Openplans Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

Our report, hit the brakes: understanding and reducing vmt in nyc our open plans advocacy team released hit the brakes: understanding and reducing vmt in nyc, a report focused on how New York city should track and, ultimately, reduce the number of vehicle miles traveled (vmt). The report examined the role of driving in shaping street safety, public health related to noise and air pollution, and the overall transportation system, and outlined the need for clear strategies to reduce unnecessary car trips. By grounding the conversation in data and analysis, hit the brakes provides a framework for thinking about vmt reduction as a measurable, achievable and critical goal for the city.one proven tactic for reducing vehicle miles traveled is to eliminate cut-through traffic in neighborhoods through a tactic called low traffic neighborhoods (ltns). Open plans introduced the idea of ltns to New York city in 2025, showing how these simple and cost-effective tools at times only requiring merely flipping the direction of traffic or using diverters to allow access for walkers, bikers, and bus riders can have a profound impact on the livability of a residential neighborhood. To date, open plans has presented on ltns to 12 community boards, with many community boards passing resolutions asking the department of transportation to study the effectiveness of ltns in their neighborhoods. Elected officials are also getting in on the action with their letters of support, and the department of transportation is also studying ltns. We also supported outdoor dining through our wildly successful curbside restaurant week with dozens of restaurants participating in the program and encouraging diners to enjoy their outdoor dining structures. As suspected, participation in the citywide outdoor dining program plummeted this year due to the seasonality of the program. Open plans continued its thoughtful and strategic advocacy to advance legislation to fix the mistakes from last year's permanent program and make the program year-round. We also supported over 30 schools to apply for (and reapply for) the school streets program, bringing outdoor education and space for recess and gym class to these schools across the city. Furthermore, we continued helping new yorkers understand how and why to apply to their community boards and, once on their boards, we supported members by connecting them with one another and with the tools they need to feel empowered, supported and successful.streetsblog, New York city's premiere transportation news source, experienced an explosion in growth in the last year after hiring our first dedicated engagement editor to expand our video and social media output. Our coverage shaped what appears in the mainstream press more than ever before as our work has been featured on the daily show, the new yorker, the New York times and this american life. Streetsblog had a powerful year covering New York's transportation and livable streets landscape, tracking the policies, politics, and enforcement actions shaping how the city's streets are used and managed. The newsroom continued to deliver a mix of daily reporting and investigative work while also receiving accolades for its journalism.covered the rollout of congestion pricing, including early impacts on noise, air quality, and vehicle miles traveled, along with public responsepublished investigative reporting on "the moped king"extensive coverage of nypd enforcement actions targeting e-bike ridersreported on corruption within the adams administration tied to transportation and safety decisionscovered mayoral candidates' positions on streets and public space policylaunched streetsblog empire state to expand coverage of albany and upstate livable streets issuesthe video team, led by engagement editor emily lipstein, received a deadline club awardreporter sophia lebowitz and editor gersh kuntzman received a silurians award for their investigation into fake chaplainsstreetfilmsstreetfilms cel

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 88.1%; rating input score 88
• Program expense ratio: 87.6%; rating input score 88
• Fundraising efficiency: $14.84 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• 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: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -0%; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.13; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 31.5%; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 23.2% per year; rating input score 100; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 22.2% per year; rating input score 100; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 30.3% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings