Grow Brooklyn
Grow Brooklyn is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free tax preparation, foreclosure prevention, estate planning, financial coaching, and homebuyer education to low-to-moderate income Brooklyn families across 13 permanent sites and virtual channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Grow Brooklyn does
Grow Brooklyn is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 509 Rogers Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, that delivers free or low-cost financial empowerment services to low-to-moderate income Brooklyn families. Founded in 2007 as a formal entity and emerging from the first VITA tax preparation site launched in Bushwick in 2002, the organization is an affiliate of Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union and currently operates as Brooklyn's largest non-commercial tax preparer across 13 permanent sites, serving roughly 6,000+ clients annually.
The core service portfolio includes IRS-certified Free Tax Prep (VITA) for general filers and a Self-Employed Tax Prep (SETP) program for filers with expenses up to $50,000, plus a DIY self-file option. Adjacent programs span Financial Capability Coaching (budgeting, credit building, savings), HUD-approved Homebuyer Education (with access to HPD HomeFirst down payment assistance up to $40,000), Foreclosure Prevention counseling and legal representation, and the Protect Your Treasure estate planning program (wills, powers of attorney, healthcare proxies, Surrogates Court representation) — the last of which has preserved $25.2 million in client assets. Virtual classes on budgeting, credit, student loans, and estate planning extend reach via Zoom.
The underlying technology stack is composed of off-the-shelf SaaS rather than proprietary systems: TaxSlayer Pro for tax return preparation, Zoom for virtual classes, Acuity Scheduling for appointments, Typeform for volunteer intake, eHomeAmerica for homebuyer coursework, and Bonterra/Network for Good for donation processing. Revenue is grant-based, sourced from foundations (Brooklyn Community Foundation, Robinhood Foundation, NY Community Trust), corporate funders (Bank of America, Citi, HSBC, M&T), and NYC government agencies (HPD, DYCD, IRS VITA, NYC Consumer and Worker Protection). All services are provided at no cost to eligible NYC residents regardless of documentation status, with multilingual delivery in English, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese-Cantonese.
Grow Brooklyn firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Grow Brooklyn
- Legal name
- Grow Brooklyn Inc
- Website
- https://growbrooklyn.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Grow Brooklyn is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free tax preparation, foreclosure prevention, estate planning, financial coaching, and homebuyer education to low-to-moderate income Brooklyn families across 13 permanent sites and virtual channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Grow Brooklyn is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Grow Brooklyn business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: Grow Brooklyn is a nonprofit organization funded by foundations (Brooklyn Community Foundation, Robinhood Foundation, NY Community Trust), corporations (Bank of America, Citi), and government agencies. Services are provided free to eligible residents.
- Government Contracts: Funded by NYC agencies including HPD (Housing Preservation and Development), DYCD (Department of Youth and Community Development), IRS VITA program support, and NYC Consumer and Worker Protection.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | One time/ perpetual license | Free Tax Preparation - No-cost tax filing for eligible residents |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Estate Planning Legal Services - Low-cost or no-cost |
| Freemium | One time/ perpetual license | Financial Coaching - Completely free |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Grow Brooklyn product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Grow Brooklyn provides free IRS-certified tax preparation (VITA and SETP), DIY self-file tax support, Financial Capability coaching, foreclosure prevention counseling, estate planning legal services through its Protect Your Treasure program, and HUD-approved homebuyer education to low- and moderate-income Brooklyn residents. Services are delivered at no cost to eligible clients through 13 permanent locations, virtual classes, and community partner sites, with select legal services carrying nominal fees subject to waivers.
Product overview
Grow Brooklyn is a nonprofit financial empowerment organization offering a portfolio of coordinated services to help Brooklyn families build and protect wealth. The core offerings consist of free IRS-certified tax preparation programs (Free Tax Prep/VITA for general filers and SETP for self-employed individuals), financial coaching through its Financial Capability program, foreclosure prevention counseling and legal services, estate planning via the Protect Your Treasure program, and HUD-approved homebuyer education. Supporting services include virtual financial literacy classes, Financial Beginnings workshops, and FDIC Money Smart games. The organization also provides a DIY self-file tax preparation option. All programs are designed for low-to-moderate income New Yorkers and are largely free of charge.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Free Tax Prep (VITA) IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers provide free tax preparation and filing services for eligible Brooklyn residents with incomes up to $68,000 (single) or $97,000 (with dependents). Services include in-person drop-off, assisted self-prep, and virtual tax prep options.
- Self-Employed Tax Prep (SETP) Free specialized tax preparation services for self-employed filers and small business owners with expenses up to $50,000, including workshops, one-on-one consultations, and toolkits for recordkeeping and quarterly estimated tax payments.
- DIY Self-File Tax Prep Do-it-yourself free tax preparation using IRS-recommended software with optional 10-minute consultations from IRS-certified volunteers available Tuesday through Thursday and on Saturdays.
- Financial Capability Coaching Free one-on-one financial counseling helping eligible NYC residents create sustainable budgets, build credit history, establish savings, and achieve long-term financial well-being regardless of income or documentation status.
- Foreclosure Prevention Free counseling and legal services for homeowners facing foreclosure, including assessment of options, lender negotiations, court representation at settlement conferences, and referrals to reinstatement programs or reverse mortgage counselors.
- Protect Your Treasure (Estate Planning) Low-cost and no-cost legal services for end-of-life and estate administration, including Last Will and Testament, Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy, Living Will, and probate petition preparation to preserve family wealth for future generations.
- Homebuyer Education HUD-approved housing counseling preparing prospective homebuyers for homeownership, including eHomeAmerica coursework leading to a First-time Homebuyer Certificate and guidance on HPD HomeFirst down payment assistance of up to $40,000.
- Virtual Classes Free webinars and virtual classes delivered via Zoom covering financial topics including estate planning, student loans, budgeting, credit management, landlord education, and tax information.
- Financial Beginnings Workshops Free workshops delivered in partnership with Financial Beginnings covering budgeting, income and taxes, credit and debt, fraud protection, and savings and retirement, available virtually or in-person to groups.
- FDIC Money Smart Games Interactive financial education tools and games from the FDIC Money Smart program that help learners understand credit cards and other financial concepts in an accessible format.
Quantifiable outcome
- $25.2 million in assets preserved through Protect Your Treasure legal services
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Grow Brooklyn
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Grow Brooklyn technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Grow Brooklyn partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Brooklyn Coop Federal Credit UnioncoreAffiliate relationship. Brooklyn Coop Federal Credit Union, a certified CDFI, is Grow Brooklyn's affiliate organization founded in 2001. Provides affordable and transparent financial products to low-to-moderate income people. Grow Brooklyn connects clients to safe banking, credit union membership, and credit-building tools.
- Brooklyn Public LibrarycoreCommunity partnership for service delivery at library locations throughout Brooklyn.
- New York Health + HospitalscoreHealthcare system partnership including Kings County, Gouverneur, and Gotham Health Center locations for referrals and service delivery.
- Financial BeginningsmajorNational 501(c)(3) nonprofit partnership providing free financial education workshops covering budgeting, credit, taxes, savings, and retirement.
- Community Service Society of New YorkmajorBenefits access and advocacy partnership supporting financial capability services.
- NALCABmajorNational asset-building organization that featured Grow Brooklyn's Protect Your Treasure program in a Practitioner's Guide to Culturally Relevant Financial Capability.
- Lower East Side People's Federal Credit UnionminorCredit union partnership for referral services and financial product access.
- New York CaresminorVolunteer organization supporting community service programs.
- RiseborominorCommunity organization partnership for service referrals.
- St. Nicks AllianceminorCommunity organization partnership for neighborhood services.
- Brownsville PartnershipminorCommunity partnership focused on Brownsville neighborhood services.
- APNA Community CenterminorCommunity organization partnership for service referrals.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Grow Brooklyn competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Compass Working Capital: National nonprofit providing financial coaching, asset-building, and savings programs for low-income families, often partnering with housing authorities and employers. Comparable in financial capability coaching model and target population, though focused on matched-savings programs.
- Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation: Brooklyn-based community organization providing housing counseling, foreclosure prevention, youth services, and economic development to East New York and Cypress Hills residents. Directly comparable on foreclosure defense and community-based wealth-building mission.
- Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners: NYC-based nonprofit providing financial coaching, tax preparation, and workforce wealth-building services to low-income residents. Directly comparable in offering mix (financial capability + free tax prep) and target population, with similar reliance on foundation and city funding.
- Community Service Society of New York: NYC nonprofit providing benefits access, financial counseling, and tax preparation support to low-income residents across the five boroughs. Directly comparable on free tax prep and financial empowerment services; already a Grow Brooklyn partner organization.
- Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation: One of the oldest community development corporations in the US, headquartered in Brooklyn, providing housing, economic development, and workforce services. Overlaps with Grow Brooklyn on place-based wealth-building for low-income Brooklyn residents, though much larger in scope.
- Women's Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco): Bronx-based community development nonprofit offering housing counseling, financial empowerment, and small business support to low-income families. Comparable mission and integrated services model, though regionally focused on the Bronx rather than Brooklyn.
Broad incumbents
- Prosperity Now: National nonprofit focused on racial wealth equity and asset-building policy, research, and practitioner support. Board Chair Darren Liddell previously led projects there. Comparable in mission focus but operates as a national intermediary, not a direct service provider.
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community development financial institution supporting CDCs, housing counseling, and small business programs. Comparable on community-based wealth-building mission but operates primarily as a funder/intermediary rather than direct service provider like Grow Brooklyn.
Others
- United Way of New York City: Major NYC funder of financial empowerment, workforce, and housing stability programs; aligned with Grow Brooklyn's mission and a potential funding partner. Comparable ecosystem role but not a direct service competitor.
Emerging players
- Lower East Side People's Federal Credit Union: NYC CDFI credit union serving low-income and immigrant communities with safe banking products. Listed as a Grow Brooklyn referral partner; comparable on financial inclusion mission and serves overlapping target populations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Grow Brooklyn social profiles
Digital presenceGrow Brooklyn compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Grow Brooklyn financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Grow Brooklyn leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Grow Brooklyn funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Grow Brooklyn 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 Grow Brooklyn
What does Grow Brooklyn do?
Grow Brooklyn provides free IRS-certified tax preparation (VITA and SETP), DIY self-file tax support, Financial Capability coaching, foreclosure prevention counseling, estate planning legal services through its Protect Your Treasure program, and HUD-approved homebuyer education to low- and moderate-income Brooklyn residents. Services are delivered at no cost to eligible clients through 13 permanent locations, virtual classes, and community partner sites, with select legal services carrying nominal fees subject to waivers.
Is Grow Brooklyn a public or private company?
Grow Brooklyn is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Grow Brooklyn founded?
Grow Brooklyn was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Grow Brooklyn based?
Grow Brooklyn is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Grow Brooklyn make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Foundation and Corporate Grants are the primary driver. The others are government Contracts.
Who are Grow Brooklyn's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Compass Working Capital, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners, Community Service Society of New York, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation and Women's Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco). Broad incumbents are Prosperity Now and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). United Way of New York City is listed as an others. Lower East Side People's Federal Credit Union is listed as an emerging player.
Does Grow Brooklyn have an API?
No public API is recorded for Grow Brooklyn.