Ali Forney Center
Lobbying client
Founded in 2002, the Ali Forney Center is the largest U.S. organization providing housing and services for homeless LGBTQ youth, operating about 15 residential sites across Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan with roughly 162 beds a night plus a 24-hour drop-in center, serving about 2,000 young people annually. It has filed 21 disclosures since 2024, lobbying 16 council members through Actum II, James F. Capalino & Associates, and Matthew T. McMorrow. Its lobbying has focused on City Council discretionary funding, LGBTQ rights legislation, and help identifying Brooklyn properties for youth housing, and it holds active city contracts totaling about $22.6 million.
- Council members lobbied
- 16
- Filings (since 2024)
- 21
- Lobbying compensation (since 2024)
- $288,625
- Industry (per city contracts)
- Human Services
- City contracts (active)
- $22,591,915 · 8 contracts
- Awarded all-time
- $101,891,724 · 76 since 2008, incl. expired
- Paid to date
- $82,139,041
- Won without a fresh bid
- 73% of contract value · $74,522,146 · 67 contracts
- Discretionary funding (FY2009-FY2027)
- $10,659,282 · 114 awards
- Funding history
- Funded 18 years (FY2009–FY2027), including each of the last 12
- Top officer pay (FY2024)
- $260,725 · Zachary Bar Cohen, Deputy Executive Director of Devt
- Based in
- New York, NY
Lobbied these council members
- Pierina Ana Sanchez Council Member, District 14 (Bronx)
- Justin E. Sanchez Council Member, District 17 (Bronx)
- Christopher Marte Council Member, District 1 (Manhattan)
- Tiffany L. Cabán Council Member, District 22 (Queens)
- Julie Won Council Member, District 26 (Queens)
- Lynn C. Schulman Council Member, District 29 (Queens)
- Harvey D. Epstein Council Member, District 2 (Manhattan)
- Crystal Hudson Council Member, District 35 (Brooklyn)
- Chi A. Ossé Council Member, District 36 (Brooklyn)
- Shahana K. Hanif Council Member, District 39 (Brooklyn)
- Julie Menin Council Member, District 5 (Manhattan)
- Shaun Abreu Council Member, District 7 (Manhattan)
- Yusef Salaam Council Member, District 9 (Manhattan)
Represented by lobbyist firms
- Actum II, LLC Lobbyist firm
- James F. Capalino & Associates, Inc. Lobbyist firm
- Matthew T. McMorrow Lobbyist firm
Holds contracts at
- Department of Design and Construction City agency
- Department of Youth and Community Development City agency
Funded by these agencies
- Department of Youth and Community Development City agency
Lobbied former members
Members who have since left their seat
- Adrienne Adams
- Erik Bottcher
- Francisco P. Moya
What they lobbied on
subjects from their filings
- Budget - Capalino will assist Ali Forney with relationship building
- Budget - City Council discretionary funding to support Ali Forney Center programs and services.
- Budget - Funding related to LGBTQ Rights
- Budget - Inquiry to Brooklyn Borough President's Office regarding identifying potential properties in the borough for acquisition to house homeless youth.
- Budget - Secure program Funds
- Budget - legislation and Funding re LGBTQ+ programs and issues
City contracts
Registered city contracts, largest first by current contract value (not amount spent): running now, then registered to start later, then ended. Totals count every registered contract. Each line shows its Checkbook contract ID. The tag on each row is how it was awarded (“no-bid” = non-competitive).
- RHY Homeless Young Adults (HYA) Program NAE Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020268800730 $6,934,018
- RHY Crisis Shelter & Til Services Program NAE Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020268800643 $4,306,004
- Runaway and Homeless Services Drop in Center NAE FY26 Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020268800757 $3,621,357
- RHY Crisis Shelter & Til Services Program NAE Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020268800639 $3,290,376
- Runaway Homeless Youth 100 Beds 2 Year NAE Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020268800712 $1,742,800
- RHY Vulnerable Youth Residential Services Cris Shelter & Til Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020268800526 $1,547,891
- RHY Vulnerable Youth Residential Services Cris Shelter & Til Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020268800530 $770,014
- HRDFORN, Purchase of equipment for the initial outfitting Department of Design and Construction · CT185020268805798 $379,455
- Runaway and Homeless Youth Crisis Shelters Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020191404428 · ended 2022 $6,736,040
- Runaway Homeless Youth Crisis and TIL Renewal Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020238800231 · ended 2025 $5,727,169
Largest payments, by purpose
The organization's largest individual city payments (roughly $25,000 and up), grouped by purpose, to show what recent money was for. This is NOT a total — smaller payments aren't listed; see “Paid to date” above for the complete amount paid against its contracts. Fiscal years 2020 and later.
- Runaway and Homeless Youth Crisis Shelters Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2022 · 13 payments $1,941,020
- RHY Homeless Young Adults (HYA) Program NAE Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2026 · 6 payments $1,939,404
- RHY Homeless Young Adults (HYA) Program NAE Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2027 $1,763,638
- RHY Crisis Shelter & Til Services Program NAE Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2026 · 11 payments $1,615,763
- Runaway Homeless Youth Crisis and TIL Renewal Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2024 · 10 payments $1,552,468
- Runaway Homeless Youth Crisis and TIL Renewal Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2023 · 9 payments $1,521,280
- Runaway Homeless Youth Crisis and TIL Renewal Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2025 · 8 payments $1,339,358
- Runaway Homeless Youth Services TIL Competition 2 Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2024 · 8 payments $1,198,654
- Runaway and Homeless Youth Crisis Shelters Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2021 · 11 payments $1,183,242
- Runaway Homeless Youth Transitional Independent Living Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2021 · 10 payments $1,178,333
- Runaway Homeless Youth Transitional Independent Living Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2022 · 11 payments $1,163,740
- Runaway Homeless Youth Services 24 Hr Drop in Center- Comp 2 Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2024 · 12 payments $1,139,629
- Runaway Homeless Youth Services TIL Competition 2 Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2023 · 10 payments $1,116,669
- Runaway and Homeless Services Drop in Center NAE FY26 Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2026 · 3 payments $1,053,070
- Runaway and Homeless Youth Crisis Shelters Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2020 · 9 payments $1,020,562
- To provide Crisis and TIL programs to 21-24 year olds Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2022 · 15 payments $987,941
- RHY Crisis Shelter & Til Services Program NAE Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2027 $908,357
- To provide Workforce Services for Vulnerable Youth Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2023 · 14 payments $874,817
- Runaway Homeless Youth Services at a 24 hour Drop In Center Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2021 · 13 payments $870,132
- Runaway Homeless Youth Services at a 24 hour Drop In Center Department of Youth and Community Development · FY2020 · 11 payments $820,612
Discretionary funding received
City Council discretionary (member-item) awards, largest first. Covers FY2009-FY2027.
- LGBTQIA+ Youth Support and Services LGBTQIA+ Youth Support and Services · DYCD · FY2026 $1,405,000
- LGBTQIA+ Youth Support and Services LGBTQIA+ Youth Support and Services · DYCD · FY2027 $1,405,000
- Shelter Beds for At Risk/LGBT Youth Shelter Beds for At Risk/LGBT Youth · DYCD · FY2009 $756,600
- Crisis Shelter Beds Runaway and Homeless Youth Services PEG Restoration · DYCD · FY2012 $620,620
- Crisis Shelter Beds Runaway and Homeless Youth PEG Restoration · DYCD · FY2013 $620,620
- Runaway and Homeless Youth PEG Restoration Runaway and Homeless Youth PEG Restoration · DYCD · FY2014 $620,620
- Transitional Independent Living Beds Runaway and Homeless Youth PEG Restoration · DYCD · FY2013 $504,000
- Runaway and Homeless Youth PEG Restoration Runaway and Homeless Youth PEG Restoration · DYCD · FY2014 $504,000
- Brooklyn Drop-In Center and Auxiliary Services Runaway and Homeless Youth Services PEG Restoration · DYCD · FY2012 $287,376
- Manhattan Drop-In Center and Auxiliary Services Runaway and Homeless Youth PEG Restoration · DYCD · FY2013 $287,376
- Runaway and Homeless Youth PEG Restoration Runaway and Homeless Youth PEG Restoration · DYCD · FY2014 $287,376
- Brooklyn Drop-In Center and Auxillary Services Shelter Beds for At Risk/LGBT Youth · DYCD · FY2010 $277,345
- Brooklyn Drop-In Center and Auxillary Services Shelter Beds for At Risk/LGBT Youth · DYCD · FY2011 $277,345
- Shelter Beds for At Risk/LGBT Youth Shelter Beds for At Risk/LGBT Youth · DYCD · FY2010 $206,262
- Shelter Beds for At Risk/LGBT Youth Shelter Beds for At Risk/LGBT Youth · DYCD · FY2011 $206,262
- Crisis Shelter Beds Runaway and Homeless Youth Services PEG Restoration · DYCD · FY2012 $206,262
- Crisis Shelter Beds Runaway and Homeless Youth PEG Restoration · DYCD · FY2013 $206,262
- Runaway and Homeless Youth PEG Restoration Runaway and Homeless Youth PEG Restoration · DYCD · FY2014 $206,262
- HIV/AIDS - End the Epidemic HIV/AIDS - End the Epidemic · DOHMH · FY2016 $144,000
- Drop-In Center Services Runaway and Homeless Youth PEG Restoration · DYCD · FY2013 $85,031
Funded by these council members
City Council members who steered discretionary (member-item) money to this organization, largest first (FY2020 and later, where the sponsoring member is disclosed). Sitting members link to their page.
- Alexa Avilés FY2021-2027 · 6 awards $70,000
- Yusef Salaam FY2024-2025 · 4 awards $55,000
- Tiffany L. Cabán FY2023-2027 · 5 awards $44,000
- Erik Bottcher FY2022-2026 · 5 awards $35,000
- Jordan FY2022-2023 · 2 awards $35,000
- Shaun Abreu FY2022-2027 · 6 awards $34,000
- Keith Powers FY2024-2026 · 4 awards $30,000
- Carmen N. De La Rosa FY2023-2027 · 5 awards $25,000
- Perkins FY2020-2021 · 2 awards $20,000
- Sandy Nurse FY2023-2024 · 2 awards $20,000
- Johnson FY2020-2021 · 2 awards $14,000
- Levine FY2020-2021 · 2 awards $10,000
- Stephen Levin FY2020-2021 · 2 awards $10,000
- Christopher Marte FY2023-2024 · 2 awards $10,000
- Pierina Ana Sanchez FY2024-2025 · 2 awards $10,000
- Virginia Maloney FY2027 · 1 award $10,000
- Carl Wilson FY2027 · 1 award $7,000
- Lincoln Restler FY2022 · 1 award $5,000
- Pierina Ana Sanchez FY2026 · 1 award $5,000
- Pierina Ana Sanchez FY2027 · 1 award $5,000
Officer & key-staff pay
Reportable compensation from this organization's IRS Form 990 (Part VII), latest available filing (FY2024). Includes pay from related organizations where reported; an annual figure, not a running total. Source: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
- Zachary Bar Cohen Deputy Executive Director of Devt $260,725
- Alexander Roque President and Executive Director $250,000
- Naz Seenauth Deputy Executive Director of Programs $182,098
- Kahmia Moise Director of Administration $160,070
- Brittany Miller Director of Finance $158,340
Officer pay over time
Total officer pay changed +204% from FY2020 to FY2024. Top-officer reportable compensation by year (org-paid only), with each year's share of total revenue. Source: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer 990 filings.
- FY2020 Alexander Roque · 1.45% of revenue $249,996
- FY2022 Seyyed Naghavi · 3.42% of revenue $150,000
- FY2023 Zachary Bar Cohen · 5.51% of revenue $264,008
- FY2024 Zachary Bar Cohen · 2.58% of revenue $260,725
Where their influence converges
Outside interests connected to this official through more than one independent channel — drawn straight from the records the rest of the site already shows. “Lobbied them” = a lobbying filing that named the member. “Outside spending” = an independent-expenditure committee the interest funds spent in
- Chi A. Ossé It lobbied them; it holds contracts at 1 agency in their committees' jurisdiction
- Christopher Marte It lobbied them; it holds contracts at 1 agency in their committees' jurisdiction
- Julie Menin It lobbied them; it holds contracts at 1 agency in their committees' jurisdiction
- Julie Won It lobbied them; it holds contracts at 1 agency in their committees' jurisdiction
- Justin E. Sanchez It lobbied them; it holds contracts at 1 agency in their committees' jurisdiction
- Pierina Ana Sanchez It lobbied them; it holds contracts at 1 agency in their committees' jurisdiction
- Shahana K. Hanif It lobbied them; it holds contracts at 1 agency in their committees' jurisdiction
- Shaun Abreu It lobbied them; it holds contracts at 1 agency in their committees' jurisdiction
Federal awards
Federal awards made directly to this organization in fiscal years 2023 through 2026. Each amount is what the federal government has OBLIGATED on that award as recorded on USAspending.gov as of 2026-08-31 — money committed, not money paid out. These are prime awards only: federal money this
- Department of Health and Human Services 93.243 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance · Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration · Grant $2,439,415
- Department of Health and Human Services 93.243 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance · Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration · Grant $1,633,634
- Department of Health and Human Services 93.243 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance · Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration · Grant $1,399,980
- Department of Housing and Urban Development 14.267 Continuum of Care Program · Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development · Grant $1,049,052
- Department of Housing and Urban Development 14.267 Continuum of Care Program · Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development · Grant $1,012,760
- Department of Housing and Urban Development 14.267 Continuum of Care Program · Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development · Grant $984,843
- Department of Housing and Urban Development 14.267 Continuum of Care Program · Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development · Grant $984,843
- Department of Health and Human Services 93.243 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance · Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration · Grant $968,330
- Department of Justice 16.320 Services for Trafficking Victims · Office of Justice Programs · Grant $359,017