University Settlement Society of New York

What University Settlement Society of New York does

University Settlement Society of New York is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization and the first Settlement House in the United States, founded in 1886 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It now operates 30+ program locations across Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, serving 40,000+ New Yorkers annually through a cradle-to-grave portfolio of programs organized into eight service lines: Early Childhood (Early Head Start, Family Child Care, Butterflies mental health, Children's Corner, Creative Steps, Early Childhood Center at 184 Eldridge); Youth (After-School, Community Schools, Summer Camp, Beacon, College Passport, Excel, GREENE gun violence interruption); Mental Health & Wellness (Consultation Center clinic, Care Coordination, Families Thriving, Home Based Crisis Intervention, Prevention Program); Housing Services (eviction prevention, case management, financial literacy); Adult English Classes (free ESOL); Older Adults (HEART, Meltzer Center, Neighborhood Center, Village View NORC, Wellness Together Home-Based Care); Community Centers (Cornerstone programs at NYCHA sites including Campos Plaza, Atlantic Terminal, and Ingersoll); and Arts (The Creative Center, The Performance Project).

The organization delivers services directly through its community centers, schools, and program sites rather than through a technology platform; its "core technology" is described as a community-based program management operation with no proprietary AI or software products. Revenue is generated from four streams: individual donations and fundraising (the 2026 Gala "City Stories: Through Generations" raised a record $1.3 million), government grants and contracts (NYC Council discretionary awards of nearly $850,000 for FY2022, plus funding from NYC Aging, NYC Department of Education, NYC Administration for Children's Services, NYS Council on the Arts, DASNY, and the National Endowment for the Arts), facility rentals (Speyer Hall theater and Gymnasium at 184), and a small amount of program fees, with most programs free or low-cost/sliding-scale for income-eligible families.

The organization is led by CEO Melissa Aase, with a senior team including Chief External Relations Officer Laura McGinley and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Rabiya Akhtar, and is governed by a Board of Directors co-chaired by Ben Schall. Following a 2021 reorganization that unwound a 20-year operational relationship with The Door, University Settlement has rebuilt independent teams and strategy while expanding its mental health, arts, and youth violence-intervention programs across New York City.

Name

University Settlement Society of New York

Legal name

University Settlement Society of New York

Website

https://universitysettlement.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1886

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

University Settlement Society of New York is the first U.S. Settlement House (founded 1886), operating 30+ program locations across Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn to serve 40,000+ New Yorkers annually with early childhood, youth, mental health, housing, older adult, ESOL, arts, and community center programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Corrections (Probation, Parole & Reentry) (BPAIAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reentry, Rehabilitation & Reintegration Programs (Education, Vocational, Case Management) (BPAKANAH), Public Housing & Social Housing Development/Modernization Programs (FSALAKAH)

Keywords

• Social services nonprofit
• Early childhood education
• Community youth programs
• Mental health services
• Settlement house programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from individuals, families, and supporters. The 2026 Gala City Stories raised over $1.3 million. The Schall family and other supporters contribute financially and through volunteering.
2. Government Grants and Contracts: Funding from NYC Council discretionary awards (nearly $850,000 for FY2022), NYC Aging, NYC Department of Education, NYC Administration for Children's Services, New York State Council on the Arts, DASNY, and other government sources.
3. Space Rentals: Rental of facilities including Speyer Hall (theater venue) and Gymnasium at 184 to external organizations for events, fundraisers, conferences, and performances.
4. Program Fees: Some programs offer sliding-scale or low-cost fees. Early childhood programs are free or affordable for income-eligible families. Adult English classes are free of charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

University Settlement Society of New York is a nonprofit social services organization that delivers a comprehensive portfolio of community-based programs across Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. Its offerings span early childhood education, youth development, mental health and wellness, housing services, adult English classes, older adult services, community centers, and arts programs, serving more than 40,000 New Yorkers annually through 30+ program locations.

Product overview

University Settlement is a nonprofit social services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of community programs across Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. The organization operates as a unified platform of interconnected services spanning early childhood education (Butterflies, Early Head Start, Family Child Care, Early Childhood Center at 184 Eldridge, Creative Steps, Children's Corner), youth development (After-School, Community Schools, Summer Camp, Beacon Program, College Passport, Excel Program, GREENE), mental health services (Consultation Center, Care Coordination, Families Thriving, Prevention Program), housing services, adult English classes, older adult services (HEART, Meltzer Center, Neighborhood Center, Village View NORC, Wellness Together), community centers (Cornerstone at Campos Plaza, Atlantic Terminal, Ingersoll), and arts programs (The Creative Center, The Performance Project). Additionally, the organization offers space rentals for events and meetings. These programs serve over 40,000 New Yorkers annually through 30+ program locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Childhood Programs
• Youth Programs Programs for school-age children and teens including After-School, Community Schools, Summer Camp and Summer Rising, the Beacon Program, College Passport, the Excel Program for Youth and Families, and GREENE (community-led gun violence interruption in Fort Greene).
• Mental Health + Wellness Programs Accessible and affordable mental health services including the Consultation Center (community-based mental health clinic), Care Coordination, Child and Family Treatment and Support Services, Families Thriving, Family and Youth Peer Support, Home Based Crisis Intervention, and the Prevention Program.
• Housing Services Tenant support services including case management, counseling, financial literacy, eviction prevention, and advocacy for safe and affordable housing in New York City.
• Adult English Classes
• Older Adults Programs Services for adults aged 60 and older including the HEART Program, Meltzer Center, Neighborhood Center, Village View NORC, and Wellness Together Home-Based Care.
• Community Centers Community centers open to all in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, including Cornerstone at Campos Plaza, Cornerstone at Atlantic Terminal, and Cornerstone at Ingersoll.
• Arts Programs Free or low-cost arts programming including The Creative Center (arts for people with cancer and chronic illnesses) and The Performance Project (engaging young local artists with professional artists).
• Space Rentals Rental of Speyer Hall (a white box theater at 184 Eldridge Street) and the Gymnasium at 184 for events, performances, conferences, and fundraisers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000+ New Yorkers partnered with annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Switching LifestylezminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2026Partner in GREENE program for community-led safety and gun violence interruption in Fort Greene.
• CultureHubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2024Collaboration on Wellness Together Arts Fellowship, a groundbreaking intergenerational arts program in NYC's East Village.
• La MaMaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2024Collaboration on Wellness Together Arts Fellowship culminating with hybrid performances. La MaMa hosting 'At this table...' event.
• JamestownminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2022Real estate investment firm partnering on inaugural summer internship program for NYC high school students exploring careers in commercial real estate.
• NYC Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2022Selected as Community Schools partner for PS/MS 34, providing comprehensive services including after-school, mental health, and summer programming. Partnership began in 2014.
• PS/MS 34 (NYC Public School)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2022Community Schools partner providing after-school programs, mental health services, summer camp, and work experience opportunities for students.
• East Side Community SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2022Beacon program location offering after-school and summer youth development opportunities.
• IFS (International Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood Centres)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021Global network of thousands of organizations representing 11,000 community-based organizations worldwide. University Settlement is a longtime member; CEO Melissa Aase serves as President of its Board of Directors.
• Alicia and Jason Lee FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2021Partnership to provide free self-defense classes for community members, many of whom are Asian, on Manhattan's Lower East Side in response to rise in racially-motivated violence. Classes taught in English and Chinese, primarily for older people.
• Homes for the HomelessminorOthers · 31 August 2021Previous employer of Rabiya Akhtar before she joined University Settlement as CFO. Not a current partnership.
• United Neighborhood Houses of New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Member of United Neighborhood Houses of New York, a coalition of settlement houses and community organizations.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• The Door: NYC youth services organization formerly in a 20-year operational partnership with University Settlement; provides youth development, mental health, and education services to similar adolescent populations.
• Henry Street Settlement: NYC settlement house founded in 1895, providing comparable cradle-to-grave social services including early childhood, youth, older adults, mental health, and arts programs across multiple Lower East Side and Queens locations.
• CAMBA: Brooklyn-based nonprofit delivering housing, youth, adult education, and family services to over 65,000 New Yorkers annually, with overlapping service categories and government contract model.
• Goddard Riverside Community Center: Upper West Side-based NYC settlement house offering comparable cradle-to-grave services including early childhood, youth, housing, older adults, and community programming.
• Chinese-American Planning Council: NYC-based social services nonprofit providing early childhood, youth, adult education, housing, and workforce programs to Asian American communities, with similar government funding and multi-site model.
• Educational Alliance: NYC settlement house founded in 1889, delivering similar multi-program social services including early childhood, adult education, arts, and older adult programs primarily on Manhattan's Lower East Side.

Broad incumbents

• Rising Ground: NYC social services organization (formerly Children's Aid Society) providing youth, family, and community-based services with overlapping program categories and government contract funding model.
• Catholic Charities of New York: Large NYC social services network providing comparable multi-program services across housing, mental health, older adults, and immigration support, though at greater scale and across all five boroughs.
• Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services: Large NYC mental health and social services provider offering overlapping mental health, family support, and older adult services, though at greater scale and with broader clinical depth.

Others

• United Neighborhood Houses: Coalition of 45+ NYC settlement houses including University Settlement; comparable advocacy, capacity-building, and collective funding role for peer settlement house members.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/univsettlement
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrW18SFTgq5FlI1OfSgsMvQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/UniversitySettlement
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-settlement-society-of-new-york
• Instagraminstagram.com/univsettlement

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University Settlement Society of New York