Wayside Uplift Initiative Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
Last updated: November 13, 2026
Thank you for supporting Wayside Uplift Initiative Inc. (“WUI”). Your generosity helps us Empower, Uplift and Serve families, youth and neighbors across our community. This policy explains how we accept, use and protect your gifts and your information, so you can give with confidence.
Our commitment to donors
Every donor has the right to:
- Know our mission, how we plan to use donated resources, and that we are able to use them for their intended purpose.
- Know who serves on our leadership team and board.
- Request a copy of our most recent financial information.
- Be assured that gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
- Receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition.
- Have donation information handled with respect and confidentiality.
- Be told whether people seeking donations are volunteers, staff or hired solicitors.
- Ask to be removed from our mailing and contact lists at any time.
- Ask questions and receive prompt, honest answers.
How your gift is used
Unless you tell us otherwise, your donation supports our general operations and programs where the need is greatest, including Feed the Community, W.O.W. (Women of Worth), S.T.A.N.D. (Strong Teens Achieving New Dreams), Job Placement and our Seasonal Giveback Programs.
Designated gifts. If you ask that your gift go to a specific program or event, we will honor that request. If a designated program is fully funded, changes or ends, we will contact you when possible, or use the gift for the closest related purpose.
Tax deductibility and receipts
Wayside Uplift Initiative Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN 33-4101573). Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. If you receive goods or services in exchange for your gift (for example, an event ticket or meal), only the amount above the fair market value of those goods or services may be deductible. We will note this on your receipt.
Online donors receive an emailed receipt right after giving. For gifts made by check, cash or in person, we will send a written acknowledgment. Please keep your receipt for your tax records, and talk with your tax advisor about your own situation.
Online giving and payment security
Online donations are processed securely by our donation platform partner, Zeffy. WUI never sees or stores your full card or bank details. Zeffy may invite you to add an optional contribution to support its free platform. That contribution goes to Zeffy, not to WUI, and you may set it to $0.
Donor privacy
We collect only the information we need to process your gift, send your receipt and keep you informed about our work, such as your name, email, mailing address and gift details.
- We never sell, rent or trade donor names or information.
- Access to donor records is limited to people who need it to do their work for WUI.
- We share information only with service providers who help us process gifts or send communications, or when required by law.
- You can unsubscribe from our emails at any time using the link in any message, or by contacting us.
For more about how we handle information on this website, please see our Privacy Policy.
Recognition and anonymous giving
We love to thank our supporters, and we may list donor names in event programs, on social media or on our website. We will never publish the amount of an individual gift without permission. If you would like to give anonymously, just let us know when you donate or contact us, and we will keep your name private.
In-kind donations
We gratefully accept donated goods such as food, school supplies, coats, toys and hygiene items, especially for our seasonal drives. Please contact us before dropping off items so we can confirm current needs and storage space. Items should be new or in good, clean condition. We can provide a receipt describing the items you gave, but under IRS rules it is the donor’s responsibility to determine their value.
Gift acceptance
WUI reserves the right to decline any gift that does not fit our mission, comes with conditions we cannot meet, or could create a legal, ethical or financial burden for the organization.
Refunds and corrections
Donations are generally non-refundable. If you made a mistake, such as an incorrect amount or a duplicate charge, please contact us within 30 days of your gift and we will work with you to correct it. Refunds are reviewed case by case. Please note that a refunded gift is no longer tax-deductible, and we will issue an updated receipt.
Financial transparency: our 2025 numbers
We believe donors deserve to see exactly where their money goes. Below is a plain-language outline of our 2025 Form 990-EZ, the annual return we file with the IRS. 2025 was our first full year of operations (January 1 to December 31, 2025).
Where every dollar went in 2025
1. Revenue (money in)
| Source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Membership dues | $2,600.00 |
| Donations | $305.00 |
| Program fees, investments, events, sales | $0 |
| Total revenue | $2,905.00 |
2. Expenses (money out)
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Program services (Christmas Toy Drive and Thanksgiving Food Drive) | $2,000 |
| Occupancy, rent, utilities and maintenance | $592.48 |
| Salaries and compensation | $0 |
| Professional fees and contractors | $0 |
| Total expenses | $2,592.48 |
3. Programs and people served
| Program | What we did | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Toy Drive | Toys, gifts and holiday support for children and families facing financial hardship. About 500 children and adults served. | $1,000 |
| Thanksgiving Food Drive | Thanksgiving meal supplies, groceries, food boxes and essentials for families in need. About 1,000 people served. | $1,000 |
| Total program services | About 1,500 people reached | $2,000 |
4. Balance sheet (end of 2025)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cash and bank balance | $312.52 |
| Land, buildings and other assets | $0 |
| Total liabilities (debts) | $0 |
| Net assets at year end | $312.52 |
5. Leadership and accountability
- All-volunteer leadership. Our eight officers, directors and committee members received $0 in compensation. No employees or contractors were paid over $100,000.
- Public charity status. We are a 501(c)(3) public charity under section 509(a)(2), and 100% of our 2025 support came from the public.
- Clean record. No loans to officers, no political campaign activity, no lobbying and no unrelated business income.
- Where we file. We file an annual Form 990-EZ with the IRS and an annual CHAR500 with the New York State Attorney General’s Charities Bureau (NY registration no. 51-05-97).
- Simple, honest bookkeeping. We use cash-basis accounting, and our year-end net assets match our bank balance.
6. Download our documents
Note: our 2025 filings show our previous address, 295 Madison Ave, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10017. We have since moved to 109-20 Union Hall Street, Jamaica, NY 11433.
nnnnThese are public documents. If you have questions about them or would like a printed copy, email info@waysideupliftinitiative.com or calling (800) 718-7929.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page shows when it was last changed.
Questions? We’re here to help
Wayside Uplift Initiative Inc.
109-20 Union Hall Street, Jamaica, NY 11433
Phone: (800) 718-7929
Email: info@waysideupliftinitiative.com