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DESIGN FOR AMERICA INC

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Tax-exempt status may be revoked

DESIGN FOR AMERICA INC

EIN 87-4502997 · Educational Services (B90)

What they do

DESIGN for AMERICA INC. FULFILLS ITS MISSION BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL TRAINING to EQUIP COLLEGE and UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WITH INNOVATIVE SKILLS to ALLOW THEN to TACKLE SOCIAL CHALLENGES ON CAMPUS and BEYOND. IT DELIVERS EDUCATION and TRAINING THROUGH A SIX-STAGE DESIGN PROCESS. FOLLOWING THE TRAINING, STUDENTS RECEIVE CONTINUED SUPPORT WITH REMOTE COACHING and ADVICE AS THEY COMPLETE COMMUNITY PROJECTS. STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE A LAUNCH PROCESS to QUALIFY AS A DESIGN for AMERICA STUDIO. THE LAUNCH PROCESS INCLUDES STUDENTS SHARING THEIR SPECIFIC INTEREST WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS NATIONAL OFFICE THROUGH AN INTAKE FORM, RECRUITING OTHER STUDENTS for THE STUDIO, IDENTIFYING AN ON-CAMPUS FACULTY ADVISOR, LEARNING THE DESIGN for AMERICA PROCESS THROUGH EDUCATION and TRAINING, and COMPLETING A COMMUNITY PROJECT.

Before you give

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This record may have an IRS status problem. Do not give until you verify it.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkThere may be a problem with its nonprofit status. Check before giving.

Money report from 2023The report may be old. Ask for a newer one.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders7 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

56.09%of revenue went to mission work71.2% of expenses · Program services
3.81%of revenue went to fundraising4.8% of expenses
$78.82spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.
18.93%of revenue went to management and office costs24.0% of expenses
$0.04in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.
100.0%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

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Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $246,399 for SHARON KLOTS (EXECUTIVE DI). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2023

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$1,937,110
Mission workProgram services$1,086,42956.09% of revenue71.2% of expenses
ManagementOffice and general costs$366,70118.93% of revenue24.0% of expenses
FundraisingAsking for donations$73,7813.81% of revenue4.8% of expenses
Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$410,19921.18% of revenueShown in gray on the chart
Total expenses$1,526,91178.82% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Money in and money out

Revenue$1,937,110
Expenses$1,526,911
Annual surplus $410,199 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$1,086,429 · 71.2% of expenses
Management and office costs$366,701 · 24.0% of expenses
Fundraising$73,781 · 4.8% of expenses
See all reported dollar amounts
Revenue$1,937,110
Expenses$1,526,911
Assets$67,777
Contributions$1,937,110
Mission work (program services)$1,086,429
Fundraising$73,781
Management and general$366,701
People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2023

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation
SHARON KLOTSEXECUTIVE DI · 40 hrs/week $246,399Base $212,237 · Other $34,162

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (7)

SHARON KLOTSEXECUTIVE DI

CHRIS KASABACHPRESIDENT

JEANNE C OLIVERCO-CHAIR

JOHN N IRWIN IIICO-CHAIR

KRISTIN WISNEWSKIMEMBER

LIZ GERBER PHDMEMBER/FOUND

STUART H WATSONTREASURER/SE

About this charity

Recognized since
January 2026
Location
233 BROADWAY 27TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10279
County
New York
In care of
CHRIS KASABACH
Primary officer
CHRIS KASABACH, PRESIDENT

How to reach them

Filing and classification

Latest tax year
2023
Tax period began
June 1, 2023
Return type
990
Tax preparer
REID TAX & ADVISORY SERVICES LLC
NTEE classification
Educational Services (B90)
IRS tax category
Educational Services
Revocation date
October 15, 2024

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About this report: Information comes from public nonprofit records and may show the latest filing available.

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