irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $30KSUMMER BACKPACK PROGRAM - PROVIDE 435 STUDENTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE GO HUNGRY ON WEEKENDS OVER THE SUMMER WITH FOOD BAGS CONTAINING FRESH PRODUCE, BREAD, SHELF STABLE FOODS, AND COUPONS REDEEMABLE FOR MILK AND EGGS EACH WEEKEND FOR EIGHT WEEKS OVER THE SUMMER.
- #2 $37KSCHOOL PANTRY PROGRAM - EQUIP FOOD PANTRIES IN FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WITH ALL EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO RUN A FULL-SERVICE SCHOOL FOOD PANTRY FOR STUDENTS, INCLUDING REFRIGERATORS, FREEZERS, AND STORAGE SUPPLIES. PROVIDE ALL SCHOOL DISTRICT FOOD PANTRIES WITH FUNDS TO PURCHASE FOOD FROM THE REGIONAL FOOD BANK AND TO PURCHASE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC FOODS FOR THEIR STUDENTS.
named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Feed and Read Program
Provides weekend food backpacks and a free book each week to students who depend on school meals and come to school hungry on Mondays.
Innovation Grants
Large-scale, multi-year grants exceeding $3,000 for district-wide pilot programs and initiatives that introduce new ideas and resources, developed in coordination with AFE.
Partnership Grants
Grants from $1,000 to $3,000 that require collaboration between schools and community partners to enhance student learning through joint projects.
Resource Grants
Grants ranging from $50 to $999 for teachers to purchase materials for specific classroom projects, such as field trip costs, supplies for hands-on learning, and classroom enhancements.
School Pantry Program
Equips food pantries in elementary schools with refrigerators, freezers, storage supplies, and funds to purchase food, including culturally specific items, for students in need.
Summer Backpack Program
Provides 435 students with food bags containing fresh produce, bread, shelf-stable foods, and coupons for milk and eggs each weekend over eight weeks during summer.
Technology Program
Provides students with access to virtual schooling by rehabbing donated computers and purchasing new ones when needed, particularly during periods of high demand.
activities · 16 groups
What they do
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Teacher & Classroom Innovation Grants 2 activities
- Funding innovative classroom and school-wide programsAwards grants to teachers and school staff for innovative educational projects, including classroom materials, field trips, STEM enrichment, and school-community collaborations. Offers Resource Grants ($50–$999) and Partnership Grants ($1,000–$3,000), as well as major and mini grants for broader initiatives.
- Securing and managing public grants for hunger programsReceived a $225,000 APRA grant to expand school food pantries, pilot and evaluate new methods to alleviate student hunger, and convene school staff and organizations focused on school-based food programs.
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Professional Networking Events 1 activity
- Building capacity of mentor providersHosted Mentoring Breakfasts to strengthen networking and build the capacity of organizations and individuals providing mentorship to students.
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School-Specific Educational Support 1 activity
- Connecting community resources to educationConnects community resources with innovative educational ideas to support students in the Albany City School District, fostering partnerships that enhance learning opportunities.
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Comprehensive Dental Care Services 1 activity
- Delivering on-site dental care to studentsLaunched the Dental Van program to provide on-site dental services to students, later transitioning it to Seal a Smile under Whitney Health Services.
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Child & Youth Meal Programs 1 activity
- Direct distribution of food to studentsOperates the Feed and Read program, providing over 300 students weekly with food backpacks and a new book during the school year. Also runs summer feeding programs, including eight-week distributions of weekend food bags with fresh produce and dairy vouchers to 485 students, and serves 435 students with summer food bags containing shelf-stable items and coupons.
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Digital Literacy Training and Technology Access 1 activity
- Distributing technology for student learningProvided more than 650 computers and 500 hotspots to students during virtual schooling, including rehabilitating donated computers and purchasing new devices to address shortages.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Establishing and equipping school-based food pantriesCreated and enhanced food pantries in five elementary schools, equipping four with refrigerators, freezers, and storage supplies, and funding food purchases from the regional food bank and for culturally specific items.
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Public School Support Fundraising 1 activity
- Funding after-school music enrichmentProvides funding for after-school Practice Clubs for band and orchestra at Sheridan Prep, Roots Academy, and Giffen during the 2023–24 school year.
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Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
- Funding student scholarshipsAdministers six named scholarship programs for graduating Albany High School seniors, accepting applications annually with a May 1 deadline.
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Charity Event Organization 1 activity
- Hosting fundraising galas and auctionsHosts an annual gala as its primary fundraising event, raising over $80,000 in recent years, and organizes additional events like the “Bid for Kids’ Sake” auction, which raised nearly $14,000. The 27th Annual Gala was held on May 2, 2026, at the Love Albany Center.
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Community-Based Educational Programming 1 activity
- Incubating and launching educational initiativesIncubates new educational programs by providing organizational support until they can be transitioned to long-term administrators, such as the Dental Van program which was later transferred to Whitney Health Services.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Organizing environmental education initiativesOrganized Arbor Day tree plantings through the Albany Goes Green initiative to promote environmental stewardship among students.
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Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
- Providing resources to educatorsProvides resources to faculty and staff to enhance student skills and support district-wide educational goals.
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Music Education Support 1 activity
- Refurbishing and distributing musical instrumentsRefurbished and distributed over 600 donated musical instruments to students in the Albany City School District since 2014, returning them to active use in school music programs.
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Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
- Supporting student field trips and cultural experiencesOrganized a field trip for all third graders in the City School District of Albany to attend a performance of “Ada Twist, Scientist & Friends” at the Palace Theatre on May 18, 2026, and funded student participation in the SkillsUSA State Competition.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Convening community forums on public healthOrganized a public forum featuring medical professionals to address community concerns about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine for children.
- Providing basic needs support to familiesOperated the Sweet Dreams program, providing new twin mattresses to 103 Albany families in partnership with B. Lodge & Co.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$243K
Contributions & grants$209K86%
Program service revenue$24K10%
Investment income$8K3%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$201K
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead5%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$46K
Grants paid out$50K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$389K
Cash$382K
Investments$0
Liabilities$128K
Net assets$261K
Liquid reserves22.9 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +34.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARI SHOPSIS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 30 | $38K |
board members · 16
- ASHLEY CHAPPLE — DIRECTOR
- BROOKE RAVEENDRANATH — DIRECTOR
- DANIEL VAUGHAN-CHERUBIN — DIRECTOR
- GINNIE FARRELL — IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
- KATHRYN BAMBERGER — PRESIDENT
- KHALEL HAMLIN — DIRECTOR
- KIRSTEN A HERNANDEZ — SECRETARY
- LAURA FRANZ — DIRECTOR
- LISA HALEY THOMSON — DIRECTOR
- NATISHA ALEXANDER — DIRECTOR
- ORAH LEHOCKEY — DIRECTOR
- PAUL COLLINS-HACKETT — VICE PRESIDENT
- PHILLIP QUINDARA — DIRECTOR
- RICH PECKHAM — TREASURER
- SEAN FITZSIMONS — DIRECTOR
- WHITNEY MALONE — DIRECTOR
relationships · 32
Who they work with
- Aimee Allaud Partner — Provides financial donations to support instrument repair efforts.
- Albany City School District Government — Primary educational partner in which AFE invests to strengthen infrastructure and support students and educators.
- Albany County Legislature Funder — Provided grant funding for the school food pantry program.
- Albany Friends of Music Partner — Provides financial donations to support instrument repair efforts.
- Albany Medical Center Partner — Medical institution represented by a speaker at AFE's COVID-19 vaccine forum
- Albany Public Schools Administrators Association Partner — Business sponsor of the AFE Gala
- B. Lodge & Co. Partner — Partnered with AFE to provide new twin mattresses to 103 Albany families through the Sweet Dreams program.
- Bimbo Bakeries Partner — Community partner in the summer "Hunger Doesn’t Take a Summer Vacation" program.
- Black and Latino Achievers Partner — Recognized Black and Latino Achievers as an affiliated organization through supporter recognition.
- CSEA – Local 1000 Partner — Business sponsor of the AFE Gala
- Capital District YMCA Partner — Recognized Abigail A. Gomes from the Capital District YMCA as a supporter.
- City School District of Albany Government — Primary partner and beneficiary of funded programs and resources
- City School District of Albany Partner — Primary partner for implementing student support programs including food and technology initiatives.
- Glens Falls’ World Awareness Cultural Museum Partner — Community partner that collaborated with Montessori Magnet School to teach students about the Lunar New Year through hands-on cultural activities.
- Grassroot Givers Partner — Provides age-appropriate books for inclusion in the Feed and Read Program backpacks.
- HATAS (Homeless and Travelers Aid Society) Partner — Co-developed the weekend food backpack program with AFE and the Regional Food Bank.
- Hearts and Mind Training Center Partner — Organization co-owned by a participant in AFE's COVID-19 vaccine forum
- Homeless and Travelers Aid Society Partner — Recognized Homeless and Travelers Aid Society as an affiliated organization through supporter recognition.
- Honest Weight Food Co-op Partner — Business sponsor of the AFE Gala
- John Keal Music Partner — Provides significant discounts on instrument repairs for the Albany Fund for Education.
- Kaweeda Adams Partner — Partner who has collaborated with AFE on educational initiatives.
- Regeneron Funder — Provided grant funding for the school food pantry program.
- Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY Partner — Partner in operating school food pantries and implementing the Feed and Read and Summer Food programs.
- Seymour Fox Memorial Foundation Funder — Provided grant funding for the school food pantry program.
- St. Peters Health Partners Partner — Healthcare provider represented by a speaker at AFE's COVID-19 vaccine forum
- Stewart’s Shops Partner — Provides milk and egg cards distributed to students in the summer food program.
- The Arts Center of the Capital Region Funder — Awarded AFE the Arts Thrive and Grow grant to bring Indian classical music to Albany School of Humanities (ASH).
- Times Union Partner — Covered AFE’s Summer Food Program, increasing visibility and community awareness.
- United Way Funder — Recognized Peter Gannon from United Way as a supporter.
- University at Albany Government — Recognized Havidán Rodríguez, President of the University at Albany, as a member of the Honorary Committee.
+ 2 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.
- Coordinated Partnership Model for Program Sustainabilitymethodology: program_incubationBy incubating innovative programs and convening stakeholders to secure funding and visibility, we expand effective educational initiatives because early-stage support and cross-sector collaboration enable long-term adoption by schools and community organizations.
- Equity-Driven Grantmaking for Educational Innovationmethodology: grantmaking for educational innovationBy directing grants toward classroom and school-wide innovations—particularly those advancing equity of opportunity—we increase student learning and success because targeted funding enables educators to address the unique needs of underserved learners.
- Integrated Student Support via Community Partnershipsmethodology: holistic_student_supportBy combining access to the arts, innovative learning projects, nutrition support, and literacy development within school-based programs, we improve student readiness and engagement because addressing non-academic barriers enables fuller participation in education.