irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $44KEVENTS AND FIELD TRIPS - INCLUDES HOLIDAY PARTIES, FIELD TRIPS, CHRISTMAS AND SPRING CONCERTS, AND A WINTER FUN DAY, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 300 CHILDREN.
- #2 $76KGRACE EXTRA EAST - WEEKLY EXTRACURRICULAR CLASSES INCLUDING KARATE, SCULPTURE, LEGO ROBOTICS, DANCE, SEWING, COOKING, ETC. SERVED APPROXIMATELY 150 CHILDREN WEEKLY.
named programs · 10 · from sources
What they call their work
Branches Cooperative
Parent-taught group classes for infants through 12th grade; parents volunteer, except for the 6th-12th grade drop-off option
Extra East / Extra West
Drop-off extracurricular program offering classes such as karate, robotics, dance, cooking, and sewing for preschool through high school students
Family Roots Forest School
Outdoor program for children ages 3–5 with parent participation, focused on environmental exploration and skill-building
Forest School
Immersive, inquiry-based outdoor education program on 20 acres of forest with creek access, teaching fire-building, plant and animal identification, and survival skills
Littles Cooperative
Cooperative program for infants through 5th grade, designed for families beginning their homeschool journey
Odyssey of the Mind
Creative problem-solving competition emphasizing teamwork, innovation, and critical thinking
Science Olympiad
Competitive STEM event for students in grades 6–9 covering biology, chemistry, engineering, and earth science
Scouts BSA Units
Youth scouting program promoting outdoor adventure and leadership development
Soccer Programs
Recreational soccer for preschool through 12th grade in fall and spring, plus a year-round varsity team called the Swifts
Sprouts Cooperative
Program for infants through kindergarten, offering a nurturing environment for early homeschooling families
activities · 13 groups
What they do
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Homeschool Support Services 1 activity
- Expanding homeschool programs across Monroe CountyOperates and expands homeschool programs across Monroe County, serving families with students from nursery through 12th grade.
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Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
- Hosting Science Olympiad programRuns a Science Olympiad program for students in grades 6–9 featuring competitive challenges in biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and earth science.
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Youth Soccer Development Programs 1 activity
- Hosting seasonal and year-round soccer programsHosts a seasonal recreational soccer program for children in preschool through 12th grade at Basil Marella Park in Greece, NY, and operates a year-round varsity soccer team called the Swifts.
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Organized Member Social Events 1 activity
- Hosting weekly park meetupsHosts weekly park meetups on the Westside every Thursday during summer for community engagement.
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Youth Safety and Protection Programs 1 activity
- Implementing child safety and supervision protocolsEnsures child safety through background checks for teachers and volunteers every three years, daily unique pickup codes at certain programs, unique pickup tags for Forest School, and hall and door monitors to supervise children and manage access.
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Nonprofit Retail and Merchandise Sales 1 activity
- Offering screen printing and branded apparel servicesOffers screen printing services using plastisol ink and a professional press, curing prints with a heat press, and sells branded apparel with custom designs, starting at $25 for screen creation and $2 per shirt per screen/color.
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Youth Scouting Leadership Programs 1 activity
- Operating Scouts BSA units for youthRuns Scouts BSA units that provide outdoor education and leadership development for youth.
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Inclusive Social & Recreational Events 1 activity
- Organizing children's events and field tripsOrganizes events and field trips including holiday parties, concerts, and a winter fun day, serving hundreds of children annually.
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Organizational Sustainability Management 1 activity
- Providing administrative and operational supportProvides administrative, data management, communications, and operational support including facility maintenance, errands, crowd control, and managing family accounts for Grace Collaborative programs.
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After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Providing weekly extracurricular classesOffers weekly extracurricular classes in subjects such as karate, sculpture, LEGO robotics, dance, sewing, and cooking, serving hundreds of children from preschool through 12th grade.
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STEM Competition and Robotics Programs 1 activity
- Running Odyssey of the Mind programOperates an Odyssey of the Mind program that engages students in creative problem-solving through teamwork and innovation.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Running immersive forest school programsOperates an immersive forest school on 20 acres of forested land where students learn fire building, plant and animal identification, and offers a spring Family Roots Forest School program for children ages 3–5 with parental participation.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Operating parent-led cooperative homeschool programsRuns three parent-led cooperative programs—Branches, Littles, and Sprouts—for children from infancy through 12th grade, structured by age group and serving over 400 families.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$329K
Contributions & grants$21K6%
Program service revenue$306K93%
Investment income$8220%
Other revenue$977
expenses
Total expenses$301K
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$11K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$106K
Cash$106K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$106K
Liquid reserves4.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +11.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMILY BENNETT | TREASURER | 10 | $4K |
| DEBRA WALLACE | PRESIDENT AND CEO | 20 | $3K |
| DR JASON WALLACE | VICE PRESIDENT | 10 | $2K |
board members · 3
- DAWN RYCKMAN — DIRECTOR
- EMILY GIER — DIRECTOR
- LAURA RICKLEFS — SECRETARY
relationships · 10
Who they work with
- Andluca Partner — Employer of a board member who contributes time and expertise to Grace Collaborative.
- D’Youville College Partner — Former employer of a board member who has been involved with Grace since its inception.
- Facebook Network — Uses a public Facebook group to extend field trip participation beyond members.
- Facebook Partner — Hosts a public Facebook group for community engagement and event updates.
- Facebook Partner — Uses Facebook as a platform to host a community group and share information with members.
- Grace Collaborative Network — GRACE COLLABORATIVE INCORPORATED operates as part of the Grace Collaborative network supporting homeschooling families.
- Jiffy Shirts Partner — Recommended vendor for blank shirts used in screen printing services.
- RIT Partner — Educational institution attended by a board member, indicating a connection to Grace Collaborative.
- St. John Fisher College Partner — Alma mater and professional affiliation for multiple board members involved with Grace Collaborative.
- University of Rochester Partner — Educational institution attended by founding board members, forming the origin point of the organization.
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.
- Experiential and Outdoor Inquiry-Based Learningmethodology: experiential_learningBy using immersive, inquiry-based methods in outdoor and group settings, the organization promotes deeper skill development and engagement in children, because hands-on experiences in natural environments enhance retention and intrinsic motivation to learn.
- Parent-Led Cooperative Modelmethodology: parent_cooperative_modelBy organizing homeschooling families into a cooperative structure where parents serve as teachers and volunteers, the organization fosters shared responsibility and sustained community engagement, because collective ownership increases participation and strengthens educational outcomes.
- Worldview-Neutral Community Buildingmethodology: worldview_neutral_communityBy maintaining neutrality on politics, religion, and controversial topics, the organization creates an inclusive environment that unites diverse homeschooling families across ideological lines, because intentional inclusivity reduces barriers to participation and strengthens cross-group belonging.