named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Connect to Learn Sessions
Weekly virtual and in-person educational events featuring experts in mental wellness who share knowledge on topics related to mental health and resilience.
Empathetic Strangers
One-on-one peer connection program linking individuals experiencing loneliness with trained listeners for immediate emotional support.
Russell J. Efros Memorial Award Fund
Annual award fund at the School of Visual Arts supporting a senior undergraduate film and video student with their thesis project, established in memory of Russell J. Efros.
Sprout Fund
Grant-making initiative that has distributed over $80,000 to support creative projects focused on mental wellness and community engagement.
Sprout Society Peer Support Groups
Free, peer-led in-person and virtual groups for individuals with shared life experiences to connect and support each other around mental wellness topics.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Peer-Led Mental Health Support Groups 2 activities
- Providing free peer support and connection services through Sprout SocietyLaunched and operates the Sprout Society initiative, which provides zero-cost peer support to individuals in need through peer-led group sessions, immediate peer listening, and virtual and in-person gatherings centered on shared experiences and interests. The first physical center was opened in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, offering community activations and peer group events.
- Supporting access to peer groups and workshops through fundingProvides funding for individuals to attend weekly peer support sessions, participate in peer groups, and attend workshops, enabling broader access to mental wellness resources.
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Artist Support Grants 1 activity
- Funding creative projects and artists through the Sprout FundEstablished and manages the Sprout Fund, which has distributed over $80,000 to support creative projects focused on mental wellness and community. The foundation has funded 32 artists' projects and provided resources to artists and creatives over a five-year period.
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Arts Education Scholarships 1 activity
- Funding film student thesis projects via the Russell J. Efros Memorial Award FundCreated and raises money for the Russell J. Efros Memorial Award Fund at the School of Visual Arts, established in 2018, to support a senior undergraduate film and video student with their thesis project annually.
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Mental Health Education and Awareness 1 activity
- Hosting educational and community events on mental wellnessHosts weekly expert-led educational sessions, virtual and in-person events featuring experts with lived, professional, or academic experience, and community-wide Connect to Learn events to promote public learning and engagement around mental wellness topics.
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Website Accessibility Implementation 1 activity
- Improving digital accessibility of organizational resourcesInvests in website accessibility by regularly scanning for barriers using Accessibility Scanner, implementing fixes, and providing customer support during normal business hours to assist users with disabilities.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$537K
Contributions & grants$537K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$813K
Program expenses0%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising100%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$136K
Cash$136K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$136K
Liquid reserves2.0 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -11.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 19
- ABBEY SOLOMON — DIRECTOR
- ALEX COHEN — DIRECTOR
- ANDI BLACK — DIRECTOR
- ANDRU COREN — DIRECTOR
- BRIAN FRANK — DIRECTOR
- COREY MAXWELL EFROS — TREASURER
- DANIELLE KASTENBAUM — SECRETARY
- JODI EFROS — VICE PRESIDENT
- MICHAEL ROBERTS — DIRECTOR
- MICHELLE ROBERTS — DIRECTOR
- MITCHELL EFROS — PRESIDENT
- RAKIEM WALKER — DIRECTOR
- RYAN DUNN — DIRECTOR
- SETH LEIST — DIRECTOR
- SHERI LEIST — DIRECTOR
- STEPHANIE MARK — DIRECTOR
- STUART ACKER — DIRECTOR
- TODD STREET — DIRECTOR
- TONI HABER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 8
Who they work with
- Funraise Network — Member organization using Funraise's platform for fundraising.
- Russell J. Efros Foundation Network — Entity that transitioned from supporting artists and creatives to providing mental wellness resources based on community input.
- School of Visual Arts Partner — Partner institution where the RJE Memorial Award Fund supports a film student's thesis project annually.
- School of Visual Arts Partner — Partner institution where the Russell J. Efros Award Fund is established to support film and video students.
- School of Visual Arts Partner — Partnered with the Russell J. Efros Foundation to establish and administer the Russell J. Efros Memorial Award Fund.
- Sprout Society Partner — RJE Foundation launched Sprout Society as a peer mental health connection program.
- Sprout Society Partner — Russell J. Efros Foundation's community transitioned into Sprout Society to provide mental wellness resources.
- UserWay Partner — Uses UserWay’s Web Accessibility Widget to improve website compliance with accessibility guidelines.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Authentic Human Connection to Combat Isolationmethodology: authentic_human_connectionBy prioritizing authentic human connection through immediate, empathetic listening, the organization addresses loneliness and mental distress, because genuine interpersonal engagement is more effective than transactional or clinical-only models in reducing isolation.
- Community-Identified Needs Driving Organizational Focusmethodology: community_driven_transitionBy shifting programming and focus based on direct community input and expressed needs, the organization ensures relevance and responsiveness, because grounding services in community-identified demands increases engagement and addresses unmet mental wellness gaps.
- Peer-Led, Community-Driven Mental Wellness Supportmethodology: peer_led_supportBy leveraging peer-led and community-driven models, the organization fosters trust, engagement, and emotional support in mental wellness, because shared lived experience strengthens bonds and reduces isolation more effectively than traditional top-down approaches.
- Shared Experience as a Foundation for Peer Connectionmethodology: shared_experience_groupingBy grouping individuals with shared life experiences, the organization builds deeper peer connections, because common experience enhances empathy, trust, and the effectiveness of mutual support in mental wellness contexts.