named programs · 8 · from sources
What they call their work
College Prep
Supports youth in higher education pursuits, including scholarship opportunities and academic guidance, though specific program details are not detailed.
Denise McCoy Literacy Award
Annual award recognizing a children's book for grades 3–5, selected by youth and committee, often accompanied by an author visit to an inner-city school.
Denise McCoy Memorial Scholarship
Scholarship fund established in 2004 to support higher education access for youth in the program.
Healthy Living Program
Combines gardening, nutrition education, and physical activity through summer classes that integrate reading and environmental learning.
Junior Team Tennis (JTT)
Competitive team tennis league for youth, with divisions by age and skill level; runs November–March with playoffs in April and potential advancement to sectional championships.
Literacy Program
Provides one-on-one reading support, summer reading challenges, and book distribution; includes a Reading and Gardening combo class and partnerships with local schools.
STEM Program
Free weekly summer science program for children ages 8–14 in partnership with SUNY Polytechnic Institute, featuring hands-on experiments and guided exploration.
Tennis Program
Free tennis and life skills instruction for children ages 4–18, offered year-round indoors (October–April) and outdoors (June–August) in Albany, Schenectady, Troy, and Rensselaer.
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Youth and Community Tennis Instruction 3 activities
- Competitive youth team tennis programFields teams in USTA Junior Team Tennis leagues with six divisions based on age and skill level, hosting 10 matches per team from November to March and advancing top teams to playoffs in April. Matches are held on weekends at four partner facilities in Schenectady, Latham, Old Chatham, and Wilton.
- Excellence Program for advanced tennis and leadership developmentOffers an advanced tennis instruction program to prepare committed youth for competitive play at the high school and collegiate levels, including multi-year coaching and leadership roles. Alumni often return as instructors and coaches.
- Youth tennis instruction and programmingProvides free tennis lessons and year-round programming for youth ages 4–18 across multiple sites in Albany, Troy, Schenectady, and Rensselaer, including indoor sessions from October to April and outdoor sessions from June to August. Offers adaptive sessions for all ages and operates at community parks such as Lincoln Park, Arbor Hill, Westland Hills, Hoffman Park, Michigan Ave Park, Central Park, Jerry Burrell, Prospect Park, and Riverfront Park.
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College Access and Success Support 1 activity
- College preparation and leadership programOperates a five-year College Prep & Leadership Program starting in 8th grade, offering weekly group meetings and one-on-one support for college applications, financial aid, and decision-making processes.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Denise McCoy Literacy AwardPresents an annual award to a children's book selected by a committee and youth readers, featuring an author visit to an inner-city school.
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Children's Book Distribution Programs 1 activity
- Literacy support and book distributionProvides literacy programming through one-on-one volunteer tutoring, hands-on reading and writing activities, a weekly reading enrichment program at Sheridan Prep Academy, and a summer reading challenge where children earn prizes and take home free books. Distributes new and used children's books year-round through Book Giveaway Days and summer sites.
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Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
- STEM education for youthOffers a free weekly STEM program for children aged 8–14 at its Albany office, using hands-on experiments and guided exploration. Integrates USTA Foundation/NJTL STEM curriculum into summer tennis lessons and runs a summer STEM club for younger participants to explore scientific concepts.
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Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
- Scholarship funding for higher educationFunds the Denise McCoy Memorial Scholarship, providing financial assistance for up to four years of higher education to graduates of the organization’s programs.
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Summer Academic Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Summer youth development programRuns a structured summer program from late June to mid-August that integrates tennis, STEM experiments, reading, gardening, nutrition, and teamwork activities. Includes a reading and gardening class on Mondays and a STEM class on Wednesdays at the Albany office.
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Youth Sports Access and Equipment Support 1 activity
- Tennis equipment distributionDistributes tennis rackets to children who do not have one, allowing them to keep the equipment.
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Youth Sports Community Events 1 activity
- Youth enrichment events and field tripsOrganizes Game Days/Jamborees with competitive tennis and prizes, and hosts annual field trips to events such as the US Open’s Arthur Ashe Kids Day, local tennis tournaments, and cultural outings including plays, movies, and museums.
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Alumni Leadership and Career Support Programs 1 activity
- Youth leadership and alumni engagement in governanceEngages long-term alumni in organizational leadership by transitioning former participants into coaching, instructional, and board governance roles.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.01M
Contributions & grants$608K60%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$256K25%
Other revenue$142K
expenses
Total expenses$572K
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$364K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.96M
Cash$423K
Investments$2.10M
Liabilities$21K
Net assets$2.94M
Liquid reserves52.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +31.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMBER MARINO | Executive Direc | 50 | $86K |
board members · 17
- FARDIN SANAI — Director
- HERBERT L SHULTZ JR — Director
- INGE JACOBS — Director
- JAMES FOWLER — Treasurer
- JENNIFER GOMEZ — Director
- JESSICA DAILEY — Secretary
- JOHN NIGRO — Director
- JONATHAN JONES — Vice President
- KHADIJAH PEEK — Director
- MARGARET MALICKI — President
- MEG MAC CLARENCE — Director
- MIKE MURRAY — Director
- NINO ALIVODIC — Director
- PHILIP FIELDS — Director
- RAYMOND WALKER — Director
- ROBERT A SCHMITZ — Director
- THOMAS SCHMITZ — Director
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- 15-LOVE Network — Capital Region Youth Tennis Foundation operates under the 15-LOVE network or brand.
- Albany High School Partner — Collaborates with students on program development, including the creation and maintenance of the organization's first website.
- Albany Public Library Partner — Collaborates on the Denise McCoy Literacy Award by developing a shortlist of children's books and supporting the annual award selection.
- Arthur Ashe Partner — Conducted a tennis clinic at Arbor Hill Elementary School in 1992, marking the initial point of engagement for at least one long-term participant.
- College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering Partner — Partner in delivering the weekly STEM club program for children.
- Facebook Partner — Shares program photos and content through a Facebook page.
- Old Chatham Tennis Club in Old Chatham Partner — Hosts Junior Team Tennis matches at its facility in Old Chatham.
- SUNY Polytechnic Partner — Partners with 15-LOVE on the Summer STEM Program for children aged 8-14.
- Saratoga YMCA in Wilton Partner — Hosts Junior Team Tennis matches at its facility in Wilton.
- Schuyler Meadows Club Partner — Hosts the organization's annual fundraiser, Fore Love & Money.
- Sheridan Prep Academy Partner — Hosts the 15-LOVE Reading Enrichment Program on Fridays.
- Sportime Tennis in Schenectady Partner — Hosts Junior Team Tennis matches at its facility in Schenectady.
- Tri-City Tennis in Latham Partner — Hosts Junior Team Tennis matches at its facility in Latham.
- UAlbany CNSE Partner — Collaborates to lead STEM education classes for youth on Wednesdays.
- USTA Partner — Partners with USTA through participation in Junior Team Tennis leagues and sectional competitions.
- USTA Foundation Network — Member of the USTA Foundation’s National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network.
- USTA Foundation Partner — Partner organization whose scholarship program (USTAF Scholarship Essay Award) has been awarded to 15-LOVE alumni.
- USTA Foundation Partner — Provider of STEM curriculum integrated into summer tennis lessons for older participants.
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.
- Experiential, Integrated Learning for Academic and Health Engagementmethodology: integrated_literacy_and_health_educationBy combining literacy instruction with hands-on gardening and nutrition education, the organization increases engagement in learning because interdisciplinary, real-world applications make academic skills more relevant and memorable for youth.
- Longitudinal Mentorship and Alumni Engagement Modelmethodology: alumni-instructor-mentorshipBy employing program alumni as instructors and mentors, the organization strengthens role modeling and trust-building because near-peer relationships increase relatability and sustain community ownership of youth development outcomes.
- Structured Long-Term College Preparation Pathwaymethodology: longitudinal-college-prepBy implementing a five-year college prep curriculum starting in 8th grade, the organization ensures sustained academic development and successful postsecondary transitions because early, continuous support builds both readiness and expectation for higher education.
- Tennis as a Vehicle for Holistic Youth Developmentmethodology: tennis-for-life-skillsBy using tennis as an engaging medium, the organization fosters life skills, personal development, and long-term behavioral change in inner-city youth because structured sport creates teachable moments that reinforce confidence, discipline, and leadership.