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ROCHESTER JAMAICAN ORGANIZATION INC

Rochester, NY · EIN 113799108 · Form 990EZ · FY2025 · NTEE P20 · Human Services · Small ($100K-$1M) · rochesterjamaican.org
revenue
$120K
expenses
$124K
net assets
$48K
employees
mission · from form 990

Support education and provide programs that enlighten and empower Jamaicans in Rochester and in Jamaica. In 2025 we provided extensive emergency relief after the Island of Jamaica was devastated by Hurricane Melissa.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Rochester Jamaican Organization Inc. supports education and empowers Jamaican communities in Rochester, NY, and Jamaica. Founded in 2006, it provides scholarships, cultural programs, and emergency relief, including a major response to Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica. The organization fosters community integration and leadership through service initiatives and partnerships.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Deloris Asynthia Lewis Scholarship
Provides financial support to local students of Jamaican heritage to pursue higher education.
Hurricane Melissa Relief Effort
Mobilized emergency aid and donations for communities in Jamaica affected by Hurricane Melissa.
Meals Delivery Program
Delivers meals to homebound senior citizens in the Rochester area.
Mother's Day Brunch
Annual community event celebrating Jamaican culture and raising funds for organizational programs.
Taste of Home Reception
Welcomes Jamaican college students to the Rochester area, fostering community integration.
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Charitable Grantmaking to Specific Causes 1 activity
    • Funding humanitarian and educational initiatives in Jamaica through grantmaking
      Funds the Theodora Project through annual donations and grants, including $3,100 USD to support recovery and education at Theodora Skills Training Center in Negril and a $2,500 grant for roof reconstruction. Also issued a $5,000 grant for building materials for Sav La Mar residents and the Orange Baptist Church.
  • Community Health Fairs and Screenings 1 activity
    • Hosting annual Community Health Fair in Rochester
      Hosts the 11th Annual Community Health Fair offering onsite health education, medical screenings, and access to providers for dental health, pediatrics, and mental health services for the local community.
  • Regular Membership Meetings 1 activity
    • Organizing monthly community meetings in Rochester
      Holds regular monthly meetings on the first Thursday of each month at 6 PM, conducted both in person and via Zoom, to engage the Jamaican community in Rochester.
  • Disaster Relief and Recovery Services 1 activity
    • Providing emergency relief in Jamaica following natural disasters
      Responded to Hurricane Melissa in October 2025 by raising close to $100,000 and distributing over 700 care packages, cooked meals, and essential supplies to affected communities in Trelawny, Clarendon, Westmoreland, and St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. Also provided immediate shelter support, including tents and cots, to displaced residents.
  • Culturally Specific Support Services 1 activity
    • Providing transportation and employment assistance to Jamaican community members in Rochester
      Offers transportation support for elderly Jamaicans and assists Jamaican teachers with employment opportunities in the Rochester area.
  • Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
    • Supporting education through scholarship programs for Rochester-area students
      Provides financial support to college students in the Rochester area through scholarship programs, with documented awards such as the 2012 scholarship to Zanah Francis.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Distributing construction materials for post-disaster home repairs in Jamaica
      Provided roofing bundles including zinc sheets, timber, and hardware to support close to 40 families across 12 communities in St. Elizabeth, St. Ann, Trelawny, and St. James, Jamaica, following Hurricane Melissa.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$120K
Contributions & grants$92K77%
Program service revenue$15K13%
Investment income$1K1%
Other revenue$40
expenses
Total expenses$124K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$119K
balance sheet
Total assets$48K
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$48K
3 years on record · 2023–2025 · YoY revenue +78.0%
relationships · 24

Who they work with

  • Boys & Girls Club of Rochester Partner — Hosted the 11th Annual Community Health Fair at its location.
  • Constellation Energy Partner — Partner in offering the RJO Constellation Ginna Scholarship.
  • Coordinated Care Services, Inc. Partner — Hosts the organization's monthly meetings at its facility
  • Denron Engineering Partner — Partnered to provide warehouse storage space, transport trucks, and workers for community deliveries.
  • Henry Isaacs Home Remodeling Partner — Partner in offering the RJO Henry Isaacs Home Remodeling Scholarship.
  • Henry Isaacs Remodeling Partner — Donated 14,500 sq. ft. of shingles, accessories, and 300 pieces of OBS/nails for relief efforts.
  • Livie’s Jamaican Restaurant Partner — Livie’s Jamaican Restaurant is a loyal supporter of RJO initiatives including the Independence Gala, Mother’s Day Brunch, and Health Fair.
  • MCC Foundation Partner — Partner in offering the RJO MCC Foundation Scholarship.
  • Monroe Community College Partner — Collaborates on a scholarship program for students.
  • Operation Save Jamaica Partner — Key partner in Hurricane Melissa relief efforts.
  • RevTalk Partner — Partnered to coordinate and amplify community recovery efforts on the ground in Jamaica.
  • Rochester West Indian Festival Committee Partner — Collaborates on cultural and community events for the Jamaican community in Rochester.
  • Rochester West Indian Festival Organization (RWIFO) Partner — Partnered in the "Jammin’ for Jamaica" fundraiser to support Hurricane Melissa relief efforts.
  • Sankofa Partner — Provided a healing circle at the 11th Annual Community Health Fair.
  • Sewing with Love Partner — Donated reusable menstrual pads for relief efforts.
  • Steel Tech Fabricators Partner — Steel Tech Fabricators is an indispensable partner to RJO, serving as a Platinum Sponsor and Scholarship Donor.
  • Steel Tech Fabricators, Inc. Partner — Partner in offering the RJO Steel Tech Fabricators, Inc. Scholarship.
  • Theodora Project Partner — Rochester Jamaican Organization supports the Theodora Project through its annual fundraising gala and ongoing contributions.
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific Partner — Donated 200 BPA-free Nalgene water bottles for relief efforts.
  • Tiamo Cares Partner — Partnered to prepare and distribute vital care packages and supplies to families across Western Jamaica.
  • Tropix Eatery Partner — Partnered in the "Jammin’ for Jamaica" fundraiser to support Hurricane Melissa relief efforts.
  • TruSource International Partner — Key partner in Hurricane Melissa relief efforts.
  • United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands (UCJCI) Partner — Key partner in Hurricane Melissa relief efforts.
  • Yap Wholesale Partner — Key partner in Hurricane Melissa relief efforts.
strategies · 3

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-Mobilized Health and Disaster Response
    methodology: community-mobilized disaster response
    By leveraging existing community networks and digital platforms, we deliver integrated health services and rapid disaster relief, because trusted local connections increase reach, timeliness, and cultural relevance of interventions.
  • Education as Prevention and Empowerment
    methodology: education_as_prevention
    By providing education, skills training, and scholarship opportunities, we enable at-risk youth and Jamaican communities to make healthier life choices and advance socially and economically, because education is a foundational tool for personal agency and long-term resilience.
  • Network-Based Resource Integration
    methodology: network-building
    By building connective networks between Jamaicans in Rochester and Jamaica, we improve access to resources and social support, because sustained transnational ties strengthen community resilience and collective problem-solving.