irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $968KSUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROVIDES ONGOING SUPPORT SERVICES TO ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITIES TO MAINTAIN COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT AT COMPETITIVE WAGES WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS INCLUDING WORK IN CHALLENGE BUSINESSES. CHALLENGE ASSISTED WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE FUNDING FROM OPWDD (SE) AND OMH (OISE, ACE AND TEP); AND SED (ACCESS-VR); AND DSS.
- #2 $481KPRE-VOCATIONAL SERVICES ARE DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING BUT REQUIRE EXTENSIVE PREPARATION AND SUPPORT TO WORK AND BE PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY. THESE SERVICES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNPAID WORK EXPERIENCE WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS, TIME LIMITED UNPAID WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR SKILL BUILDING, VOCATIONAL EXPLORATION THROUGH JOB TRY-OUTS AND JOB SHADOWING, AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH LOCAL NOT-FOR-PROFIT AGENCIES. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE FUNDING FROM OPWDD.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Contract Staffing
Provides supervised staffing crews for dish rooms and dining operations, primarily for educational institutions, while offering on-the-job training for people with barriers to employment
Pre-Vocational Services
Offers work readiness training, job shadowing, unpaid work experiences, and volunteer opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities preparing for employment
Shredding Services
Partnered document destruction service providing secure, AAA-certified shredding for businesses and organizations in Tompkins County
Supported Employment
Provides ongoing support services to adults with developmental and mental health disabilities to secure and maintain competitive employment with local employers, including in Challenge-operated businesses
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Supported Employment for Developmental Disabilities 3 activities
- Contract staffing services with on-the-job trainingProvides contract staffing services to educational institutions in Tompkins County, deploying fully supervised crews to perform dish room and dining room duties while offering on-the-job training and career paths to individuals with barriers to employment, delivering hundreds of shifts per week.
- Employment and vocational rehabilitation servicesSupports over 100 workers with disabilities weekly across 60–75 employers by developing individualized plans for vocational advancement, providing vocational rehabilitation counseling, benefits counseling, and job retention support for clients with developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, or vocational rehabilitation needs.
- Pre-vocational training and work experience programsOffers pre-vocational services for individuals with developmental disabilities, including unpaid work experience, skill-building, job shadowing, job try-outs, and volunteer placements with local nonprofits to build readiness for competitive employment.
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Healthcare Compliance and Ethics Programs 1 activity
- Compliance and quality assurance programsImplements a Quality & Compliance framework and Corporate Compliance Program to ensure adherence to federal and New York State regulations, including HIPAA, New York Social Services Law §363-d, and 18 NYCRR Part 521, with documented oversight structures to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
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Direct Mental Health Counseling and Support Services 1 activity
- Mental health counseling servicesProvides evidence-based mental health treatment and social work counseling for individuals with developmental disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders through a satellite clinic at Danby Road offices.
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Notary and Document Services 1 activity
- Secure document shredding servicesProvides secure plant-based document destruction and paper shredding services in Tompkins County, certified at the AAA level by the National Association for Information Destruction, with capacity for large-volume jobs and facility tours available for clients.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$5.37M
Contributions & grants$174K3%
Program service revenue$3.50M65%
Investment income$43K1%
Other revenue$1.65M
expenses
Total expenses$4.86M
Program expenses55%
Admin / overhead45%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$2.67M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.95M
Cash$2.42M
Investments$0
Liabilities$2.01M
Net assets$2.94M
Liquid reserves6.0 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +59.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALLEN CONNELY | PRESIDENT AND CEO | 40 | $262K |
board members · 3
- ASHLEY BURKE — MEMBER
- KATHIE KENT — MEMBER
- PHILLIP PJ YUDT — BOARD CHAIR
relationships · 49
Who they work with
- Adult Continuing Career Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation Government — Funds vocational rehabilitation services for Challenge's clients seeking employment.
- Big Lots Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- Boyce Thompson Institute Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- Canopy by Hilton Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- Cayuga Medical Center Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- Cleantec Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- Coltivare Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- Cornell University Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- DSS Government — Provides funding for supported employment services.
- Dunkin' Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- Educational institutions in Tompkins County Partner — Client organizations receiving contract staffing services for dining operations
- Green Star Market Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- Hilton Garden Inn Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- Ithaca Bakery Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- Ithaca College Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- Ithaca ReUse Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- Kendal at Ithaca Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- Longview Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- Lowe's Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- McDonald's Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- Mozaic Partner — Affiliate organization providing Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling and Social Work Counseling at Challenge's Danby Road offices.
- Mozaic Partner — Formed an alliance in 2021 to expand person-centered, community-integrated services across the Finger Lakes region of New York.
- Mozaic Partner — Shared contact information via email domain, indicating an operational or administrative partnership.
- No Barks About It Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- OMH Government — Funds supported employment services for individuals with mental health disabilities.
- OPWDD Government — Funds supported employment and pre-vocational services for individuals with developmental disabilities.
- Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Government — Funds services for Challenge's clients with developmental disabilities.
- Office of Mental Health Government — Funds services for Challenge's clients with mental health conditions.
- Purity Ice Cream Partner — Community partner of Challenge Workforce Solutions
- SED (ACCESS-VR) Government — Provides funding for supported employment services.
+ 19 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.
- Customized Employment with Individualized Supportmethodology: customized_employmentBy using a discovery process and tailoring job development to individual strengths and barriers, the organization secures competitive employment for people with developmental disabilities because personalized pathways increase job fit, retention, and self-sufficiency.
- Full-Service Employer Model for Institutional Partnersmethodology: full-service-employer-of-recordBy acting as a full-service employer of record, the organization enables client institutions to focus on core missions like nutrition because outsourcing administrative and operational staffing burdens reduces complexity and increases reliability.
- Interdisciplinary Team Care for Holistic Supportmethodology: interdisciplinary_team_careBy integrating social work services through interdisciplinary teams, the organization improves quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities because coordinated clinical and social interventions address complex needs more effectively than siloed approaches.