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CITIZENS OPTIONS UNLIMITED INC

Brookville, NY · EIN 261520311 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Very Large (>$50M) · citizens-inc.org
revenue
$80.8M
expenses
$76.6M
net assets
$6.7M
employees
1,392
volunteers
78
program ratio
93%
mission · from form 990

Citizens Options Unlimited, Inc ("Citizens") supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities ("I/DD") to live the lives they choose. Services includes Individual Residential Alternative ("IRA"), Intermediate Care Facility ("ICF"), Respite (Camp Loyaltown, Hunter, NY) and Self Direction services.

profile · synthesized from sources

Citizens Options Unlimited supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in New York, helping them live independently through residential services, respite care, and self-direction programs. The organization operates homes across Nassau and Suffolk counties and runs Camp Loyaltown in Hunter, NY, a summer camp offering recreational and social opportunities. Services are primarily funded through state programs and support individuals in choosing where to live, work, and participate in the community.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $24.09M
    Individual residential alternatives services ("IRA") - Citizens, Inc. provides residential services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The residential program consists of 24 houses in Nassau and Suffolk counties. As of December 31, 2024, the IRA program consisted of 24 locations with capacity to serve up to 152 individuals. For the year ended December 31, 2024, Citizens, Inc. provided IRA services to an average of 141 individuals.
  2. #2 $5.10M
    Self Direction - Citizens, Inc. provides Self-Direction services that allows people to develop a self-directed plan supporting choices as to where to live, day activities, friends and relationships and how to participate in the community.
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Camp Loyaltown
Operates a summer camp in Hunter, NY for children and adults with developmental disabilities, offering one- and two-week sessions focused on recreation, socialization, and independence in a safe, supportive environment.
Residential Supports
Offers Individual Residential Alternative (IRA) services through 24 homes in Nassau and Suffolk counties, providing long-term housing and support for up to 152 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Respite Services
Provides weekend, overnight, and summer camp respite options for families, including weekend respite in Brookville and residential respite in Nassau County, NY.
Self-Direction Services
Provides Support Broker and Fiscal Intermediary services to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities create and manage personalized support plans, including hiring staff and managing budgets under the OPWDD HCBS Waiver.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Specialized Summer Camps for Disabilities 2 activities
    • Deliver recreational and therapeutic activities through camp and community programs
      Provides daily recreational activities such as swimming, nature exploration, art creation, animal care, and group activities for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Camp Loyaltown campers' artwork is showcased in public exhibits, and programs emphasize social skills, autonomy, and teamwork.
    • Operate summer and overnight respite programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities
      Operates Camp Loyaltown, a summer overnight camp in Hunter, NY, serving over 600 children and adults with developmental disabilities annually through 1-week and 2-week sessions. Also provides short-term overnight residential respite care in Nassau County and weekend respite services on the Brookville campus. These programs offer structured recreational activities and support personal care, socialization, and independence.
  • Guardianship and Representative Payee Services 1 activity
    • Facilitate Self-Direction services including Support Broker and Fiscal Intermediary functions
      Provides Self-Direction services that enable individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to control their support and service planning. Offers Support Broker and Fiscal Intermediary services, including assistance with forming Circles of Support, budget management, staff recruitment and training, Medicaid compliance, payroll, billing, and habilitation planning.
  • Healthcare Compliance and Ethics Programs 1 activity
    • Operate compliance and quality assurance programs
      Operates a Compliance Program to prevent, detect, and correct non-compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including Federal health care program requirements. Maintains accreditation from the American Camp Association and operates under an annual permit from the Department of Health with pre- and in-season inspections.
  • Residential Support for Developmental Disabilities 1 activity
    • Provide residential services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
      Provides Individual Residential Alternative (IRA) services and other residential supports to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Nassau and Suffolk counties. In 2024, served an average of 141 individuals across 24 residential locations. Services are based on person-centered planning and include support with daily living and community engagement.
  • Respite Care for Developmental Disabilities 1 activity
    • Provide year-round respite services for adults with developmental disabilities
      Offers respite services for adults aged 18 and over with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including weekend, overnight, and summer camp options. Services are delivered by trained staff and aim to support caregivers while promoting independence and well-being for individuals.
  • Intake and Referral Coordination 1 activity
    • Support individuals and families in navigating the OPWDD Front Door process
      Operates a Central Enrollment Team to assist individuals and families in accessing services through the OPWDD Front Door system, providing guidance and support to ensure timely enrollment and service coordination.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$80.80M
Contributions & grants$3.98M5%
Program service revenue$76.51M95%
Investment income$260K0%
Other revenue$53K
expenses
Total expenses$76.62M
Program expenses93%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$50.94M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$37.04M
Cash$4.86M
Investments$20K
Liabilities$30.30M
Net assets$6.75M
Liquid reserves0.8 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +13.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 6
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Georgeann Sciulla Assistant House Manager 40 $219K
Sally Anne Burgess Vice President of Operations 35 $218K
Mary B Gilleran Director 35 $203K
Peter R Drago Licensed Practical Nurse 40 $194K
Amelita Gerbeau Direct Support Professional 40 $191K
Martha C Garavito Director 35 $189K
board members · 8
  • Devon Rivera — Director
  • Edward Perlow L DDS — Director
  • Ellen Moore — Secretary
  • Hallie Klein — President
  • Joseph P Bosnack Jr — Vice President
  • Kathleen C Maggi — Director
  • Leng Lao — Director
  • Tricia E Belford — Director
relationships · 11

Who they work with

  • AHRC Foundation Funder — Facilitates stock donations through the AHRC Foundation for supporting children and adults with developmental disabilities.
  • AHRC Foundation Partner — Collaborates on events such as the AHRC Foundation Walk 2026.
  • AHRC Foundation Partner — Collaborates on the Foundation Walk to raise funds for education, early intervention, residential programs, and healthcare access.
  • AHRC Nassau Partner — Hosts weekend respite services on its Brookville campus in Nassau County, NY.
  • AHRC Nassau Partner — Partners with AHRC Nassau to expand access to services, resources, and community relationships for individuals and families in Nassau and Suffolk County.
  • American Camp Association Network — Camp Loyaltown is accredited by the American Camp Association.
  • New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Government — Funds and oversees Self-Direction services; determines eligibility and sets policy framework for HCBS Waiver programs.
  • New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Government — Works with OPWDD to support individuals navigating the Front Door eligibility and enrollment process.
  • Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) Government — Regulatory oversight of Intermediate Care Facilities through annual auditing process.
  • The Council on Quality and Leadership Government — Accredited by The Council on Quality and Leadership, which sets international standards for person-centered services and quality of life outcomes.
  • Waldo Partner — Photo management partner used to share camp photos through public galleries.
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.

  • Choice-Based Programming for Skill Development and Autonomy
    methodology: choice_based_programming
    By allowing individuals with developmental disabilities to make daily choices about their activities—particularly in camp and residential settings—the organization fosters independence and self-determination because experiential decision-making builds confidence and life skills.
  • Participant-Engaged Donor Recognition
    methodology: participant_engagement_in_communication
    By involving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in donor acknowledgment through showcasing their artwork on donation cards, the organization strengthens dignity and inclusion because it positions participants as contributors rather than solely recipients of support.
  • Person-Centered Planning and Self-Direction Model
    methodology: person_centered_planning
    By centering individuals' goals, preferences, and life plans in the design of support services, the organization increases autonomy, engagement, and quality of life because it prioritizes personal choice over standardized service delivery. This is operationalized through self-direction models and support brokerage that enable individuals to control how, when, and by whom services are provided.