irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0LIBRARY - THE INSTITUTE HAS A 2,000 VOLUME LIBRARY LOCATED ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE THREEFOLD AUDITORIUM. THE LIBRARY SERVES SUNBRIDGE INSTITUTE STUDENTS.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Collaborative Leadership Course
Workshop series and course co-taught by the executive director, focusing on leadership skills and organizational development for Waldorf school administrators.
Elementary Teacher Education Program
Comprehensive training for aspiring Waldorf elementary school teachers, combining on-campus sessions with fieldwork and mentored teaching experiences.
High School Teacher Education Program
Program designed to prepare educators for Waldorf high school teaching, with a focus on subject-specific pedagogy and adolescent development.
Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Education
Low-residency program spanning three summers and two school years, providing 495+ hours of instruction to train educators for Waldorf early childhood settings from birth to school entrance.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Teacher Professional Development 2 activities
- Provides professional development for Waldorf educatorsOffers weeklong Summer Series courses, school-year weekend workshops, and short-term introductory courses for educators and administrators at all levels of familiarity with Waldorf education. Most events are hosted online to enable remote participation, covering topics such as collaborative leadership, Waldorf school administration, and arts-based pedagogy.
- Provides resources and publications for Waldorf educatorsShares articles and educational resources based on decades of teacher education experience to support Waldorf teachers, school leaders, and staff in their professional practice.
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Sliding-Scale Tuition Programs 1 activity
- Administers financial aid and tuition support programsOffers financial aid packages that reduce tuition by up to one-third or more, provides a Third-Year Grant of $1,000 (or $700 for high school programs), offers a 10% volume discount for multiple teachers from the same school, a 10% discount for Canadian dollar payments, and flexible payment plans with deferrals up to 18 months post-graduation.
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Organizational DEI Capacity Building 1 activity
- Advances equity initiatives within the Waldorf education movementSupports internal projects and programs aimed at uncovering and addressing racism within the Waldorf education movement, contributing to broader organizational transformation and inclusion efforts.
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Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
- Awards scholarships to BIPOC students in teacher education programsProvides scholarship grants for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to enroll in or complete Sunbridge's Early Childhood, Elementary, or High School Teacher Education programs through a formal application process.
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Arts Education Professional Development 1 activity
- Delivers low-residency Waldorf teacher education programsOffers diploma and certificate programs in Early Childhood, Elementary, and High School Waldorf Teacher Education, as well as specialized programs in Remedial Education, Waldorf Administration, Applied Arts, and Biography and Social Art. These programs integrate academic coursework with practical teaching experience and contemplative practice, following a low-residency model that combines on-site intensives with remote learning.
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Specialized Research Library Access 1 activity
- Operates an educational library for studentsMaintains a 2,000-volume library on its campus to support student learning and research in Waldorf education and related fields.
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Admissions Outreach and Enrollment Support 1 activity
- Supports student recruitment and enrollment through outreach eventsHosts Meet & Greet Info Sessions in October, February, and April/May, and holds Waldorf Weekend in January as an experiential introduction to Waldorf education to attract prospective students and provide insight into Waldorf teaching and teacher education.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Confers diplomas and facilitates accredited master’s degree pathwaysConfers a diploma in Waldorf Teacher Education upon completion of its programs and maintains a partnership with SUNY Empire State University (formerly Empire State University) that enables graduates to apply their diploma credits toward an accredited Master of Education or Master of Arts in Liberal Studies degree with a concentration in Waldorf education.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.21M
Contributions & grants$213K18%
Program service revenue$760K63%
Investment income$43K4%
Other revenue$195K
expenses
Total expenses$1.06M
Program expenses62%
Admin / overhead33%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$745K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.18M
Cash$225K
Investments$51K
Liabilities$2.82M
Net assets$355K
Liquid reserves3.1 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +21.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 4
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JESSICA ZIEGLER | Executive Dir. | 30 | $72K |
| IVY GREENSTEIN | Secretary | 1 | $70K |
| WINNIE STERN | Trustee | 1 | $13K |
| LISA MICCIO | Secretary | 1 | $6K |
board members · 8
- CHRIS SARGENTE — President
- JASON CHILD — Trustee
- JODY SPANGLET — Trustee
- KEELAH HELWIG — Vice President
- KELLY CHURCH — Trustee
- LINDA WILLIAMS — Trustee
- NABILA HALANI — Trustee
- SUSAN BRAUN — Treasurer
relationships · 39
Who they work with
- AWSNA Funder — Administers the Beck Scholarship, Rising Teachers Fund, a pilot program providing grants and forgivable loans to aspiring Waldorf teachers training at Sunbridge.
- AWSNA Network — Adheres to AWSNA Principles for Waldorf Institutes as part of its educational framework.
- AWSNA Network — Collaborates with AWSNA-affiliated schools; scholarship recipients are expected to work in AWSNA-affiliated institutions.
- AWSNA Network — Sunbridge Institute is fully recognized by the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America.
- AWSNA Partner — Collaborates on loan and grant programs for students, including AWSNA Loans & Loans-to-Grants and the Currently Practicing Teacher Grant.
- Alma Partners Partner — Multiple Sunbridge Institute staff and board members are members of Alma Partners, a consulting group focused on equity and organizational development in Waldorf education.
- Alma Partners Partner — Multiple committee members, including Meggan Gill, Keelah Helwig, and Vicki Larson, are co-founders or consultants with Alma Partners, indicating an organizational partnership.
- Association of Waldorf Schools of North America Network — Full member of the Teacher Education Delegates Circle of AWSNA, supporting collaboration among Waldorf schools and teacher education institutions.
- Association of Waldorf Schools of North America Network — Full member organization whose standards the program meets; program recognized by AWSNA.
- Association of Waldorf Schools of North America Network — Sunbridge Institute staff and board members are active presenters, consultants, and board members with AWSNA.
- Denver Waldorf School Partner — Kelly Church, a Sunbridge Board trustee and alumna, previously served as administrator at The Denver Waldorf School.
- Detroit Waldorf School Partner — Linda Williams, a Sunbridge Board trustee, is a longtime faculty member at Detroit Waldorf School.
- Detroit Waldorf School Partner — Linda Williams, co-chair of the Diversity Fund Committee, is educator emerita at Detroit Waldorf School, indicating institutional connection.
- Empire State University Partner — Partnership enabling Sunbridge students and graduates to apply their diploma toward an accredited master's degree in education or liberal studies with a concentration in Waldorf education.
- Empire State University Partner — Partnership enabling Sunbridge students and graduates to earn a Master of Education or Master of Arts in Liberal Studies degree.
- Empire State University (SUNY Empire) Partner — Partnership enabling Sunbridge graduates to receive academic credit toward a Master of Education or Master of Arts in Liberal Studies degree with a concentration in Waldorf education.
- Facebook Network — Shares updates through a Facebook page under the handle @sunbridgeinstitute
- Green Meadow Waldorf School Partner — Multiple Sunbridge Institute staff and board members are affiliated with Green Meadow Waldorf School as alumni, faculty, or parents, indicating an ongoing institutional relationship.
- International Association for Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education Network — Program course offerings are consistent with IASWECE guidelines.
- Rudolf Steiner Partner — Developed the educational philosophy upon which Waldorf education is based.
- SUNY Empire State University Partner — Academic partner enabling Sunbridge graduates to earn credits toward a master’s degree in liberal studies or education.
- SUNY Empire State University Partner — Partner institution offering a fast-tracked pathway to a fully accredited master’s degree for qualifying Sunbridge students and graduates.
- The Michael Foundation Funder — Private foundation that supports Waldorf teacher education; Sunbridge students may apply for grants through this fund.
- The Waldorf School of Garden City Partner — Keelah Helwig, committee member, serves as kindergarten teacher and early childhood chair at The Waldorf School of Garden City.
- Threefold Educational Foundation Partner — Hosts the program on its historic campus and provides access to its activities and resources.
- Threefold Educational Foundation Partner — Houses Sunbridge Institute on its Chestnut Ridge, NY campus.
- Threefold Educational Foundation Partner — Rented classroom space from the Foundation in 1986 and co-built Holder House dormitory, supporting Sunbridge’s relocation and campus development in Chestnut Ridge, NY.
- Toronto Waldorf School Partner — Nabila Halani, a Sunbridge Board trustee, is a faculty chair and teacher at Toronto Waldorf School.
- Vermont Student Assistance Corporation Partner — Provides Non-Degree Grants to Vermont residents enrolled in Sunbridge programs.
- WECAN Network — Collaborates with WECAN-affiliated schools; scholarship recipients are expected to work in WECAN-affiliated institutions.
+ 9 more
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.
- Developmentally-Structured Pedagogy Based on Anthroposophymethodology: developmental-stage-based_educationBy structuring education around seven-year developmental phases informed by anthroposophy, the institute tailors teaching methods and curriculum to the evolving intellectual, emotional, and physical needs of children, because this alignment supports optimal learning and holistic growth.
- Equity and Inclusion Through Diversified Teacher Pipeline and Curriculummethodology: equity_and_inclusion_in_educationBy preparing BIPOC candidates for leadership and embedding diversity, equity, and social justice into curriculum and training, the institute advances more inclusive Waldorf education, because representation and culturally responsive teaching improve access and educational outcomes.
- Integrated Spiritual-Artistic-Practical Approach to Educator Formationmethodology: integrated_spiritual_artistic_practical_approachBy balancing spiritual insight, artistic practice, and practical teaching skills, the institute develops educators’ contemplative, social, and pedagogical capacities, because this integration fosters deeply rooted, authentic teaching that responds to human needs.
- Low-Residency Model Integrating Academic Study and Classroom Practicemethodology: low-residency_integrated_trainingBy combining in-person intensives with remote learning and active classroom teaching, the program enables working adults to integrate theory and practice in real time, because experiential integration strengthens retention, relevance, and professional transformation.
- Teacher Self-Formation as Contemplative and Research-Oriented Practicemethodology: teacher-as-researcherBy cultivating teachers’ inner development and treating teaching as ongoing inquiry through observation and reflection, the institute enables educators to teach from their authentic being, because self-aware, research-minded teachers are better equipped to meet students’ individual needs.