy (NYU): NYU-based research center producing data and policy analysis on housing, neighborhoods, and urban policy in NYC. Comparable in mission (rigorous urban-policy research that informs city decisions) and audience (policymakers and civic stakeholders).
• Citizens Budget Commission: NYC nonpartisan fiscal watchdog producing research and recommendations on city and state budget and economic policy. Comparable to CUF in NYC focus, foundation funding model, and influence on revenue, budget, and economic-mobility policy debates.

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: Large national think tank with a metropolitan-policy program covering cities including NYC. Comparable in producing data-driven urban-economy research and policy recommendations, but operates at national scale with broader topic coverage than CUF.
• Urban Institute: National research organization focused on economic mobility, housing, and urban policy with deep data capabilities. Comparable to CUF in producing rigorous, data-driven reports on inequality and workforce issues, but at significantly larger scale and national scope.
• MDRC: National social-policy research organization known for rigorous evaluations of workforce, education, and antipoverty programs. Comparable to CUF in producing evidence-based research that informs NYC/state workforce and education policy, though with a more evaluation-oriented methodology.

Emerging players

• Pratt Institute Center for Community Development: NYC-based academic center focused on community economic development and inclusive growth. Comparable to CUF in NYC focus and data-driven approach to economic-mobility research, though smaller in policy-influence footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nycfuture
• Facebookfacebook.com/128766510494309
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-an-urban-future

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Center for an Urban Future