irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $459KTRAINING & VOLUNTEER COORDINATION - FUNDS ARE USED TO TRAIN MEDIATORS, ACCORDING TO THE NYS UNIFIED COURT SYSTEMS MEDIATOR STANDARDS, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE OUR CORE SERVICE AS THIRD PARTY NEUTRALS IN MEDIATION, ARBITRATION AND FACT FINDING; TO EDUCATE INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND STUDENTS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION, MEDIATION, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF STRONG EMOTIONS; TO PROVIDE TEAM BUILDING AND ENHANCED EMPLOYEE RELATIONS TO IMPROVE THE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT IN BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS; SERVING APPROXIMATELY 1,000 VOLUNTEERS, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
City Housing Arbitration Program (CHAP)
Provides arbitration services for homeowners in Rochester who have received city-funded home improvement grants or loans, addressing disputes arising from the work or contract terms.
Mediator Training and Certification
Offers 35+ hour Basic Mediation Training and apprenticeship programs to certify volunteer mediators in community, custody & visitation, and specialized dispute resolution under NYS Unified Court System standards.
Peer Mediation Program
Provides schools with program development, training, and technical support to establish youth peer mediation programs that promote leadership, self-control, and restorative practices among students.
Restorative Practices in Schools
Offers in-school restorative circles—including conflict resolution, community conferencing, and re-entry circles—to repair harm, strengthen relationships, and support students returning from disciplinary actions.
Special Education Mediation
Free mediation service for parents and school districts to resolve disputes about a student’s special education placement, services, evaluation, or classification; funded by NYS SEDRC and offered as an alternative to impartial hearings.
Third Party Neutral Services
Deploys certified mediators, arbitrators, and hearing officers for commercial disputes, small claims, public housing hearings, government grant conflicts, and municipal proceedings.
activities · 2 groups
What they do
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Conflict Mediation & Resolution Services 4 activities
- Deliver conflict resolution education and training to organizations and communitiesProvides tailored conflict resolution training and consultation services to schools, workplaces, law enforcement, and community groups, including Implicit Bias Training, police-community outreach, civilian complaint reviews, and workplace conflict consultation, serving thousands of individuals annually.
- Operate specialized dispute resolution programs for vulnerable populationsAdministers targeted programs such as the Surrogate Decision Making Committee (SDMC) for mentally disabled individuals in state facilities without available surrogates, and no-cost mediation between parents and Early Intervention Officials or ACCES-VR representatives. Also provides Parent/Child Mediation and Conflict Coaching for co-parents.
- Provide mediation and arbitration services across civil dispute areasOffers in-person and virtual mediation and arbitration services for a wide range of civil disputes, including landlord-tenant housing claims, small claims, commercial/business conflicts, divorce and custody matters, special education disagreements, consumer issues (e.g., Lemon Law), agricultural disputes, and city housing improvement projects. Services are provided by neutral, certified specialists across eight counties in New York State's 7th Judicial District and statewide for select programs.
- Train and certify volunteer community mediatorsOffers a 35-hour Basic Mediation Training program followed by an apprenticeship requiring observations, co-mediations, and solo mediations. The program prepares individuals to serve as certified volunteer mediators in eight counties, with annual requirements of 6 hours of in-service training and at least 3 mediations to maintain certification.
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Restorative Justice and Peer Mediation Programs 1 activity
- Deliver restorative justice and community-building programs in schoolsProvides restorative practices in K–12 educational settings, including Restorative Community Building Circle Training, Peer Mediation Program development and support, Life Skills Workshops, Conflict Circles, Youth Restorative Community Conferencing, and Re-Entry Circles for students returning from disciplinary actions. These services aim to repair harm, build accountability, and improve school climate.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.61M
Contributions & grants$1.08M67%
Program service revenue$524K33%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.65M
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.23M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$891K
Cash$766K
Investments$0
Liabilities$667K
Net assets$224K
Liquid reserves5.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -5.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHIRA MAY | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $100K |
| JOSE CRUZADO | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS | 40 | $14K |
board members · 13
- AMY STORNELLO — DIRECTOR
- DR MILO OBOUORN — DIRECTOR
- FLO PAXSON — DIRECTOR
- JAMES WATERS JR — DIRECTOR
- JENNIFER CINTRON ESQ — DIRECTOR
- JONATHAN FERRIS ESQ — VICE-CHAIR - FORMER
- JOSEPH BROWN ESQ — CHAIR
- MARIO ROQUE — DIRECTOR
- MARISA WILSON — DIRECTOR
- MARY WILLIAMSON — SECRETARY
- PARRIS BRYANT II — TREASURER
- REV DR RICHARD N MYERS — DIRECTOR - FORMER
- TOM CALVERASE — DIRECTOR
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- 7th Judicial District Government — Provides mediation services for housing claims within the 7th Judicial District, offering both virtual and in-person sessions at multiple locations.
- ACCES-VR Partner — Collaborates with the Center to provide mediation between consumers and ACCES-VR representatives regarding vocational rehabilitation services.
- American Arbitration Association Government — Founded the original Community Dispute Services in Rochester, NY, in 1973, before the Center became an independent nonprofit in 1979.
- Chamber of Commerce Partner — Recognized the Center for Dispute Settlement for 35 years of service to Livingston County.
- City of Rochester Partner — Partners with the Center for the City Housing Arbitration Program (CHAP) to resolve contractor-homeowner disputes in city-funded home improvement projects.
- Commission on Quality Care and Assistance to People with Disabilities (CQCAPD) Partner — Refers cases to the Center's Surrogate Decision Making Committee for medical decision-making on behalf of mentally disabled individuals in state facilities.
- Hilton NY Partner — Host site for the Restorative Practices Circle Training.
- K-12 educators Partner — Target participants in free Restorative Practices Circle Training.
- NYS Special Education Dispute Resolution Center Government — Funds the Special Education Mediation program provided by CDS.
- NYS Unified Court System Government — Provides the official mediator standards used to train staff and volunteers.
- New York State Department of Health Government — Oversees the Early Intervention Program in which the Center provides mediation services.
- New York State Office of the Attorney General Government — Administers the Lemon Law program for which the Center serves as the local arbitration administrator.
- New York State Unified Court System Government — Provides oversight and certification for the Center's mediators and dispute resolution specialists.
- Shira May Government — President/CEO of Center for Dispute Settlement Inc
- Unified Court System Government — Collaborates with the Unified Court System on training requirements and mediator certification standards.
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.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution as Systemic Interventionmethodology: alternative-dispute-resolutionBy offering mediation, arbitration, and fact-finding as alternatives to litigation, the organization reduces costs and delays in justice access because third-party neutral processes enable faster, more collaborative resolutions across commercial, family, and community sectors.
- Client-Centered Customization for Accessibility and Equitymethodology: client-centered_mediationBy tailoring conflict resolution services and trainings to client needs, the organization increases engagement and effectiveness because voluntary, confidential, equitable, and accessible design fosters inclusion and ownership of outcomes.
- Community-Embedded Dispute Resolution Systemsmethodology: community-embedded_conflict_resolutionBy embedding dispute resolution services and training into local institutions like schools and municipal agencies, the organization prevents escalation and reduces system overload because early, localized intervention strengthens community self-efficacy and reduces reliance on formal justice systems.
- Restorative Justice and Practices for Community Healingmethodology: restorative_justiceBy applying restorative justice models and practices such as victim/offender mediation and community circles, the organization addresses harm and builds relational trust because healing-centered processes reduce recidivism and strengthen community cohesion.
- Transformative Mediation Modelmethodology: transformative_mediationBy using a transformative mediation framework, the organization shifts conflict interactions from destructive to constructive patterns, increasing participants' mutual understanding and decision-making capacity because empowerment and recognition are central to resolving disputes constructively.