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FOCUS CHURCHES OF ALBANY INC
Albany, NY · EIN 300257933 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE P20 · Human Services · Small ($100K-$1M) · focuschurches.net
revenue
$801K
expenses
$814K
net assets
$275K
employees
12
volunteers
202
program ratio
92%
mission · from form 990

FOCUS serves food insecure households, and those unhoused, in downtown Albany, New York. FOCUS achieves its mission through an interfaith food pantry network, and by a three day a week breakfast soup kitchen program primarily serving those unhoused. Further, FOCUS works collaboratively with other area human service organizations, government entities and other concerned citizens to advocate and address the root causes that lead to poverty and food insecurity. Services are open and available to all members of the public in need.

profile · synthesized from sources

FOCUS Churches of Albany provides food assistance and community support to food-insecure and unhoused individuals in downtown Albany, New York. Through an interfaith network, it operates a food pantry and a three-day-a-week breakfast program. The organization also engages in advocacy and collaborates with local partners to address root causes of poverty and food insecurity.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2021

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $51K
    Community Ministry: The Director of FOCUS oversaw four worship services during the year that brought together the six congregations of FOCUS Churches along with other community friends that provide the primary core of support for the organization. The Director provided pastoral care and support to people on the street, using grants of cash or vouchers for service, where appropriate. Advocacy for legislation and government funding supporting living wage levels and food security for the poor was pursued with the public and with government officials.
  2. #2 $13K
    Learning Support for Children: In coordination with Albany Public School District, FOCUS Churches prepared 100 grade-appropriate back packs filled with basic school supplies. Bulk volumes of supplies were also furnished to the local schools for distribution by school counselors to children of low-income families during the year.
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

FOCUS Cold Breakfast Club
Provides breakfast and community connection three days a week to unhoused and food-insecure individuals in downtown Albany.
FOCUS Food Pantry
Interfaith food pantry network distributing groceries to food-insecure households in Albany.
Hot Dog Thursdays
Summer meal program offering free lunches and conversation to community members.
SNAP Benefits Assistance
Community outreach program helping individuals apply for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 3 activities
    • Distributes sack lunches and prepared meals to vulnerable populations
      Prepares and distributes sack lunches (one per person) to guests, tracked via sign-in lists, and provides additional meal support through events like the July 4th Food Fest and donations to homeless services such as IPH’s Safe Haven Program. Served over 12,780 meals through the FOCUS Food Pantry in one month alone.
    • Operates interfaith food pantry and client-choice food distribution
      Operates a daily food pantry that distributes food to guests using a client-choice model, where individuals select preferred items based on family size and state/federal guidelines. The program relies on volunteer support for check-in, packing, SNAP enrollment assistance, food transport from the Regional Food Bank, and administrative tasks.
    • Runs multi-day breakfast programs for unhoused individuals
      Operates a three-day-a-week winter breakfast program and seasonal outdoor programs—including the Cold Breakfast Club and Breakfast Express—providing hot meals such as oatmeal, meat, coffee, cereal, toast, fruit, yogurt, and sandwiches to unhoused individuals in downtown Albany. These programs run at Westminster Presbyterian Church and outdoors during favorable weather.
  • Food Policy Advocacy & Nutrition Education 1 activity
    • Conducts advocacy for living wage and food security policies
      Engages in advocacy with the public and government officials to advance legislation and secure funding for living wage policies and food security initiatives benefiting low-income individuals.
  • Holiday and Seasonal Essentials Distribution 1 activity
    • Distributes essential winter clothing to guests
      Organizes the Winter Wear Drive to distribute essential winter clothing to all guests of the Breakfast Club program.
  • Back-to-School Supply Distribution 1 activity
    • Distributes school supplies and conducts gardening education for low-income children
      Distributes backpacks filled with school supplies to children in need—100 in one year and 250 in another—and provides bulk supplies to schools for counselors to distribute. Also conducts gardening education sessions with low-income elementary school children, reaching 114 participants in one year.
  • Youth and Young Adult Spiritual Engagement 1 activity
    • Hosts combined summer worship services with children's programming and refreshments
      Hosts combined summer worship services in partnership with covenant churches, offering children's activities for pre-K through 3rd grade and providing refreshments such as coffee and snacks after services.
  • Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 1 activity
    • Provides pastoral care and material assistance to unhoused individuals
      Delivers pastoral care and direct support to unhoused individuals on the street through an interfaith network of six congregations, including cash or voucher assistance.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$801K
Contributions & grants$792K99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$5K1%
Other revenue$3K
expenses
Total expenses$814K
Program expenses92%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$362K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$324K
Cash$287K
Investments$0
Liabilities$49K
Net assets$275K
Liquid reserves4.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +34.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Fred Boehrer Executive Director through Oct 2024 35 $71K
Richard Becker Interim Executive Director As of Jun 2024 35 $27K
board members · 21
  • Amy Steiner — Board Member - Financial Secretary and Vice President
  • Annette Johnson — Board Member
  • Becky Hudak — Board Member
  • Chanchilo Ezung — Board Member Through Jan 2024
  • Curtis Klope — Board Member Through Jan 2024
  • Heather Diddel — Board Member
  • Imani Brewer — Board Member Through Jan 2024
  • Karen Brown — Board Member
  • Kristine Wilhelm — Board Member
  • Michael Cooper — Board Member
  • Nancy Horan — Board Member
  • Ned Trudeau — Board Member
  • Rev Brigid Beckman — Board Member
  • Rev Chris Vande Bunte — Board Member - Secretary
  • Rev Glenn Leupold — Board Member
  • Rev Heather Kirk-Davidoff — Board Member
  • Rev Jake Chipka — Board Member As of Jan 2024
  • Rev Kathy Donley — Board Member - President
  • Rev Mashona Walston — Board Member Through Feb 2024
  • Rev Rebecca Richards — Board Member
  • Rev Trey Tirpak — Board Member As of Feb 2024
relationships · 42

Who they work with

  • Albany Public School District Partner — Collaborated with FOCUS Churches to distribute school supplies and support children from low-income families.
  • CDPHP Funder — Supported FOCUS initiatives with resources for winter coats and blood pressure screenings.
  • Capital Area Council of Churches Partner — Partnered on ecumenical and community service initiatives.
  • Capital Region Ecumenical Organization Partner — Engaged in regional interfaith collaboration and community programs.
  • Congregation Beth Emeth Partner — Partner congregation located in Albany, NY
  • Delmar Reformed Church Network — Covenant partner congregation of FOCUS Churches of Albany.
  • Delmar Reformed Church Partner — Covenant church hosting FOCUS Combined Summer Worship services.
  • Delmar Reformed Church Partner — Member congregation represented on the board of directors
  • Emmanuel Baptist Church Network — Founding member congregation of FOCUS Churches of Albany.
  • Emmanuel Baptist Church Partner — Hosts the FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry at its facility.
  • Emmanuel Baptist Church Partner — Member congregation represented on the board of directors
  • First Lutheran Church of Albany Partner — Partner congregation located in Albany, NY
  • First Presbyterian Church Network — Founding member congregation of FOCUS Churches of Albany.
  • First Presbyterian Church of Albany Partner — Member congregation represented on the board of directors
  • First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany Partner — Partner congregation located in Albany, NY
  • First United Methodist Church Partner — Partner congregation located in Delmar, NY
  • Five covenant churches Network — Core member churches in formal covenant with FOCUS Churches of Albany.
  • Four faith affiliates Partner — Affiliated faith-based organizations collaborating with FOCUS.
  • Hunger Action Network of NYS Partner — Collaborated on initiatives related to hunger and food security.
  • IPH Partner — Partnered with IPH to provide 90 lunches to its Safe Haven Program serving the homeless community.
  • IPH’s Safe Haven Program Partner — Partner organization receiving meal donations from FOCUS Churches of Albany.
  • Interfaith Alliance Partner — Partnered on interfaith dialogue and action initiatives.
  • Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless Partner — Collaborated on programs addressing homelessness in the Capital Region.
  • Israel African Methodist Episcopal Church Network — Member congregation of FOCUS Churches of Albany until 2015.
  • Labor-Religion Coalition Partner — Collaborated on social justice and labor-religion solidarity efforts.
  • Metropolitan Community Church of the Hudson Valley Network — Member congregation of FOCUS Churches of Albany until its closure.
  • New Covenant Presbyterian Church Partner — Partner congregation located in Albany, NY
  • Regional Food Bank Partner — Partner organization from which FOCUS picks up food supplies and that requires civil rights training compliance for staff and volunteers.
  • Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY Partner — Partner organization supplying food for the FOCUS Breakfast Club program.
  • St. Andrews Episcopal Church Partner — Partner congregation located in Albany, NY
+ 12 more
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.

  • Client-Choice Distribution Model
    methodology: client_choice_model
    By allowing guests to select their own food and personal care items, we increase dignity and engagement in services, because autonomy fosters a sense of respect and personal agency that improves utilization and reduces waste.
  • Collective Impact through Inter-Church and Interfaith Collaboration
    methodology: collective_action
    By uniting multiple churches and interfaith partners in coordinated service and advocacy, we amplify community impact beyond what any single congregation could achieve, because collective action increases resource capacity, reach, and influence on systemic issues.
  • Integrated Wraparound Services with Advocacy
    methodology: wraparound_services
    By combining direct food assistance with emotional, spiritual, and practical support — including referrals and advocacy — we address both immediate needs and systemic causes of poverty, because holistic intervention leads to more sustainable outcomes than charity alone.