WAYS TO GIVE

The Community Service Society (CSS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization powered by the generosity of caring individuals like you. Donors support our tireless work on behalf of poor and low-income New Yorkers. There are a variety of ways you can make a tax-deductible contribution in support of our mission and no goods or services are given in exchange for your gift unless explicitly noted. Our tax identification number is 13-5562202. Contact our donations team for assistance.

Donate securely by Check or Credit Card in the Mail: Complete our printable donation form and mail the form and your check to our secure donation lockbox: Community Service Society of New York, PO Box 279, Allenwood, N.J. 08720

Make a secure Online Gift: Please use our secure online donation portal to make a tax-deductible gift and take immediate action for New Yorkers who rely on our various programs.

Be a Sustainer: You can give effortlessly and monthly online to demonstrate your steadfast and sustaining commitment to eradicating poverty in New York.

Make a DAF Gift: Send a contribution from your Donor Advised Fund to our secure donation lockbox: Community Service Society of New York, PO Box 279, Allenwood, N.J. 08720. Have your advisor contact our donations team for assistance.

Legacy Giving and Bequests: You can make a lasting difference in the lives of New York's neediest residents by leaving a bequest to the Community Service Society in your will or through a trust or life insurance gift. Contact our donations team to speak with our staff team about this option.

Make a Stock or Securities Gift: A gift of stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, and other securities such as real estate or artwork will go a long way to help support the important work of the Community Service Society and may provide you with significant tax advantages. Contact our donations team for assistance.

Maximize Your Contribution with a Matching Gift: Many companies offer matching gift programs that can double or triple the impact of your gift. Check with your personnel office to see if your company matches charitable contributions. Click here for a searchable database of matching gift companies.

Contact Us

For more information on all of the above options or for assistance with making your gift please contact our donations team - we are happy to help you.

DONOR IMPACT REPORT

Thank you for supporting the Community Service Society of New York. We hope you will continue to be inspired by CSS's long, collective legacy of working together to power a more equitable New York. Through city, state, and federal administrations on both sides of the aisle, CSS has been there for the people of New York for 180 years and plans to be there for at least 180 more!

As always, our work begins by listening to the voices of the constituents we serve. Our most recent annual Unheard Third Survey finds that general economic insecurity, debt burdens, access to affordable housing, and access to affordable healthcare were again the top priorities for most New Yorkers in 2024, regardless of income level. In conjunction with increasing costs associated with food, transportation, and childcare, the cost of living in New York State has continued to be astronomical. Your commitment to CSS is more important than ever as it powers the research, services, and advocacy efforts that work to make our city and state a place where we all can not only survive but thrive.  

With your support, in 2024 CSS programs and services provided more than $106 million in direct financial benefit to New Yorkers! Additionally, following months of CSS advocacy, the City’s Adopted Budget for 2024-25 expanded the eligibility for Fair Fares, from 100 to 145 percent of the FPL, opening the program up to an estimated 200,000 additional working age New York City residents. Over 350,000 New Yorkers are enrolled in the discount fare program.  

Donors like you help CSS advocate for increased funding for public and affordable housing, strengthen opportunities for public housing residents, and connect families to housing resources and support. In 2024 we continued to empower public housing residents through education and advocacy to make informed decisions about their future housing choices.

In November 2024 New York's Clean Slate Act came into effect. State criminal records are now automatically sealed under certain background checks for almost 2.5 million New Yorkers. The law states misdemeanors get sealed three years after sentencing or release and felonies after eight years. Individuals who have paid their debt to society, stayed out of the criminal justice system, and are looking for a fresh start will benefit from this landmark legislation. CSS was a member of the steering committee leading a coalition of social justice and economic justice advocates, as well as business leaders, faith-based leaders and unions, who advocated for passage of Clean Slate. 

CSS continues to advocate for the passage of the “Jury of Our Peers” Act. Currently, individuals with a felony conviction are permanently stripped of a basic right of citizenship – to serve on a jury - which has the very real effect of reducing jury diversity. The Jury of Our Peers Act will strengthen our democracy and public confidence in our legal system by restoring the right to serve on a jury upon release from incarceration.

Donors like you help New Yorkers get, keep, and use health coverage. Community Health Advocates (CHA) helps New Yorkers navigate the complex healthcare system by providing individual assistance, outreach, and education to communities throughout New York State. Since 2010, CHA has educated over 525,000 New Yorkers on their health care rights and health insurance options and has saved consumers more than $216 million in health-related costs. 

Donors like you help New Yorkers protect their finances from predatory medical debt practices. Our successful statewide “EndMedicalDebt” campaign has been a catalyst for advancing legislation protecting consumers from predatory medical debt collection practices, including prohibiting the placing of liens on homes and the garnishing wages in medical debt cases as well as banning the reporting of medical debt to credit reporting agencies 

Donors like you empower New Yorkers to take control of their student loan debt. Our EDCAP (Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program) program's extensive outreach and educational campaigns have reached more than 9 million New Yorkers and delivered over $31 million in savings to borrowers through federal relief, loan forgiveness and discharge programs significantly reducing their financial burdens; and we recently received funding to expand the model nationally.  

Donors like you mobilize community volunteers. In 2024, 1200 volunteers in RSVP, Retired, and Senior Volunteer Program provided over 180,000 hours of service to 170 community partner organizations at a value of $2.8 million to New York City. Placements included emergency food, adult education, companionship, and health care programs. RSVP recruits, trains, and places volunteers at community-based organizations throughout the five boroughs of New York City and will continue to do so throughout 2025 and beyond. 

We hope that this summary of your funding in action inspires you to continue to support CSS in 2025. As you can see, your contributions do make a difference! 

DONOR ADVISED FUND GIVING

If you have a donor-advised fund or other charitable giving account, you can grant a one-time or recurring grant to: Community Service Society of New York.

Our tax identification number is 13-5562202.

Mail your DAF check to our secure donation lockbox: Community Service Society of New York, PO Box 279, Allenwood, N.J. 08720

Please ask your DAF to share your name and contact information in your grant letter so we may recognize your gift and send you updates!

Contact Us
For more information on making your gift please contact our donations team - we are happy to help you.

LEGACY GIVING

Create a legacy for NYC by making a planned gift to the Community Service Society of NY. In addition to supporting the Community Service Society, planned gifts offer a range of financial and tax benefits while advancing your philanthropic interests. Contact the Development Department at donorinquiry(at)cssny.org to discuss how your legacy can support NYC's most vulnerable families.

Want to learn more? Download our CSS Legacy Circle brochure, which outlines many options for estate giving.

Legacy Planning Options

Bequests. Through a bequest, you can designate CSS a specific gift amount or a percentage of your estate that will help ensure our success in the long term.  Bequest instructions may be sent to: The Community Service Society, 633 Third Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10017, Attn: Bequest. You may use the following language to make a bequest to CSS:

“I bequeath to the Community Service Society of New York (tax ID number 13-5562202), a nonprofit corporation of the State of New York, having its principal offices at 633 3rd Avenue, 10th Floor,  New York, NY 10010, the sum of $______ to be used by said corporation for its general purpose.”

Life insurance gifts can be made by making the Community Service Society the beneficiary or partial beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

Retirement plan gifts can be made by making the Community Service Society the beneficiary or partial beneficiary of a retirement plan. 

Charitable remainder trusts offer an opportunity to place an asset or assets in a trust from which you or another beneficiary can receive lifelong income, with the Community Service Society receiving the remaining asset or assets afterward.

Kindly Notify CSS of a Planned Gift

If you have remembered CSS in your estate planning, please let us know so we may best accommodate your wishes.  Complete and return our non-binding Bequest Intention Form or contact our Development Team for a confidential, obligation-free conversation to discuss your plan and learn more about how CSS will honor your legacy.

The Community Service Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization designated by the Internal Revenue Code. Our tax identification number is 13-5562202.

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Gifts of Stock and Securities

A donation of appreciated securities (stock, bonds, mutual fund shares, etc.) is a powerful—and tax-wise way—to support the Community Service Society of New York (CSS). A gift of appreciated securities might provide tax advantages far more significant than a gift of cash. Please consult your financial advisor or accountant to determine the best way to make your gift.

Please contact Jorja Watts, BNY Mellon Capital Markets at 412.234.0439 to coordinate the secure delivery of this contribution.

DTC Eligible Securities
DTC# 0443
Pershing, LLC
For Credit to account #:  N7M100368
Client account name: Community Service Society of NY

Fed Eligible Securities
ABA# 021-000-018
Bank of NY/Pershing
For Credit to account #:  N7M100368
Client account name: Community Service Society of NY

Physical Securities
Mail securities and required documents to:

BNY Mellon Capital Markets LLC.
500 Grant Street, Suite 0475
Pittsburgh, PA 15258
Attn: Jorja Watts

If the security is still in the donor's name a letter of authorization is needed from the donor giving up ownership of the security.

Gifts of Mutual Funds

Please contact Jorja Watts, BNY Mellon Capital Markets at 412.234.0439 to coordinate the delivery of this contribution.
 

The Community Service Society of New York is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization designated by the Internal Revenue Code. Our tax identification number is 13-5562202.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at An Evening for Equity.

We’re deeply grateful to everyone who joined us to celebrate the Community Service Society of New York and support for our work. Your presence, energy, and generosity made this event truly special.

Thanks to the continued support of our community, CSS will continue fighting for a more equitable New York.

Take a look back at some of the evening’s highlights:

• Take a look at the photo album
• View the digital journal
• Watch our video on the success of our End Medical Debt campaign

To support CSS's work and events like this, contact [email protected].

We are proud to honor New York State Senator Liz Krueger for her unwavering dedication to equity and justice, and her commitment to CSS’s mission of powering a more equitable New York.

We are also thrilled to welcome Marcia Kramer, CBS New York Chief Political Correspondent and Emmy Award-winning journalist, as our emcee for the evening.

2025 An Evening for Equity Sponsors: