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Opportunities Collaborative for Students with Special Needs Inc
Tonawanda, NY · EIN 833146984 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B28 · Education · Small ($100K-$1M) · oppcollab.org
revenue
$160K
expenses
$154K
net assets
$200K
employees
2
program ratio
84%
mission · from form 990

New York teachers, education professionals, administrators, families, and communities to ensure that all students with learning differences receive high-quality, research-based instruction, services, and support by increasing the knowledge, skills, involvement, advocacy, and collaborative capacities of members of the special education team.

profile · synthesized from sources

Opportunities Collaborative for Students with Special Needs Inc is a Western New York-based nonprofit that strengthens the capacity of charter, parochial, and private schools to serve students with disabilities. The organization provides professional development, training, and coaching for educators and school leaders, with a focus on evidence-based practices like Orton-Gillingham reading instruction. It also advocates for equitable access to special education services and fosters collaboration among schools, families, and community stakeholders.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $0
    Opportunities Collaborative for Students with Special Needs, Inc conducted comprehensive needs assessments for WNY Charter and Parochial schools to identify areas in need of development and support these identified areas with targeted and customized training, professional development, and coaching to build the capacity of the school community to serve students with disabilities.
  2. #2 $0
    Opportunities Collaborative for Students with Special Needs, Inc provided funding for ten local Charter and Parochial school teachers to receive comprehensive Orton-Gillingham training to support the reading instruction of students with disabilities.
named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Capacity Building for Schools
Conducts needs assessments and delivers customized training, coaching, and resources to strengthen the ability of charter, private, and parochial schools to serve students with disabilities.
Orton-Gillingham Training Program
Provides funding and access to comprehensive Orton-Gillingham training for teachers in charter and parochial schools to improve reading instruction for students with disabilities.
Professional Development Workshops
Hosts workshops and webinars for educators and school leaders on topics including classroom management, behavioral support, distance learning, and state special education policies.
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Special Education Support Services 3 activities
    • Advocate for inclusive education for students with disabilities
      Advocates on behalf of students with disabilities and their families to ensure access to appropriate and inclusive educational opportunities.
    • Conduct needs assessments and provide targeted capacity-building support to schools
      Conducts comprehensive needs assessments for charter and parochial schools in Western New York and delivers tailored training, coaching, and professional development to strengthen their ability to serve students with disabilities.
    • Support schools in improving outcomes for students with disabilities
      Works with schools to improve academic, socioeconomic, and life skill outcomes for students with disabilities through targeted support and resource development.
  • Structured Literacy Instruction and Dyslexia Support 1 activity
    • Deliver professional development and training to educators in Western New York
      Provides high-quality professional development, including Orton-Gillingham and IMSE training, to teachers and school leaders in charter, private, and parochial schools to improve instruction and support for students with disabilities. Activities include multi-sensory teaching methods, behavioral strategies, distance learning best practices, and state policy education.
  • Literacy Program Funding 1 activity
    • Fund Orton-Gillingham training for teachers serving students with disabilities
      Provides funding for teachers in local charter and parochial schools to complete comprehensive Orton-Gillingham training to improve reading instruction for students with disabilities.
  • Autism & Neurodiversity Education Workshops 1 activity
    • Host webinars and workshops for educators, school leaders, and parents on special education topics
      Hosts webinars and workshops on topics including distance learning best practices, sensory processing, pandemic-related special education navigation, and charter school leadership to support students with disabilities. Events feature experts and are sometimes made available online for replay.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$160K
Contributions & grants$160K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$154K
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$106K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$292K
Cash$292K
Investments$0
Liabilities$92K
Net assets$200K
Liquid reserves22.7 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -12.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MOLLY J OLIVERIO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $88K
board members · 9
  • BRIDGET O' BRIEN WOOD — BOARD MEMBER
  • ELIZABETH R WRIGHT — BOARD MEMBER
  • HEIDI WIECZOREK — TREASURER
  • JEFFERY T BLAIR — SECRETARY
  • JIM MUFFOLETTO — BOARD MEMBER
  • KATHY RALABATE DOODY PH D — BOARD MEMBER
  • PASTOR JAMES GILES — BOARD MEMBER
  • ROBERT M BENNETT — PRESIDENT
  • SHEILA Q WEIMER — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 18

Who they work with

  • Back to Basics Outreach Ministries, Inc. Partner — Pastor James Giles, a board member, is president/CEO of Back to Basics Outreach Ministries, Inc.
  • Buffalo Hearing and Speech Center Partner — Collaborated on delivering a webinar for special educators on distance learning best practices.
  • Carol Stock Kranowitz Partner — Featured presenter at a workshop on sensory processing disorder.
  • Daemen University Network — Elizabeth R. Wright, a board member, is dean and associate professor at Daemen University.
  • Dr. Jane Bluestein Partner — Facilitated a professional development workshop on classroom strategies for supporting differently-abled students.
  • EPIC, Every Person Influences Children Partner — Co-hosted a webinar for families of special needs students during the pandemic.
  • EPIC, Every Person Influences Children Partner — Co-led a professional development webinar on distance learning for special needs students.
  • Foundation for Inclusive Catholic Education Partner — Bridget O’Brien Wood, a board member, is president of the Foundation for Inclusive Catholic Education.
  • NYS Board of Regents Government — Robert M. Bennett, board president, is Chancellor Emeritus of the NYS Board of Regents.
  • New York State Education Department Government — Collaborates with the state's Office of Special Education to align local practices with state policies and the Blueprint for Improved Results for Students with Disabilities.
  • Niagara Charter School Partner — James C. Muffoletto, a board member, is president of Niagara Charter School, and a teacher from the school participated in IMSE training.
  • Niagara University Network — Dr. Molly Oliverio earned her Ph.D. in Leadership and Policy from Niagara University, indicating an academic affiliation.
  • Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament School Partner — School where a staff member participated in Orton Gillingham training supported by Opportunities Collaborative.
  • Parent Network of WNY Partner — Co-hosted a webinar for families of special needs students during the pandemic.
  • Persistence Preparatory Academy Partner — Partner school where trained teachers implement Orton-Gillingham methods with students.
  • SUNY Buffalo State Network — Kathy Ralabate Doody, a board member, is an associate professor in Exceptional Education at SUNY Buffalo State.
  • Success Academy Charter School Partner — Featured speaker and subject matter expert in a webinar on educational best practices.
  • Westminster Charter School Partner — Hosted a professional development event focused on behavioral strategies.
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.

  • Behavioral Understanding and Win-Win Engagement
    methodology: positive_behavioral_intervention
    By training educators in behavioral principles and non-punitive classroom management, we reduce disengagement and improve learning, because understanding the function of behavior enables responsive, respectful interventions that preserve student dignity.
  • Collaborative Capacity Building for Special Education
    methodology: capacity_building_through_pd
    By conducting needs assessments and delivering tailored professional development, we improve school capacity to serve students with disabilities, because targeted, evidence-based training addresses specific systemic gaps in knowledge and practice.
  • Peer and Systemic Practice Alignment
    methodology: peer_learning_systemic_alignment
    By facilitating peer learning and collaborative implementation of state frameworks, we drive systemic improvement, because shared experiences and aligned goals across schools create sustainable change in special education practice.
  • Stakeholder Partnership Model
    methodology: stakeholder_partnership_model
    By fostering equal partnerships among schools, families, communities, and experts, we improve student outcomes, because inclusive collaboration ensures shared decision-making and aligns support around the whole student.