COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

KULANU ACADEMY INC
CEDARHURST, NY · EIN 113539334 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE P30 · Human Services · Large ($10M-$50M) · kulanukids.org
revenue
$13.1M
expenses
$8.9M
net assets
$12.1M
employees
181
program ratio
66%
mission · from form 990

ENABLE EACH INDIVIDUAL TO REACH HIS OR HER FULL POTENTIAL, EMPOWERING EACH ONE TO BECOME A PARTICIPATING AND ACCEPTED MEMBER OF SOCIETY, WITH A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE AND A HOPEFUL FUTURE.

profile · synthesized from sources

Special education and life-skills academy serving children and young adults with special needs, ages 11-22, in Cedarhurst, New York. Offers individualized academic, vocational, and life-readiness programs aligned with New York State standards. Focuses on social integration, independence, and post-secondary transition through small-group instruction, community-based learning, and therapeutic support services.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $131K
    KULANU ACADEMY PROVIDES VOCATIONAL SERVICES FOR YOUNG ADULTS ATTENDING SCHOOL OR WHO HAVE AGED OUT OF DISTRICT OR DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PLACEMENTS.KULANU WORKS WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL TO DISCOVER THEIR SKILLS, APTITUDES AND INTERESTS, AND THEN DEVELOP COMMUNITY-BASED WORK EXPERIENCES TO MEET THEIR NEEDS. KULANU PROVIDES, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR TEAM, JOB STRENGTHENING, JOB SEEKING, EMPLOYMENT SECUREMENT, EMPLOYMENT ACCLIMATION AND ORIENTATION, JOB COACHING AND JOB RETENTION SERVICES.KULANU ACADEMY'S VOCATIONAL DEPARTMENT HAS PARTNERED WITH OVER 100 LOCAL EMPLOYERS WHO ASSIST OUR STUDENTS IN BUILDING THEIR WORKPLACE READINESS SKILLS WHILE DEVELOPING THEIR VOCATIONAL INTERESTS TO PREPARE FOR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT. IN ADDITION, OUR TRANSITION TEAM WORKS CLOSELY WITH FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES AS THEIR WORKFORCE CHAPTER BEGINS.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Bridges Program
Vocational and life-readiness program for ages 18-22 with community-based internships, work readiness training, and independent living skills instruction.
DayHab
Day habilitation services providing personal, social, and vocational support to help individuals with developmental disabilities thrive in their communities.
High School Program
Offers Academic Development and Vocational Development classes with co-teaching models, NYS Regents preparation, and career readiness through the CDOS framework.
Kulanu Travels
Peer-based social activities on weekends and evenings to build friendships, confidence, and social skills for participants.
Middle School Program
Self-contained classrooms for grades 6-8 focusing on academic growth, social development, and vocational readiness with individualized instruction and small student-to-teacher ratios.
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Youth Workforce Readiness Programs 1 activity
    • Bridges Program for young adults with disabilities
      Operates the Bridges Program for individuals aged 18–22, focusing on vocational training, independent living skills, travel training, and banking through integrated classroom instruction and real-world application.
  • Day Habilitation Services 1 activity
    • Day Habilitation and personal development services
      Provides oversight and support to Day Habilitation staff and participants, focusing on personal, social, and vocational development for individuals with disabilities.
  • Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
    • Event space and facility rental services
      Operates a 3,000+ square foot event space that accommodates 80 to 200 guests and provides tables, chairs, and on-site maintenance for 4-hour rental events, including personalized brick installations along a walkway for donor recognition.
  • Family-School Engagement Programs 1 activity
    • Family support and advocacy services
      Offers family support services and collaborates with parents and professionals to ensure students receive necessary resources, educational support, and advocacy.
  • School Governance & Strategic Oversight 1 activity
    • Program and operational oversight
      Provides leadership and oversight for Kulanu Academy’s Educational, OPWDD, and ACCES-VR divisions, including Day Habilitation and Employment programs, ensuring internal compliance and effective program operations.
  • Adaptive Sports Programs 1 activity
    • Social and community engagement programs
      Organizes 40 peer-based social events annually across five towns to support community inclusion and social development for individuals with disabilities.
  • Special Education Day Schools 1 activity
    • Special education programs for students with disabilities
      Operates a middle school program for grades 6–8 with self-contained classrooms and provides a rigorous academic curriculum aligned with New York State Regents standards, including co-taught academic development classes in high school. Offers ongoing enrollment for children seeking special education services.
  • Special Education Support Services 1 activity
    • Therapeutic and clinical support services
      Provides comprehensive clinical therapeutic support including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and counseling delivered by licensed professionals in individualized settings. Also offers specialty classes in drama, art, and adaptive physical education to support social and emotional development.
  • Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
    • Vocational development and job readiness programs
      Offers a Vocational Development Class aligned with the New York State CDOS framework and provides resume development, job coaching, and individualized job readiness support. Manages school district contracts for volunteer worksites, workplace tours, and summer internships, with community-based internships supported by one-to-one job coaches through partnerships with over 100 local businesses.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$13.13M
Contributions & grants$2.70M21%
Program service revenue$8.30M63%
Investment income$489K4%
Other revenue$1.64M
expenses
Total expenses$8.95M
Program expenses66%
Admin / overhead31%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$6.73M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$17.92M
Cash$3.53M
Investments$0
Liabilities$5.83M
Net assets$12.09M
Liquid reserves4.7 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +69.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 6
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
BETH RASKIN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 60 $286K
IRA GREEN DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL MANA 40 $242K
DINA ROSENBERG DIRECTOR 40 $182K
GAYLE FREMED HUMAN RESOURCES 40 $108K
ESTHER WEINSTEIN-KROWN DIRECTOR 40 $101K
JOHNHANNA OTERO DIRECTOR 40 $101K
board members · 6
  • ALYSSA STERBA — SECRETARY
  • DAVID SHAPIRO — TRUSTEE
  • JEFFREY SCHOENFELD — TREASURER
  • JONATHAN GLAUBACH — TRUSTEE
  • MELODIE SCHARF — TRUSTEE
  • SANDRA SPEISER — TRUSTEE
relationships · 9

Who they work with

  • ACCES-VR Government — Kulanu Academy oversees an ACCES-VR division, indicating a formal relationship with the agency.
  • ACCES-VR Government — Partner agency providing vocational rehabilitation services.
  • ACCES-VR Government — Provides oversight of ACCES-VR services as part of vocational rehabilitation programs.
  • Kulanu Academy Network — Kulanu Travels and Kulanu Academy are programs under the Kulanu Center for Special Services, with shared leadership and mission.
  • New York State Government — Aligns academic program with New York State Regents standards and prepares students for state exams.
  • OPWDD Government — Kulanu Academy operates programs under OPWDD oversight, including Day Habilitation and Employment services.
  • OPWDD Government — Partner agency in service delivery for individuals with developmental disabilities.
  • over 100 local businesses Partner — Partners with local businesses to provide student internships and job skills training.
  • school district Partner — Manages a contract with an outside school district to coordinate volunteer worksites, scheduling, and workplace tours for vocational students.
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-as-Classroom Approach
    methodology: community-as-classroom
    By using the community as an extension of the classroom, students build vocational and independent living skills because real-world application strengthens skill retention, generalization, and confidence in authentic settings.
  • Differentiated Instruction with Task Analysis
    methodology: differentiated_instruction_with_task_analysis
    Through small student-to-teacher ratios, personalized instruction, and task-analyzed learning, students with special needs develop skills effectively because breaking tasks into discrete steps enables mastery through repetition and scaffolding.
  • Integrated Vocational Support Model
    methodology: integrated_vocational_support
    By coordinating ACCES-VR services, school partnerships, vocational training, and supported employment, individuals with disabilities achieve employment because integration across systems removes silos and aligns support around real-world job readiness.
  • Person-Centered Planning
    methodology: person-centered_planning
    By creating individually tailored treatment plans, the organization supports personal, social, and vocational development because customized approaches respond directly to individual needs and goals, increasing engagement and long-term outcomes.
  • Social-Connection-Based Class Placement
    methodology: social-connection-based_placement
    By prioritizing student social connection in class placement, the organization fosters meaningful peer relationships because strong social bonds improve emotional well-being, engagement, and learning outcomes.