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WE CONNECT THE DOTS INC
ALBANY, NY · EIN 463412001 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · NTEE B99 · Education · Small ($100K-$1M) · we-connect-the-dots.org
revenue
$107K
expenses
$176K
net assets
$-171K
employees
—
program ratio
88%
mission · from form 990

TO EXCITE, INFORM, AND EDUCATE STUDENTS ABOUT SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATH (STEAM) CAREERS. THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY, EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT AND THE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY, WCTD PROVIDES AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OF THE 21ST CENTURY WORKFORCE SKILLS, AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS EMBRACING STEAM CAREERS. IMPACTING STUDENTS AT A LOCAL, NATIONAL AND GLOBAL LEVEL, OUR PROGRAMS CREATE A HUNGER FOR LEARNING THAT EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO FIND THEIR OWN PATHS TO SUCCESS.

profile · synthesized from sources

We Connect The Dots Inc. (WCTD) is a nonprofit organization based in Albany, NY, focused on STEAM education for students and adults. It delivers hands-on training programs in coding, AI, cybersecurity, and business automation, primarily targeting youth aged 13–18 and underserved adult learners. Through virtual and in-person initiatives, WCTD partners with industry, government, and educational institutions to bridge workforce gaps and prepare participants for tech careers.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

AI Summer Program
National summer program introducing students aged 14–18 to artificial intelligence concepts and applications, with participation primarily from Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
AmplifiCore™ Pilot Program
B2B membership initiative co-developed with Nebula Academy to provide small and emerging nonprofits with digital tools, operational support, and shared infrastructure to scale STEAM education and workforce readiness programs.
CreatingSTEAM and CreatingIDEAS
Annual summer programs for 85 participants aged 13–19 that provide immersive experiences in entrepreneurial learning and video game design, hosted in collaboration with school districts and universities in New York State and online.
Hackathon Program
A 100% virtual, free hackathon for students aged 13–18 that includes three weeks of training in coding and AI, team-based project development aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, and mentorship from industry professionals. Now in its 11th year, it serves hundreds of students annually.
UpSkill Program
Workforce training initiative for adults, especially those aged 18–24 who are unemployed or disconnected, focusing on skills in business automation, AI fluency, and professional development. Includes certification preparation and work experience placements with local and national organizations.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • K–12 Computer Science & AI Education 1 activity
    • Deliver virtual STEAM and technology education programs for youth
      Offers hands-on, fully virtual learning programs in AI, machine learning, React Native app development, and full-stack project building, including a summer program using Python, Pandas, and Scikit-Learn, and an annual virtual hackathon for teens ages 13–18 focused on solving real-world problems aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. The organization reaches over 1,000 students annually through these initiatives.
  • Mentorship and Professional Development Programs 1 activity
    • Facilitate mentorship and educator engagement in youth programs
      Provides structured mentorship to student teams during programs and connects students to mentors, coaches, job shadowing, and real-world workforce experiences through partnerships with technology leaders. Engages educators as coaches, facilitators, and instructors to support student learning across various program offerings.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Operate youth leadership and community ambassador programs
      Runs a Community Ambassador Program that trains high school and college students aged 14–21 to teach 21st-century skills and lead their own technology education workshops. Participants are required to complete at least 10 volunteer hours per month and 100 hours annually, assume leadership roles, serve as event leads at conferences, and receive professional mentorship.
  • Tech Skills Training for Underserved Groups 1 activity
    • Provide pre-apprenticeship and workforce training for underrepresented adults
      Delivers the UpSkill Training Program, an 8-week virtual pre-apprenticeship program in information technology and business automation for underrepresented and underserved individuals, followed by 4 weeks of applied training at partner organizations. The program includes daily virtual instruction, portfolio development, certification preparation (e.g., Prompt Engineering, Microsoft Power Platform), and has trained over 300 participants across multiple states, with demonstrated outcomes in completion and employment or further education.
  • Nonprofit Capacity Building Services 1 activity
    • Support nonprofit capacity through shared infrastructure and workforce development funding
      Runs the AmplifiCore™ Pilot Program to provide small and emerging nonprofits with shared digital tools, delivery systems, and operational infrastructure to improve efficiency and scale impact. Also leverages WIOA funds and workforce development initiatives to build capacity among individuals, organizations, and educators.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$107K
Contributions & grants$8K8%
Program service revenue$99K92%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$176K
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$100K
Grants paid out—
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$99K
Cash$62K
Investments$0
Liabilities$178K
Net assets$-171K
Liquid reserves4.2 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +20.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 5
  • CHERYL MAZZEO — DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS L
  • DREW POWELL — DIRECTOR, TREASURER
  • GREG HENSON — DIRECTOR
  • LAURIE CAREY — BOARD CHAIR, EXECUTIVE DIR
  • RON KOENIG — DIRECTOR, SECRETARY
relationships · 26

Who they work with

  • Adobe Partner — Collaborated on curriculum development for the Annual Hackathon Program and summer programs
  • Adobe Partner — Employer of Kerry Shotts, a mentor and instructor in the hackathon program
  • Amazon Partner — Collaborated on curriculum development for the Annual Hackathon Program and summer programs
  • City of Charlotte, NC Partner — Designed and implemented a tech training program for the Mayoral Summer Program
  • FreedomPay Partner — Employer of Chris Gomez, a mentor and instructor in the hackathon program
  • Google Partner — Collaborated on curriculum development for the Annual Hackathon Program and summer programs
  • Long Island Community Foundation Partner — Collaborated on developing curriculum for Spanish-speaking students to participate in the Hackathon Program
  • Microsoft Partner — Co-developed and delivered “Discovery Day at Microsoft” and collaborated on curriculum for Hackathon and summer programs
  • NYS Department of Labor Partner — Partnered to develop and expand the UpSkill Training Program
  • Nebula Academy Partner — Collaborates with Nebula Academy to launch AmplifiCore™, a B2B membership program supporting nonprofits in expanding AI and digital fluency education.
  • Nebula Academy Partner — Partner organization delivering the Upskill pre-apprenticeship program with We Connect The Dots.
  • St. Xavier's School, Burdwan, India Partner — Institution led by Dr. Sougata Bhattacharya, a mentor and instructor in the hackathon program
  • St. Xavier’s School, Burdwan Partner — Partners with St. Xavier’s School, Burdwan as the 2025 host for the Global Teen Hackathon.
  • The Suffolk County Department of Labor Partner — Partnered to develop and expand the UpSkill Training Program
  • WCTD Network — Organizes and runs conferences that Community Ambassadors are required to attend and support.
  • Walmart Global Partner — Employer of Sai Krishna Gunda, a mentor and instructor in the hackathon program
  • Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Government — Receives funding and operates programs under WIOA guidelines to support workforce development.
  • community Partner — Collaborates with community stakeholders to support STEAM education programs.
  • community leaders Partner — Collaborates with community leaders to advance its mission
  • education Partner — Collaborates with education sector to deliver STEAM career awareness and workforce skills education.
  • educational institutions Partner — Partners with educational institutions to create student opportunities
  • government Government — Collaborates with government entities to support STEAM education initiatives.
  • government agencies Government — Collaborates with government agencies to bring its mission to life
  • industry pioneers Partner — Works with industry pioneers to build a future-ready workforce
  • technology industry Partner — Collaborates with the technology industry to provide STEAM career awareness and education.
  • technology leaders Partner — Partners with technology leaders to connect students to workforce experiences
strategies · 5

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.

  • Barrier-Removal for Inclusive Tech Access
    methodology: barrier_removal
    By eliminating financial and systemic barriers, the organization enables underrepresented populations to access IT career pathways because equitable access is foundational to building a diverse and skilled tech workforce.
  • Cross-Sector Collaboration for Workforce Impact
    methodology: cross_sector_collaboration
    By collaborating with community, education, government, and technology industry partners, the organization amplifies its reach and effectiveness because shared resources and aligned goals create systemic change in workforce development.
  • Experiential Project-Based Learning for STEAM Engagement
    methodology: project_based_learning
    By using hands-on, project-based learning in AI, machine learning, and sustainability challenges, the organization fosters deep technical skill development and problem-solving abilities because real-world application enhances motivation and retention.
  • Peer-Led Youth Leadership Model
    methodology: peer_led_leadership
    By training youth as community ambassadors who lead technology education initiatives, the organization scales impact because peer-led models increase engagement, self-efficacy, and leadership development among young people.
  • Work-Based Learning with Employer Alignment
    methodology: work_based_learning
    By co-designing training programs and delivering applied learning through authentic workplace projects, the organization produces job-ready individuals because skills are developed in direct alignment with employer needs and real-world demands.