Community Service Society

What Community Service Society does

Community Service Society of New York (CSS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1846 and headquartered at 633 Third Avenue, New York, that serves low-income New Yorkers through a platform of 13 wholly owned program subsidiaries spanning healthcare access, affordable housing, economic security, legal justice, youth opportunities, and senior volunteer mobilization. Its core programs include Community Health Advocates and the Managed Care Consumer Assistance Program (MCCAP), which operate a hub-and-spokes network with 20+ community-based organizations across all five boroughs in 16+ languages; the Independent Consumer Advocacy Network (ICAN) and Independent Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Ombudsprogram (IDDO), which serve as New York State-designated ombudsmen; the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP); Keep New York Covered (KNYC), a navigator network that achieved over 85,000 enrollments; the Next Door Project for criminal-record assistance; the Benefits Plus Learning Center, an online manual covering 80+ government benefit programs; and the AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), the first and largest of its kind nationally with nearly 3,000 volunteers annually. The Unheard Third, an annual public-opinion survey of low-income NYC households run since 2002 in partnership with Lake Research Partners, provides the research backbone for the organization's #EndMedicalDebt campaign, which has enacted eight state laws since 2019 and contributed to a 99.8% decline in hospital medical-debt lawsuits.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded rather than commercial. Revenue is derived from federal, state, and city government contracts (including AmeriCorps Seniors funding for RSVP, Medicaid/ACA enrollment assistance, and statewide ombudsman contracts), foundation grants, corporate contributions, and individual donations (EIN 13-5562202); volunteer services function as significant in-kind contribution. All consumer-facing services — MCCAP, ICAN, EDCAP, CHA, Next Door Project, Benefits Plus — are free and confidential, with a self-serve fee model only for the institutional B2B training subscription on Benefits Plus. CSS reaches beneficiaries through a multi-channel distribution network combining live toll-free helplines (MCCAP 1-888-614-5400, ICAN 844-614-8800, IDDO 800-762-9290), in-person appointments at 50+ ICAN sites, CBO referrals, and a network of 250+ RSVP partner organizations across NYC.

Name

Community Service Society

Legal name

Community Service Society of New York

Website

https://cssny.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1846

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Community Service Society of New York is a 179-year-old nonprofit that runs 13 programs — including health-insurance navigation, student-debt counseling, Medicaid and developmental-disabilities ombudsman services, criminal-record expungement, and senior volunteer mobilization — to advance economic security and healthcare access for low-income New Yorkers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services Nonprofit

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Social services nonprofit
• Health insurance navigation
• Student debt counseling
• Benefits enrollment assistance
• Community advocacy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: CSS operates as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 13-5562202) relying on individual donations, corporate contributions, and foundation grants to fund operations and programs
2. Government Grants and Contracts: CSS receives federal, state, and city government funding including grants for KNYC ($2.5 million project supporting 36 organizations), Medicaid/ACA enrollment assistance, and ombudsman programs funded by the State of New York
3. Volunteer Services (In-Kind): Nearly 3,000 volunteers annually contribute services through RSVP program, with supplemental accident insurance coverage and partial travel reimbursement provided to volunteers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Community Service Society of New York is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free, direct-service programs and advocacy to low-income New Yorkers across healthcare coverage navigation, public benefits enrollment, student debt counseling, criminal record assistance, senior volunteer mobilization, and developmental disabilities ombudsman support. Programs are delivered via live helplines, an online searchable benefits manual (Benefits Plus Online), in-person counseling through a hub-and-spokes CBO network, and volunteer placements at over 250 partner agencies.

Product overview

The Community Service Society of New York is a 179-year-old nonprofit organization operating as a platform of social service programs focused on improving the lives of low-income New Yorkers. The organization offers multiple interconnected programs including the Benefits Plus Learning Center (an online manual on 80+ government benefit programs), Community Health Advocates, EDCAP (student loan assistance), ICAN (Medicaid ombudsman), MCCAP (managed care assistance), Keep New York Covered (insurance enrollment), the Next Door Project (criminal records assistance), IDDO (developmental disabilities ombudsman), RSVP (senior volunteer program), The Unheard Third research initiative, and the End Medical Debt advocacy campaign. These programs are designed to address issues of health care access, economic security, affordable housing, legal justice, youth opportunities, and workforce development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Benefits Plus Learning Center (BPLC) Comprehensive, searchable online manual and training program covering over 80 government benefit programs, designed to educate social service and legal professionals on public benefit and housing programs. Delivered through the bplc.cssny.org platform with subscription options, scheduled trainings, and group training rates.
• Managed Care Consumer Assistance Program (MCCAP) Helps NYC residents with health care access and insurance needs through a hub-and-spokes network of 20 community-based organizations providing services in 26 locations across all five boroughs in 16+ languages. Reached via live helpline 1-888-614-5400. Has served 21,000 clients since 2020 with a 90% success rate.
• Independent Consumer Advocacy Network (ICAN) The New York State Ombudsprogram for people with Medicaid who need long-term care or behavioral health services, providing private one-on-one counseling through a toll-free helpline (844-614-8800), in-person appointments at 50 meeting sites statewide, home visits, and Live Chat.
• Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP) Empowers borrowers with free, expert guidance to help New Yorkers understand student loan options, avoid predatory practices, and reduce or eliminate their debt. In 2024-25, EDCAP reached over 6.9 million New Yorkers through outreach, educated over 16,000 people in workshops, conducted over 7,000 counseling sessions, and helped borrowers save over $10 million.
• Community Health Advocates (CHA) Helps New Yorkers navigate the complex health care system by providing individual assistance through a free live-answered helpline and education on patient rights and billing issues.
• Keep New York Covered (KNYC) A network of Navigator and FE-ABD enrollment agencies conducting marketing and outreach to help consumers obtain and retain health insurance, especially following the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. The $2.5 million project supports 36 organizations and achieved over 85,000 enrollments at $30 per person (3,850% ROI).
• Next Door Project Helps low-income New Yorkers request and understand their criminal records, shrink criminal records by fixing mistakes, seal eligible cases, and address open warrants. Operates through monthly group intake sessions at CSS office (September-June) and on-site services at agencies throughout NYC.
• Independent Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Ombudsprogram (IDDO) An independent ombudsman program authorized under New York State Mental Hygiene Law to assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families navigate OPWDD programs and services, accessed via helpline 800-762-9290.
• AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Volunteer program matching adults aged 55+ with volunteer opportunities at NYC nonprofit organizations and licensed health care facilities. Nearly 3,000 volunteers annually serve at hundreds of community-based agencies; 40,000 meals served/delivered annually, 5,000 clients helped annually through ACES and Financial Coaching, and 100 children and young adults mentored annually through MentorCHIP and MentorUp.
• The Unheard Third Survey Program Groundbreaking annual public opinion survey of low-income New Yorkers, conducted since 2002 in partnership with Lake Research Partners, used to elevate concerns of low-income residents in public policy debates and inform CSS services and advocacy.
• End Medical Debt Campaign Advocacy campaign focused on stopping unfair billing practices and protecting patients, which has helped enact eight laws since 2019 that stopped nearly all NY hospitals from suing patients for medical debt and wiped $214-$337 million off consumer credit reports.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000 meals served/delivered annually through volunteer programs
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

40 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Academy of Medical and Public Health Services – Raising Health PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving Brooklyn. Part of hub-and-spokes model where CSS is hub and CBOs serve as spokes providing in-person assistance.
• Arab-American Family Support CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving all five boroughs and Westchester. Also a KNYC partner serving Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Richmond, Queens, Westchester.
• Make The Road New YorkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP and KNYC partner serving Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. Provides services in multiple languages to immigrant communities.
• Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New YorkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP partner serving Manhattan and Queens. KNYC partner serving Bronx, Kings, New York, Richmond, Queens.
• Urban Health PlancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens. Community health center providing services to underserved populations.
• Northern Manhattan Improvement CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving Manhattan. Provides community-based assistance with health coverage navigation.
• Council of Peoples OrganizationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving Brooklyn. KNYC partner serving Bronx, Kings, New York, Richmond, Queens.
• South Asian Council for Social ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP and ICAN network partner serving Queens. KNYC partner serving Bronx, Kings, New York, Richmond, Queens, Nassau.
• LGBT NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving Queens. Provides culturally-specific services to LGBTQ+ communities.
• Mixteca OrganizationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving Brooklyn. Provides services to Latinx and Indigenous communities.
• Medicare Rights CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICAN network partner providing expert health counseling for Medicare-related issues statewide.
• Rising GroundcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICAN network partner providing advocacy and education services.
• Legal Services of the Hudson ValleycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICAN network partner providing free civil legal services in the Hudson Valley region.
• Center for Independence of the Disabled, NYcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICAN network partner focused on disability rights and independent living.
• Lake Research PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading national polling firm collaborating with CSS on 'The Unheard Third' survey since 2002 - the first regular public opinion poll of low-income households in the nation.
• Montefiore Medical Center - Community Health Worker InstitutecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving Bronx. CHWI provides community health worker services.
• Women's Housing and Economic Development CorpcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving Bronx. Provides housing and economic development services.
• Bronx Health LinkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving the Bronx exclusively.
• Community Health Center of RichmondcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving Staten Island.
• Jewish Community Center of Staten IslandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving Staten Island.
• Jewish Community Center of Rockaway PeninsulacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving Queens.
• Polonians Organized to Minister to Our CommunitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving Queens. Provides services to Polish community.
• Sapna NYCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving the Bronx. Provides culturally-specific services.
• Urban Justice CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving Manhattan. Provides legal and advocacy services.
• Holy Apostles Soup KitchencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRSVP volunteer site serving 1,000 hungry and homeless New Yorkers daily. One of hundreds of partner sites for RSVP volunteers.
• Meals on WheelscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRSVP volunteer site delivering 40,000 meals annually through community partners.
• Northern Manhattan Perinatal PartnershipcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving Manhattan. Focuses on perinatal health services.
• Community Service Corps of Retired ExecutivesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorService Corps of Retired Executives partners with RSVP for volunteer assignments supporting business development.
• Museum for Maritime Navigation and CommunicationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization for RSVP volunteer assignments.
• Bronx Health LinkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCCAP CBO partner serving Bronx.
• Action for Older PersonscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICAN network partner serving older adults with advocacy and education.
• Healthy Capital District InitiativecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICAN network partner serving the Capital District region.
• Legal Assistance of Western New YorkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICAN network partner providing free civil legal services in Western New York.
• Living Independently is For Everyone at RCILcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICAN network partner focused on independent living for people with disabilities.
• New York Legal Assistance GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICAN network partner providing free legal services.
• Southern Adirondack Independent LivingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICAN network partner serving Southern Adirondack region.
• Westchester Disabled On the MovecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICAN network partner serving Westchester County.
• Western New York Independent LivingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICAN network partner serving Western New York region.
• South Asian Council for Social ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICAN network partner serving South Asian communities statewide.
• Korean Community ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICAN network partner serving Korean communities statewide.

Scale indicators25 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Council on Aging: National nonprofit focused on improving the lives of older adults through benefits access, advocacy, and evidence-based programs. Comparable to CSS's RSVP and senior-focused navigation work, but operating at national scale rather than NYC-only.
• Children's Defense Fund: National child poverty and family-support advocacy organization. Comparable to CSS's youth, workforce, and economic-security portfolios but operating federally rather than at a single-state level.

Direct peers

• New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG): Large NYC nonprofit providing free civil legal services to low-income New Yorkers, including health, housing, and consumer issues. Highly comparable to CSS's Next Door Project and benefits-navigation programs and a frequent co-partner in CSS's service networks.
• Legal Services NYC: Citywide civil legal aid provider serving low-income NYC residents. Comparable to CSS's Next Door Project and benefits work, and a natural peer in advocacy for housing and economic security.
• Center for Independence of the Disabled, NY (CIDNY): NY disability rights and independent living organization. Listed as an ICAN network partner alongside CSS, making it a directly overlapping peer in disability advocacy and benefits navigation.
• Urban Justice Center: NYC nonprofit providing legal and advocacy services across homelessness, health, workers' rights, and immigration. Already an MCCAP CBO partner of CSS and a closely aligned peer in poverty-law advocacy.
• Medicare Rights Center: NY-based nonprofit offering Medicare counseling and advocacy. Already an ICAN network partner of CSS, making it a directly overlapping peer in health-insurance navigation and consumer advocacy for older adults.
• Arab American Family Support Center: NYC nonprofit serving immigrant and Arab-American communities with social, educational, and health services. Listed as both an MCCAP and KNYC partner of CSS, with an overlapping hub-and-spokes delivery model.
• Make the Road New York: NYC-based immigrant and working-class community organization providing legal, health, education, and workforce services. Active MCCAP and KNYC partner of CSS; directly comparable in member-driven social services model.

Regional players

• Coalition for the Homeless: NYC-based advocacy and direct-service nonprofit fighting homelessness through shelter, housing, and policy work. Closely aligned with CSS's affordable-housing advocacy and benefits-navigation programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BPLCNYC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups/8590979/profile
• Instagraminstagram.com/bplcnyc
• Xx.com/CSSNYorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Community Service Society