Picture of a light house
coalition logo
Facebook Twitter Youtube

Fighting For Government
Transparency And Accountability

The New York Coalition for Open Government advocates For Timely Access To 
Information And Empower Meaningful Citizen Participation in New York State

Join Us

A Well-Informed Citizenry
Is The Foundation
Of A Democratic Society.

New York’s Freedom of Information and Open Meeting Laws are meant to ensure government transparency.

But in practice, these laws are often ignored, and both the public and officials lack proper resources and education. 

We are bridging that gap.

Mission Statement
woman looking

Who We Are

We are an all-volunteer, nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization made up of journalists, activists, attorneys, educators, media organizations, and other concerned citizens.

We are united by our passion for open government and protecting the public’s right to freedom of information.

What We Do

Learn about your rights under New York State Freedom of Information (FOIL) and Open Meetings (OML) laws.

EDUCATION

Discover our in-depth reports on government agencies’ compliance with transparency laws.

RESEARCH

Learn how we draft legislation and partner with lawmakers to strengthen transparency laws

LEGISLATION

We initiate or support litigation in select cases that promote government transparency and accountability

LITIGATION

Explore how we educate the public and promote transparency by providing insights to our media partners.

MEDIA COMMENTARY

Stay updated on the latest in government transparency in New York State.

BLOG & NEWS

Have questions about Freedom of Information or Open Meeting Laws in New York? Our experts are here to help.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Find step-by-step instructions and easy-to-use templates to simplify your FOIL requests here.

FOIL INSTRUCTIONS

Do you want to know your rights 
under the Freedom of Information (FOIL) 
and Open Meetings Law (OML)?

Download our free Guidebook

Download Link

BLOG & NEWS

government transparency clipart

What Good Is a Transparency Law If We Don’t Track Who’s Following It?

Read More
sunshine icon

Don’t miss our March Newsletter — it’s full of “Sunshine” that could brighten your day!

Read More
group pictures sunshine week 2025

Call for Legislative Action: Strengthen New York’s Freedom of Information Law in Honor of Sunshine Week

Read More
Read More Blog Posts

Meet Our members

Wondering why we’re so passionate about the Coalition? 

Watch our member profile videos and see firsthand what motivates us. 

You’ll find that we’re not only dedicated to improving government transparency but also part of a fun, dynamic community!

Click Here For Videos

Get Involved

Join us in our mission to promote transparency, accountability, and openness in government.

Be a beacon for democracy, a watchdog for justice, and a catalyst for change.

Become a member

Ready to make a difference? Join our diverse community of “good troublemakers and gadflies” advocating for Open Government!

Volunteer

Volunteers are welcome to support our programs and make a difference in the community. Join us!

Connect

Have questions or a story to share? We’d love to hear from you!

Donate

Support government transparency and accountability with your tax-deductible donation.

Event Calendar

Sign up for our email list

Sign Up
Ⓒ 2025 , New York Coalition for Open Government
contact webmaster