Emergent Works Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
851197743
IRS 990 coverage
2023–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
New York, NY, USA
Phone
3473726653
Rating
78
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Human Services N.E.C.

Reported finances

Revenue
$424,637
Expenses
$790,983
Assets
$54,314
Liabilities
$2,253

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

5 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • ROSALIND ZAVRAS (PRESIDENT & TREASURER)
  • KENNITH ARMSTEAD (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)

Highest reported compensation

  • KENNITH ARMSTEAD (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $98,289 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Emergent works inc. (ew) is bridging the gap between tech-forward careers and historically underserved communities impacted by mass incarceration by offering free access to technology, skills-based training, employment opportunities, and the resources needed to achieve high-paying tech-forward careers. In addition to our technical education programs, ew is also committed to creating tech solutions that serve organizations working to end mass incarceration.

What it reported doing in 2024

Emergent works' year-long t.rap (technology, rhythm, and passion) program equips justice-impacted youth and adults with digital, creative, and career development skills to achieve sustainable employment and economic stability. The program operates through two six-month learning cohorts followed by six months of alumni engagement and mentorship.t.rap serves both youth (ages 1624) and adults (25+), providing an integrated model that combines technical education, creative expression, professional readiness, and social-emotional learning. Participants complete project-based digital literacy training, build websites and professional portfolios, engage in mentorship and wellness sessions, and attend career readiness workshops.for youth, the program blends music production and digital storytelling, helping participants create an original album and build personal brands to market their work. Adult participants focus on website development, design fundamentals, and digital tools to enhance employability and entrepreneurship. Both tracks culminate in professional showcases, certifications, and continued alumni support focused on job placement, income growth, and leadership development.together, these activities build digital fluency, confidence, and economic opportunity, advancing emergent works' mission to bridge the gap between tech-forward careers and communities impacted by incarceration.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 89% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 92% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. A relatively small share of total spending goes to programs and fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 76
  • Transparency & Controls: 94
  • Accountability: 95
  • Sustainability: 10
  • Growth: 0

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Program expense ratio: 54.7%; rating input score 55
  • Fundraising efficiency: $5.03 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -86.3%; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.07; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.04; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 12.4%; rating input score 27; 27th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: -106.9% per year; rating input score 0; 0th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: -139% per year; rating input score 0; 0th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: -155.4% per year; rating input score 0; 0th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 100% of revenue deployed · 54.7% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 4 of 4 board members independent · 7 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $433K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $98K · 5 people listed
  • Consistency: 30 of 30 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors and grants
  • Filing history: 2 filing years from 2023 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.
  • Staff and benefit plans: Retirement and health plans the organization files with the Department of Labor, and the people in them.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Program expense ratio scored 55/100.
  • High — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 22/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 3/100.
  • High — Growth: Program expense growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Growth: Revenue growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 5/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: Independent financial-statement audit not reported.
  • High — Growth: Asset growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 27/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 34/100.