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JOURNEY'S END REFUGEE SERVICES INC
BUFFALO, NY · EIN 161242203 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Large ($10M-$50M) · jersbuffalo.org
revenue
$14.5M
expenses
$12.8M
net assets
$5.8M
employees
312
volunteers
780
program ratio
80%
mission · from form 990

FORMED TO SPONSOR AND RESETTLE REFUGEES TO WESTERN NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ETHNIC ORIGIN OR CREED, TO LINK SUCH REFUGEES TO EXISTING SOCIAL SERVICES, AND TO TAKE ALL APPROPRIATE STEPS TO FOSTER A HEALTHY SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY AMONG REFUGEES LIVING IN THE WESTERN NEW YORK AREA.

profile · synthesized from sources

JOURNEY'S END REFUGEE SERVICES INC supports refugees and immigrants in Western New York through resettlement, education, employment, and legal services. The organization helps newly arrived families establish homes, access healthcare and schooling, gain employment, and navigate immigration processes. It also operates social enterprises like an urban farm and professional interpretation services to promote self-sufficiency and community integration.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $1.66M
    FUNDS ARE USED TO HELP NEWLY ARRIVED REFUGEES FIND AND RETAIN JOBS IN THE AREA, FOR UP TO FIVE YEARS. STATE FUNDING IS USED TO PROVIDE EDUCATION SERVICES FOR REFUGEES, IMMIGRANTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FREE OF CHARGE. INTENSIVE ENGLISH AS ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE CLASSES ARE OFFERED AT THE BEGINNER, INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED LEVEL. HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY CLASSES ARE AVAILABLE FOR TASC TEST PREPARATION. ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES ARE USED FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND MENTORING PROGRAMS.
  2. #2 $3.21M
    THE IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM (ILSP) AT JOURNEY'S END REFUGEE SERVICES PROVIDES PRO BONO LEGAL ASSISTANCE ON A WIDE RANGE OF IMMIGRATION MATTERS BEFORE U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES (USCIS) AND IMMIGRATION COURT. MATTERS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS (GREEN CARDS), NATURALIZATION, EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION, FAMILY REUNIFICATION, ASYLUM, AND REMOVAL DEFENSE. LEGAL SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH THE ILSP INCLUDE DIRECT REPRESENTATION, ADVICE AND COUNSEL, BRIEF SERVICES, PRO-SE ASSISTANCE, AND COMMUNITY LEGAL EDUCATION. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ACROSS 21 COUNTIES IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, INCLUDING AT PRIMARY OFFICES IN BUFFALO AND SATELLITE OFFICES IN ROCHESTER AND BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.
named programs · 9 · from sources

What they call their work

Brewster Street Farm
Urban farm providing adult refugees with farming and marketing skills; grows over 3,000 lbs of produce annually, with one-third donated to improve food security.
Education
Provides daily English as a Second Language (ESL), High School Equivalency (TASC), and cultural orientation classes for adult immigrants.
Employment & Entrepreneurship
Offers job placement, training, and entrepreneurship programs to promote economic self-sufficiency among refugees and immigrants.
Immigrant Resource Program
Engages Immigrant Community Leadership Fellows—current and aspiring leaders from immigrant communities—to advocate for newcomer populations.
Immigration Legal Services Program (ILSP)
Offers pro bono legal assistance on adjustment of status, naturalization, asylum, family reunification, and removal defense across 21 Upstate NY counties.
Language Services
Professional in-person, phone, and video interpretation in 50+ languages and document translation in 25+ languages, serving healthcare, legal, and community organizations.
Refugee Asylee Mentoring Program (RAMP)
Pairs refugee and asylee youth aged 15–24 with adult mentors to support educational, personal, and professional development.
Refugee School Impact Program (RSIP)
Supports refugee children’s transition into U.S. schools by empowering parents to become effective partners in their education.
Resettlement
Provides airport pickups, apartment set-ups, cultural orientation, and coordination of health care, education, and employment services for newly arrived refugee families.
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • Language Access Services 2 activities
    • Interpretation and Translation Services
      Provides professional in-person, telephone, and video remote interpretation in over 50 languages, along with document translation in over 25 languages for legal, medical, and organizational use. Offers interpreter-assisted appointment scheduling and reminders to clients and partner organizations across Western New York.
    • Language Access Capacity Building for Organizations
      Provides capacity-building services to other organizations, including customizable staff training on effective use of interpreters and development of custom Language Access Plans to improve communication with limited English proficient populations.
  • Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Services 2 activities
    • Refugee Resettlement Services
      Provides comprehensive resettlement support for newly arrived refugees, including airport pick-ups, apartment furnishings through volunteer groups, cultural orientation, and coordination of health care, mental health, education, and employment services. Supports refugee families during their initial transition and integration into the U.S.
    • Refugee School Impact Program (RSIP)
      Supports refugee parents in navigating and advocating within the U.S. education system for their children. Provides academic and social support to refugee children transitioning into American schools, including interpreting services and parent training in collaboration with Buffalo Public Schools’ Multilingual Department. Also operates a four-week summer orientation program and targeted academic workshops such as a Math Enrichment Spring Break Workshop for grades 3–12.
  • ESL and Citizenship Instruction 1 activity
    • Adult Education and Language Services
      Offers English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, including conversational English, literacy, and workforce preparation. Provides High School Equivalency (TASC/GED) preparation and citizenship/naturalization tutoring. Also offers remote instruction options for learners with accessibility or caregiving constraints.
  • Community-Based Urban Agriculture 1 activity
    • Brewster Street Farm Urban Agriculture Program
      Operates an urban farm managed by former refugees that grows over 3,000 pounds of culturally relevant produce annually. Offers training in farming and marketing skills, supports nine refugee farmers with stipends and dedicated plots, sells produce via CSA shares and a weekly farm stand, and donates approximately one-third of harvest to food-insecure families. Engages over 30 volunteers each season.
  • Cultural Exchange and Community Integration Events 1 activity
    • Community Integration and Civic Engagement Events
      Organizes community information events, workshops, and trainings on topics including civic engagement, health care, mental health, employment, education, and immigration. Hosts sessions for both individuals and organizational partners to support integration and informed participation in community life.
  • Immigration Legal Services 1 activity
    • Immigration Legal Services
      Provides free or low-cost immigration legal representation to refugees, asylees, and immigrants for matters including naturalization, permanent residency, family reunification, asylum, DACA, employment authorization, and removal defense. Services include direct representation, legal advice, brief services, pro se assistance, and community legal education, delivered in partnership with the NYS Office for New Americans and the Liberty Defense Project.
  • Legal Education and Career Pipeline Programs 1 activity
    • Legal Internship Program
      Hosts current law students as interns in its Immigration Legal Services Program each semester, providing experiential learning opportunities in immigration law and advocacy.
  • Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
    • Mobile Food Pantry and Food Security Initiatives
      Hosts a monthly mobile food pantry in partnership with FeedMore WNY to distribute food to the community. Supplements this through donations of surplus produce from Brewster Street Farm to local food pantries, community refrigerators, and resettled refugee families.
  • Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
    • Workforce Development and Economic Self-Sufficiency Programs
      Offers job placement, job retention support, job training, and entrepreneurship programs to promote economic independence among refugees and immigrants. Services are available for up to five years post-arrival.
  • Youth One-on-One Mentoring 1 activity
    • Youth Mentoring Program (RAMP)
      Operates the Refugee Asylee Mentoring Program (RAMP), which pairs refugee and asylee youth aged 15–24 with adult mentors for one-on-one relationships focused on personal, academic, career, and social development. Includes weekly evening group meetings, workshops, field trips, and transportation and technology support such as free Chromebooks.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$14.47M
Contributions & grants$13.66M94%
Program service revenue$728K5%
Investment income$41K0%
Other revenue$37K
expenses
Total expenses$12.82M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$8.58M
Grants paid out$2.06M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$7.07M
Cash$1.20M
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.30M
Net assets$5.77M
Liquid reserves1.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +34.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
SCOTT ROSENHECK CFO 40 $135K
PAMELA KEFI CEO 40 $118K
board members · 17
  • ARLENE KAUKUS — BOARD MEMBER
  • ARRIANNA HART — BOARD MEMBER/SECRETARY
  • BEATRICE SINGH-ARNONE — BOARD MEMBER (12/31/2024)
  • BLAKE WALSH — BOARD MEMBER
  • BOGDANA SOKOLOV — BOARD MEMBER
  • CHRISTINE MUREKEYISONI — BOARD MEMBER
  • DAVID COMSTOCK — BOARD MEMBER
  • DURGHAM ALYASIRI — BOARD MEMBER
  • ELYSE FUERST — BOARD MEMBER
  • GAELIN CARRIG — BOARD MEMBER (1/31/2024)
  • HEATHER HENRY RAWLINS — BOARD MEMBER
  • HEIN SAW — BOARD MEMBER
  • JEREMY WADSWORTH — BOARD MEMBER/VICE-CHAIR
  • KAREN ANDOLINA SCOTT — CEO (TO 1/20/2024)
  • LEE HUBER — BOARD MEMBER/TREASURER
  • RACHAEL HOMEWOOD — BOARD MEMBER (12/31/2024)
  • TONYA DAVIS — BOARD MEMBER/CHAIR
relationships · 24

Who they work with

  • Buffalo Public Schools Partner — Collaborates on the Refugee School Impact Program, including joint delivery of services through the Multilingual Department and co-running the Jumpstart summer program.
  • Church World Service Network — Journey's End is an affiliate of the national agency Church World Service.
  • Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County Partner — Partner organization supporting farm operations through ongoing collaboration and donations.
  • Department of Justice Government — Accredits representatives within the Immigration Legal Services Program to provide legal assistance.
  • Erie County Department of Health Partner — Receives interpreter referrals and collaborates with Journey's End for language access services.
  • Executive Office for Immigration Review Government — Agency before which Journey's End staff represent clients in removal defense and other immigration proceedings.
  • FeedMore WNY Partner — Partners with Journey's End to operate a monthly mobile food pantry.
  • Grassroots Gardens Partner — Partner organization supporting farm operations through ongoing collaboration and donations.
  • Houghton College Partner — Partners with Journey’s End in operating the Jumpstart summer program for newly arrived refugee students.
  • IRP team Partner — Collaborates with the Immigrant Resource Program team to plan and host community information events.
  • Immigration Court Government — Provides legal representation and defense in immigration court, including removal defense and asylum cases.
  • Johnny’s Selected Seeds Partner — Donor partner providing seed donations to support seasonal farming activities.
  • Liberty Defense Project Partner — Collaborates to provide immigration legal representation to low-income refugees and immigrants.
  • Literacy NY Partner — Partner in delivering adult ESOL programs.
  • NYS Department of Education Government — Supports adult ESOL programming through partnership.
  • NYS Office for New Americans Partner — Collaborates to provide immigration legal representation to low-income refugees and immigrants.
  • NYS Office for New Americans Partner — Partner in delivering adult ESOL programs.
  • OLV Human Services Partner — Hosts satellite locations for ESOL and GED preparation classes in Lackawanna, NY.
  • Paige Kelschenbach Partner — Program Manager for the Refugee Asylee Mentoring Program, responsible for coordinating mentee participation and program operations.
  • SUNY Erie Pathways to Success Partner — Partnership to deliver ESOL and GED preparation programs, enabling student transitions to SUNY Erie.
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Government — Agency before which Journey's End staff represent clients in immigration matters.
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Government — Provides legal services before USCIS on immigration matters such as adjustment of status, naturalization, and employment authorization.
  • WNY Americorps Partner — Partners with Journey’s End in operating the Jumpstart summer program for newly arrived refugee students.
  • WeRadiate Partner — Partner organization supporting farm operations through donations and collaboration.
strategies · 4

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-Led Integration Model
    methodology: community_led_service_delivery
    By training and empowering refugees and immigrants as leaders, volunteers, and educators, Journey's End increases program relevance and community ownership because lived experience enhances cultural trust, service adoption, and systemic advocacy.
  • Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Service Delivery
    methodology: cultural_and_linguistic_responsiveness
    By using bilingual staff, interpreters, and culturally tailored academic coaching, Journey's End improves engagement and outcomes because bridging linguistic and cultural gaps reduces systemic exclusion and strengthens connections between families, schools, and institutions.
  • Integrated Pathways to Integration
    methodology: integrated_pathways_model
    By combining resettlement, education, employment, legal, and language services into a coordinated system, Journey's End produces long-term refugee integration because interconnected support systems address structural barriers simultaneously and enable sustained self-sufficiency.
  • Mentorship-Based Youth Integration
    methodology: mentoring_for_integration
    By pairing refugee youth with long-term adult mentors and combining one-on-one guidance with group programming, Journey's End fosters holistic development in academic, career, health, and financial domains because sustained relational support builds resilience and navigational capacity in new environments.