Start Small Think Big INC FY2020 filing

Tax-deductible

New York, NY501(c)(3)Human ServicesEIN 27-1821066Revenue $4.0M in FY2020

On file with the IRSstartsmallthinkbig.org132 W 31st Street, 10001-3406 · New York, NYTax-exempt since Nov 2010Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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The Organization helps low income individuals build thriving businesses in New York City's most underserved communities in order to accumulate assets, increase their personal financial security and contribute to the economy.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
92¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$117K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $398K a year · 9% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
92%
of spending
Looks good: 92% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$117K
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
10 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 10.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $5K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$272K
8% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 8% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
20
of 21 voting members
Looks good: 20 of 21 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.0M
Spent
$2.7M
To programs
92%
Net assets
$3.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$4.0M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$4.0M
FY2021$5.5M
FY2022$5.2M
FY2023$3.6M
FY2024$3.6M
Expenses
$2.7M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.7M
FY2021$3.2M
FY2022$4.8M
FY2023$5.2M
FY2024$4.0M
Net assets
$3.1M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$3.1M
FY2021$5.4M
FY2022$5.8M
FY2023$4.2M
FY2024$3.8M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Nov 2010.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

92 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 92% · $2.5M Management & general 4% · $118K Fundraising 4% · $100K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

21 people listed on the 990; $117K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$117,034Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Josephine Panzera’s $216K as CFO/ Executive Director (eff. Feb 2024) is at the 92nd percentile of top reported officer pay among 3868 $1–10M human services nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Josephine Panzera$216,132$139,382$121,767$104,810—
Jennifer Dasilva—$110,674$188,400$135,000$117,034
Sara Schlossberg$162,189$92,330———
Rebecca Engle—$155,433$140,791$132,912—
Niya Branham$140,302$114,921———
Shiri Wolf$132,674$117,434———
Ian Brown$125,082$89,705———
Marley Spooner—$111,174———

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Helps low-income entrepreneurs in underserved communities build thriving businesses by providing free financial, marketing, and legal support to increase their financial security.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $2.5M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

To help low income individuals build thriving businesses in the underserved communities of NYC and provide access to professional and financial expertise through the small business legal and financial services programs.

$1.6Mprogram expense
02

The emergency relief fund provides immediate cash relief to active clients (all of whom have undergone the Organization's stringent eligibility confirmation process) to meet a variety of business and/or personal needs, including for basic necessities and living expenses.

$507Kprogram expense
03

In response to the pressing challenges that COVID created for its clients, the Organization launched a Rapid Response Program to meet the increased need for Start Small help. This highly coordinated effort was specifically designed to help small businesses owned by people of color, women, and immigrants survive and recover from the…

$387Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$5K
Grants paid · 97 grants · $1.4M · 2020–2023
Unitemized GrantFY2023$50,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$50,000
Fleabags LLCFY2023$25,000
Mj Chocolatier LLCFY2023$25,000
Westxeast CoFY2023$25,000
Beija-Flor Naturals LLCFY2023$25,000
Kids Play Zone LLCFY2023$25,000
Dawn Demry the Little Hot Dog Wagon LLCFY2023$25,000
Rapid Rythms Rewards LLC DBA Sofia and Grace Cookie Co LLCFY2023$25,000
Onyemaechi Aharanwa Pinme 1913FY2023$25,000
Fleabags LLCFY2023$25,000
Mj Chocolatier LLCFY2023$25,000
Westxeast CoFY2023$25,000
Beija-Flor Naturals LLCFY2023$25,000
Kids Play Zone LLCFY2023$25,000
Dawn Demry the Little Hot Dog Wagon LLCFY2023$25,000
Rapid Rythms Rewards LLC DBA Sofia and Grace Cookie Co LLCFY2023$25,000
Onyemaechi Aharanwa Pinme 1913FY2023$25,000
See all 97 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$3K
Money outPt IX
$2.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.5M
Managementcol C$118K
Fundraisingcol D$100K
Owns and owesPt X
$3.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.2M
Total assetsLn 16$3.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$272K
PeoplePt VI, VII
21
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a21
IndependentVI 1b20
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.0M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$2K
Other incomeLn 4–11$3K
Total revenueLn 12$4.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$14K
Total assetsLn 16$3.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$272K
Net assetsLn 32$3.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 525
VolunteersI 61,311
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.1M$2.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6K$14K
Total assetsLn 16$1.9M$3.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$25K$272K
Net assetsLn 32$1.8M$3.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$507K$507K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$125K$94K$6K$25K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.2M$1.2M$28K$20K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$108K$100K$3K$5K
Payroll taxesLn 10$112K$105K$3K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$19K$0$19K$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$45K$45K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$368K$328K$40K$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$15K$14K$200$0
Office expensesLn 13$20K$19K$501$649
Information technologyLn 14$33K$32K$53$1K
OccupancyLn 16$53K$45K$8K$0
TravelLn 17$607$572$15$20
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$3K$3K$79$102
InsuranceLn 23$25K$22K$4K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$21K$14K$6K$182
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.7M$2.5M$118K$100K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $3.6M$4.0M−$416K$3.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $3.6M$5.2M−$1.6M$4.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $5.2M$4.8M$407K$5.8M 990 PDF
FY2021 $5.5M$3.2M$2.3M$5.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $4.0M$2.7M$1.3M$3.1M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,996,728 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,244,771$3,993,733
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $20,094$2,995
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,264,865$3,996,728
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$507,145
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $979,785$1,591,305
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$45,000
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $251,068$557,444
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,230,853$2,700,894
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,034,012$1,295,834
Part VI · Governance 20 of 21 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body21
VI-1b Independent voting members20
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $3,996,728 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,993,733
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$2,108
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,993,733
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $2,995 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$2,995
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,995 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$3,996,728
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,700,894 across 16 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $507,145$507,145
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $93,750 · Management $6,250 · Fundraising $25,000$125,000
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,198,189 · Management $28,293 · Fundraising $19,733$1,246,215
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $100,468 · Management $2,808 · Fundraising $4,906$108,182
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $105,028 · Management $3,029 · Fundraising $3,851$111,908
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $19,364 · Fundraising $0$19,364
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $45,000$45,000
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $328,315 · Management $39,634 · Fundraising $0$367,949
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $14,445 · Management $200 · Fundraising $0$14,645
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $18,759 · Management $501 · Fundraising $649$19,909
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $32,150 · Management $53 · Fundraising $1,038$33,241
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $44,870 · Management $7,920 · Fundraising $0$52,790
IX-17 TravelPrograms $572 · Management $15 · Fundraising $20$607
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $2,950 · Management $79 · Fundraising $102$3,131
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $21,562 · Management $3,658 · Fundraising $0$25,220
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $13,965 · Management $6,441 · Fundraising $182$20,588
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,482,168 · Management $118,245 · Fundraising $100,481$2,700,894
Part X · Balance sheet $3,404,388 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,127,830$2,242,808
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $710,148$1,143,936
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $5,225$1,319
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $6,247$13,983
X-11 Publicly traded securities$2,342
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,861,675$3,404,388
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $25,493$86,508
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payable$185,630
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $25,493$272,138
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $650,682$2,182,250
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,185,500$950,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,836,182$3,132,250
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,861,675$3,404,388
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,132,250 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,996,728
XI-2 Total expenses$2,700,894
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,295,834
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,836,182
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$234
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,132,250

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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