named programs · 20 · from sources
What they call their work
Daddy Daughter Dance
An annual event that creates a memorable evening for fathers and daughters to bond through dinner, dancing, and entertainment.
El Barrio Lightning
Sponsorship of an AAU basketball organization for youth teams from 10u to 18u, promoting teamwork and community support.
Family Fun Day
Community events designed to bring families together for bonding, social interaction, and shared enjoyment.
Generational Wealth Building Series
Monthly workshops educating fathers on strategies for building and preserving wealth across generations.
International STEM and STEAM Program
Support for Clever Minds Free Primary School in Nigeria, including Chromebook donations and teacher training in tech education.
NYPD Explorer Program
Youth leadership and mentorship program in partnership with NYPD, offering community service, fitness, and scholarship opportunities.
Navigating the Family Court System
Quarterly support group for single fathers to share experiences and strategies related to family court challenges.
Project ELEVATE
A program supporting low-income fathers in achieving self-sufficiency, improving connections with their children, and increasing community engagement.
REAL DADS BOOK CLUB
A forum for fathers to read and discuss topics relevant to fatherhood and personal growth, modeling lifelong learning for their children.
REAL DADS CLUB
A peer support group where fathers meet regularly to discuss personal development, parenting, and community impact.
REAL DADS VOTE
An initiative to educate and mobilize men, particularly Black men, to vote and understand the civic power of electoral participation.
Real Dads Health Series
Workshops on physical fitness, nutrition, stress management, cancer prevention, and CPR training for fathers.
Real Dads High School Senior Scholarship
Annual $1,000 scholarship for a graduating NYC high school student of color, emphasizing leadership and the importance of fatherhood.
Real Dads Network Global Partnership with BMAN Advocacy Nigeria
Support for a Nigerian organization empowering boys and young men through mentorship, education, and leadership development.
Real Dads Network Shelter Services
Temporary housing program for homeless individuals and families, providing case management, housing assistance, and wellness services.
Real Dads Week
A week-long celebration recognizing fathers and father figures as role models in children's lives, featuring community events and recognition activities.
Rooted in Wellness: Health for our Brothers
Health events in partnership with Mount Sinai offering blood pressure checks, amyloidosis screening, and wellness education for men.
Slam Dunk VIP Knicks Experience Program
Partnership with the New York Knicks and Footlocker to provide fathers and children VIP game experiences and sneakers to strengthen bonds.
Street Library
Partnership with Youth Crime Watch of Liberia to provide books, educational games, and safe learning spaces for children ages 5–13.
The L.O.F.T.
Family Enrichment Center in NYC’s Lower East Side offering workshops, gatherings, and community initiatives to strengthen family protective factors.
activities · 15 groups
What they do
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Parenting Education and Support Programs 4 activities
- Facilitate support groups for single fathersHosts quarterly in-person and virtual support groups for single fathers to share experiences, coping strategies, and information related to family court and parenting challenges.
- Host weekly virtual Real Dads Club meetingsConducts weekly virtual meetings for fathers to discuss personal development, parenting challenges, and problem-solving strategies through facilitated group dialogue.
- Operate Project Elevate fatherhood programRuns Project Elevate, a structured cohort-based program that supports low-income fathers in achieving self-sufficiency, improving family connections, and increasing community engagement through personal growth, accountability, and leadership development.
- Provide platform for fatherhood resources and storytellingOperates a nonprofit platform that enables fathers to share stories, access resources, and engage in conversations about fatherhood and family life.
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Organized Member Social Events 2 activities
- Host annual Daddy Daughter Dance eventOrganizes an annual formal event that brings together fathers or father figures and their daughters for dancing, dinner, and bonding experiences to strengthen family relationships.
- Organize Family Fun Day eventsHosts recurring Family Fun Day events to promote community bonding, social interaction, and shared experiences among fathers and families.
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Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
- Award annual scholarship to Black male high school graduatesProvides an annual $1,000 scholarship to a graduating Black male high school student in New York City through the Real Dads Network Scholarship Committee.
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Financial Literacy Education Programs 1 activity
- Conduct generational wealth building workshops for fathersOffers monthly in-person workshops through the Real Dads Generational Wealth Building Series to educate fathers on wealth preservation, accumulation, and financial empowerment.
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Community CPR and First Aid Training 1 activity
- Deliver CPR and life-saving skills trainingProvides CPR and life-saving skills training to fathers at the Fatherhood Center to promote health and emergency preparedness.
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Community Health Fairs and Screenings 1 activity
- Host health and wellness workshops for fathersOffers monthly workshops on physical fitness, nutrition, stress management, cancer prevention, blood pressure checks, and free amyloidosis and colorectal cancer screening, with targeted outreach to Black and Latino men in New York State.
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Host recurring book clubs for fathersOrganizes monthly virtual and in-person book club discussions for fathers to encourage reading, learning, and conversations about fatherhood and personal development, held on the last Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM (EST).
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Civic Engagement and Voter Mobilization 1 activity
- Implement Real Dads Vote civic engagement initiativeLeads Real Dads Vote, a civic engagement initiative that educates, empowers, and mobilizes fathers and community members through voter education, registration drives, community forums, candidate discussions, and leadership opportunities to promote democratic participation.
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Facility-Based Service Delivery 1 activity
- Operate Fatherhood and Family Center in East HarlemOpened the Fatherhood and Family Center in East Harlem at Carver Houses in 2024, providing a dedicated space for fathers to access resources, programs, and community engagement opportunities.
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Youth Development Programs 1 activity
- Operate THE L.O.F.T. community programRuns THE L.O.F.T., a program that collaborates with families and local leaders to create community-based activities, workshops, and gatherings that strengthen family protective factors in the Lower East Side of NYC.
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Documentary Film Production 1 activity
- Produce documentary on Black men and fatherhoodProduced the award-winning documentary "Real Dads-Black Men on Fatherhood" in 2000 to highlight experiences and narratives of Black fathers.
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Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
- Produce podcast on fatherhoodProduces and distributes the "Dad Is Not A Noun Podcast" via YouTube and audio platforms to share stories and insights about fatherhood and family life.
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Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 1 activity
- Provide temporary housing for homeless individuals and familiesProvides safe, supportive, and temporary housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness through a contract with the New York City Department of Homeless Services.
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Digital Literacy Training and Technology Access 1 activity
- Support international educational initiativesShips books, supplies, and educational games to support the Street Library Program in Liberia, Africa, and provided 20 Dell Chromebooks to Clever Minds Free Primary School in Nigeria for a STEM lab.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Host annual week-long celebration of fathersOrganizes an annual week-long celebration to recognize and honor fathers and father figures as exemplary role models, originally launched in 2008 as Black Fathers Week.
- Provide VIP sports experiences for fathers and childrenOffers VIP Knicks game experiences and complimentary sneakers from Footlocker to strengthen family bonds through shared sports activities.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$173K
Contributions & grants$173K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$132K
Program expenses0%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$29K
Grants paid out$4K
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$40K
Cash$28K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$40K
Liquid reserves2.6 mo
2 years on record · 2023–2024 · YoY revenue +33.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEREK PHILLIPS | PRESIDENT | 40 | $21K |
| MARIA PHILLIPS | TREASURER | 40 | $8K |
board members · 2
- KENYATTA ROUSE — GENERAL BOARD
- MARVIN DUDLEY — GENERAL BOARD
relationships · 51
Who they work with
- 100 SUITS Partner — Partner organization supporting professional development for fathers.
- 100 Suits Partner — Collaborates with 100 Suits on professional development and fatherhood initiatives.
- 500 MEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE Partner — Partner organization promoting positive fatherhood.
- 500 Men Making a Difference Partner — Collaborates with 500 Men Making a Difference to promote positive fatherhood roles.
- A Black Man Reading Partner — Collaborates with Real Dads Network to co-host the Real Dads Book Club.
- ALLAN HOUSTON LEGACY FOUNDATION Partner — Partner organization collaborating on fatherhood programming.
- Alhambra Ballroom Partner — Venue partner hosting the Daddy Daughter Dance event in Harlem, NY.
- Allan Houston Legacy Foundation Partner — Partners with the Allan Houston Legacy Foundation on fatherhood programs.
- BRONX FATHERS TAKING ACTION Partner — Grassroots partner organization focused on father engagement.
- Bronx Father's Taken Action Partner — Partner organization supported by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., connected through community liaison Kenneth Alexander.
- Bronx Father's Taken Action Partner — Works with this organization under Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.'s support to engage fathers
- Bronx Fathers Taking Action Partner — Partners with Bronx Fathers Taking Action to engage fathers in the Bronx community.
- Clever Minds Free Primary School Partner — Adopted school in Lyara community, Warri Delta state, Nigeria, to support tech education for over 500 children.
- DADDY UNIVERSITY Partner — Partner providing educational resources for fathers.
- DYCD Government — Funds Project Elevate, a fatherhood development program operated by Real Dads Network.
- Daddy University Partner — Collaborates with Daddy University to provide educational and developmental resources for fathers.
- FACES Partner — Collaborates with FACES as part of its network of organizational partners.
- FACES Partner — Partner organization collaborating on fatherhood programming.
- FATHER'S FORWARD MANHATTAN COALITION Coalition — Coalition member working with Real Dads Network on fatherhood advocacy.
- FATHERS 4 PROGRESS Partner — Partner organization advancing fatherhood initiatives.
- FATHERS ALIVE IN THE HOOD Partner — Community-based partner organization.
- Father's Forward Manhattan Coalition Coalition — Member of the Father's Forward Manhattan Coalition, working collectively on fatherhood issues.
- Fathers 4 Progress Partner — Works with Fathers 4 Progress on community empowerment and fatherhood programs.
- Fathers Alive in the Hood Partner — Partners with Fathers Alive in the Hood to support community-based fatherhood programs.
- Fathers First at The Akira Center Partner — Collaborates to connect fathers with resources and support in Harlem, NY
- Fathers First at The Akira Center Harlem Partner — Collaborates with Real Dads Network through community liaison Kenneth Alexander to provide empowering information and counter negative media portrayals of fathers.
- Fathers For Progress at the Fatherhood Training Center Partner — Partners to advance fatherhood support initiatives in the Bronx, NY
- Fathers For Progress at the Fatherhood Training Center, Bronx Partner — Partner organization connected through community liaison Kenneth Alexander to support responsible fatherhood initiatives.
- Footlocker Partner — Supports the Slam Dunk For Children and Dads VIP Knicks experience program by providing complimentary sneakers.
- MEDGAR EVERS COLLEGE Partner — Collaborates with Real Dads Network on fatherhood initiatives.
+ 21 more
strategies · 5
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.
- Community-Driven Co-Creation of Family Programmingmethodology: community-driven_programmingBy partnering with families and local leaders to identify strengths and co-develop programs, the organization strengthens family protective factors, because locally grounded, participatory design increases relevance, trust, and sustained engagement.
- Father Empowerment through Support and Advocacymethodology: father-empowermentBy providing low-income fathers with resources, support, and advocacy, the organization produces stronger family structures and improved child well-being, because empowered fathers are more likely to engage consistently in their children's lives and model positive behavior.
- Modeling Behavior through Shared Learning and Literacymethodology: modeling_behaviorBy engaging fathers in reading and discussion-based programming, the organization fosters positive fatherhood and child development, because fathers who model literacy and self-improvement behaviors instill those values in their children through relational example-setting.
- Policy Advocacy for Shared Parentingmethodology: policy_advocacyBy advocating for shared parenting in public policy, the organization improves child well-being, because institutionalizing father involvement through policy increases the likelihood of sustained, equitable engagement regardless of family structure.
- Public Recognition to Reinforce Positive Fatherhoodmethodology: public_recognitionBy publicly celebrating fathers—particularly within Black communities—the organization reinforces positive role modeling and social norms, because visibility and recognition increase motivation, pride, and community accountability in sustained father engagement.