Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House

What Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House does

Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community-based social services organization founded in 1889 by Danish social reformer Jacob Riis and the Circle of the King's Daughters. Originally located on Manhattan's Lower East Side, the organization relocated to Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City in 1957, which remains its headquarters. It serves approximately 4,000 individuals annually across western Queens through four integrated program areas: Children, Youth, and Family Services (including the Riis Academy after-school and summer programs at 5-7 school- and community-center sites such as PS166, PS171, CS111, InfoTech High School, Queensbridge Community Center, and Ravenswood Cornerstone, plus workforce development through SYEP, Learn & Earn, and Queens Connect); Immigrant Services (ESOL classes, citizenship preparation, DOJ-accredited immigration legal services, and multilingual case management serving roughly 900 immigrants annually); Older Adult Services (an Older Adult Center and a state-funded NNORC program at Queensbridge Houses); and Community Engagement (Community Advisory Board, MAP Queensbridge NeighborhoodStat, and a Pregnancy/New Parent Program).

The organization operates without a proprietary technology platform, delivering services primarily in-person at community centers, public schools, and NYCHA housing developments. Its technology footprint is limited to standard nonprofit tools: a WordPress website, Constant Contact for email newsletters, Network for Good for donations, and social media channels (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube). Revenue is generated through three streams: government grants and contracts (primarily NYC DYCD for COMPASS/SONYC/SYEP programs and NYS NNORC), individual and corporate donations (including planned giving, stock transfers, and donor-advised funds), and facility rental income from Queensbridge gymnasium, cafeteria, and conference room rentals at tiered nonprofit/for-profit pricing (e.g., $500-$600 per 5-hour gymnasium block). Most programs are free to participants. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Jennifer Cowan, Esq., with Christopher Hanway serving as Executive Director since August 2013.

Riis Settlement holds BBB Accredited Charity status, three consecutive Family Strengthening Awards from United Neighborhood Centers of America, and royal patronage from H.R.H. Princess Benedikte of Denmark since 1998 (former ED William T. Newlin was named Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog in 2008). The organization maintains a 20-year cultural exchange partnership with Ribe Katedralskole in Denmark and is represented at the Jacob A. Riis Museum in Ribe. Staffing is in the 51-100 range, with leadership including four Associate Executive Directors overseeing Children/Youth/Family Services, Adult/Community Services, External Relations, and HR/Operations. Annual revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House

Legal name

Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House

Website

https://riissettlement.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1889

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1889 that serves approximately 4,000 youth, immigrants, older adults, and families annually across western Queens through integrated after-school, ESOL, immigration legal, workforce, and senior services at multiple community sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization Housing Programs (FSALAKAO)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Youth workforce development
• Immigrant integration services
• Older adult support programs
• Afterschool academic enrichment

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Island City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: Riis Settlement relies heavily on donations from individuals and corporations to fund programming. The organization runs a digital donation portal via Network for Good, offers planned giving options (bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts), and accepts stock transfers and donor-advised fund contributions.
2. Government Grants and Contracts: State and city funding through programs such as DYCD (Department of Youth and Community Development) for youth programming, NNORC (Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community) state funding, and city agency partnerships form a substantial portion of revenue.
3. Facility Rentals: Queensbridge facility spaces (gymnasium, cafeteria, conference room) are rented to community members and organizations at tiered nonprofit/for-profit pricing, with rental revenue reinvested into programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House is a 501(c)(3) community-based nonprofit that delivers integrated social, educational, cultural, and health programs across western Queens. Its core offerings span four program areas: Children, Youth, and Family Services (including the Riis Academy after-school program and youth workforce development); Immigrant Services (ESOL classes, citizenship preparation, immigration legal services, and case management); Older Adult Services (Older Adult Center and NNORC program); and Community Engagement (Community Advisory Board, MAP Queensbridge NStat, and pregnancy/new parent program). The organization also generates supplemental revenue by renting Queensbridge facility spaces (gymnasium, cafeteria, conference room) to community groups.

Product overview

Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement is a non-profit community organization (not a technology company) providing comprehensive social services through four main program areas: Children, Youth, and Family Services (including Riis Academy after-school programs and Youth Workforce Development); Immigrant Services (ESOL classes, Citizenship Preparation, Immigration Legal Services, and Case Management); Older Adult Services (Older Adult Center, NNORC Program, and Virtual Activities); and Community Engagement (Community Advisory Board, Queensbridge NStat, and Pregnancy/New Parent Program). The organization operates multiple sites across western Queens including Queensbridge Community Center, Ravenswood Cornerstone, and school-based programs at PS111, PS166, PS171, and Information Technology High School.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Riis Academy: Provides high-quality after-school and summer programming for youth in grades K-12 across seven sites
• Immigrant Services
• Older Adult Services
• Community Engagement

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000 individuals served annually across five sites
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Jacob A. Riis Museum (Ribe, Denmark)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019The Jacob A. Riis Museum opened in Ribe, Denmark in 2019 with participation from patron Princess Benedikte and Executive Director Christopher Hanway. The museum highlights Jacob Riis' achievements, immigration themes, national identity, and social conditions, strengthening the historical connection between Denmark and the United States.
• Ribe Katedralskole (Ribe Cathedral School)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Long-standing cultural exchange partnership with Ribe Katedralskole in Denmark, established in 2006. The Danish Cultural Exchange Program celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2026, with Riis Settlement teens visiting Ribe and Copenhagen, and Danish students visiting New York City. The program provides young people with international friendship-building and global perspective.
• City HarvestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity Harvest Mobile Market is held twice monthly (1st Wednesday and 3rd Saturday) at Queensbridge Houses, directly behind Riis Settlement. Fresh produce is distributed to Queens residents, addressing food insecurity in the community.
• New York Common PantryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew York Common Pantry hosts a mobile pantry in the Older Adult Center on the fourth Friday of each month, providing food assistance to older adults and community members.
• The Bee ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partnership in which The Bee Conservancy leads pollinator habitat restoration at Queensbridge Houses. Riis Settlement's Older Adult Center participants and staff joined hands-on gardening days to plant native flowers and create pollinator-friendly gardens.
• Queens Community House (QCH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQueens Connect Young Adult Food Sector Employment Initiative is an employment collaborative between QCH, Riis Settlement, Sunnyside Community Services, and Ocean Bay CDC, training out-of-school youth (16-24) for careers in food service and manufacturing.
• Sunnyside Community ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Queens Connect employment collaborative, providing sector-focused workforce training for out-of-school youth in western Queens.
• Ocean Bay CDCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Queens Connect employment collaborative, providing sector-focused workforce training for out-of-school youth in western Queens.
• Public Health SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Pregnancy and New Parent Program is designed and implemented in partnership with Public Health Solutions, providing resources and support for pregnant families and new parents in western Queens.
• NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDYCD is the primary government funder and partner for youth programming. Riis Settlement operates DYCD-funded COMPASS, SONYC, Cornerstone, and SYEP programs at multiple sites across western Queens.
• NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiis Settlement operates programs at Queensbridge Houses and Ravenswood Houses, both NYCHA developments. The organization also partners with NYCHA on environmental initiatives such as the Queensbridge pollinator habitat project.
• H.R.H. Princess Benedikte of DenmarkflagshipOthersRoyal patron of Riis Settlement since 1998. Princess Benedikte has made multiple visits to the organization and participated in the opening of the Jacob A. Riis Museum in Ribe, Denmark in 2019.
• Trinity Church Wall StreetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrinity Church Wall Street has been a significant supporter of Riis Settlement in the nonprofit sector. Alberto Cruz, Associate Executive Director for Adult and Community Services, previously held roles at Trinity Church Wall Street.
• YMCA of Greater New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlberto Cruz, Associate Executive Director for Adult and Community Services, previously held leadership roles at the YMCA of Greater New York.
• The Children's Aid SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlberto Cruz, Associate Executive Director for Adult and Community Services, previously held leadership positions at The Children's Aid Society.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Educational Alliance: NYC settlement house founded in 1889 offering integrated programs for children, adults, and seniors across multiple Lower East Side/Manhattan sites. Operates with similar settlement house heritage model serving immigrant and working-class communities.
• Sunnyside Community Services: Western Queens-based community organization serving youth, adults, and seniors with comparable program verticals and a direct collaborative partner in the Queens Connect Young Adult Food Sector Initiative.
• Grand Street Settlement: Lower East Side settlement house providing integrated youth, senior, and adult services comparable to Riis Settlement's program verticals, serving similarly diverse immigrant and low-income communities.
• Chinese-American Planning Council: Large NYC social services nonprofit providing comparable immigrant services (ESOL, citizenship, workforce, youth programming) across multiple sites serving similar immigrant populations in Queens.
• Children's Aid Society: Major NYC child and family services nonprofit with comparable youth, family, and community-based programming across multiple sites; Alberto Cruz, Riis Settlement's AED for Adult Services, previously held leadership roles there.
• Henry Street Settlement: One of the oldest settlement houses in NYC (founded 1893) providing comparable integrated social services including youth programs, senior services, arts, and workforce development across multiple Lower East Side sites. Direct operational peer in settlement house model and NYC nonprofit ecosystem.
• Queens Community House: Queens-based community settlement providing youth, adult, and senior services across multiple sites, including a formal collaborative partner with Riis Settlement through the Queens Connect employment initiative.

Emerging players

• Police Athletic League (PAL): NYC youth services nonprofit with comparable afterschool and youth development programming; Riis Settlement's AED for Children/Youth/Family Services (Desiree Lewis) rose through PAL's ranks, reflecting operational comparability.
• New York Edge: NYC-based youth development nonprofit providing afterschool and summer programming comparable to Riis Academy; Riis Settlement's CS 111 program director previously held leadership roles at New York Edge.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of Greater New York: Large NYC community services organization with comparable youth, senior, and immigrant programming at multiple sites; Alberto Cruz previously held leadership roles at YMCA of Greater New York, indicating direct professional overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/riis_settlement
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@RiisSettlement
• Facebookfacebook.com/riissettlement.org
• Instagraminstagram.com/riis_settlement

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House