irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $198KMental Health: The RRRS mental health team neared completion of its 3 year contract with the funder: Greater Rochester Health Foundation. The team has completed its research and experience with multiple cultures to determine that PTSD is a common experience for refugees once they have completed their adjustment to living in a new country. PTSD causes some refugees to never develop a comfort level in their new country. Primary resettlement agencies that actually bring people into the country are contracted to work with families for only 90 days, which means that RRRS as landlord takes over from there. Our extensive work through this experience has shown us that the American mental health system is in most cases inadequate for refugees from many diverse cultures. (Continued on Schedule O).As we finish this funded program we have resolved to develop a mental health program using successful techniques developed in home countries. These techniques will be delivered by leaders/respected members of the larger ethnic groups who have also been in the US for many years and can "bridge" the gap between American medical support and native ethnic cultural norms.
- #2 $20KAsylum Program: The change of Federal administration in 2025 has caused a dramatic shift in immigration policies causing RRRS to react and reprogram our efforts towards assisting asylum seekers and other immigrants here under temporary protection. Our efforts are to inform them of their legal rights and options and direct them to services that can provide some additional support and resources.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Asylum Program
Assists asylum seekers with understanding legal rights, accessing resources, and preparing for work authorization and self-sufficiency
Career Advancement
Supports job placement and career development for refugees through job navigators and employer partnerships
Healthy Home
Offers in-home housekeeping training and quarterly follow-up visits to support hygiene and safety in refugee households
Immigration Services
Provides walk-in guidance on naturalization, green cards, work permits, travel documents, affirmative asylum, and TPS applications
Mental Health Program
Provides culturally adapted mental health services for refugees, focusing on PTSD, using community leaders as cultural bridges; supported by a grant from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation
Rochester Sewing and Repair Program
Trains refugees in sewing skills and functions as a social enterprise producing soft goods to support program sustainability
activities · 13 groups
What they do
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Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 2 activities
- Advance holistic refugee integration servicesFunctions as a gap-filling agency addressing unmet needs for refugees, immigrants, military-affiliated individuals from home countries, and asylum seekers. Provides housing to most clients, enabling comprehensive, family-centered support.
- Deliver in-home household trainingProvides in-home housekeeping training and conducts quarterly follow-up visits to refugee households based on assessed need, promoting self-sufficiency and healthy living environments.
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Volunteer Mobilization for Community Improvement 2 activities
- Deliver home repair and rehabilitation servicesConducts regular home repairs and rehabilitations for refugee housing through dedicated volunteer teams, including the “3 Amigos” who work 3–4 days per week on maintenance and improvement projects.
- Train AmeriCorps volunteers in constructionTrains and leads AmeriCorps volunteer crews in construction and rehabilitation work for refugee housing projects, building workforce capacity while improving housing conditions.
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Digital Literacy Training and Technology Access 1 activity
- Distribute technology for education and language learningDistributes donated laptops to refugee newcomers to support their educational goals and language learning needs, enhancing digital access and opportunity.
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Immigrant Rights Education & Legal Preparedness 1 activity
- Educate refugees on legal rights and servicesProvides information on legal rights and referrals to support services for asylum seekers and immigrants under temporary protection, helping them navigate systems and access critical resources.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Host community engagement events and clubsHosts community events such as gatherings for Syrian refugees with over 170 attendees and initiates social programs like men's and women's clubs to promote ongoing community engagement and integration.
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Immigration Legal Services 1 activity
- Offer legal immigration assistanceProvides walk-in legal guidance and direct support with immigration applications, including naturalization, green cards, work permits, travel documents, affirmative asylum, and Temporary Protective Status. Also develops program models to strengthen asylum cases and accelerate work authorization access.
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Vocational Sewing and Tailoring Training 1 activity
- Operate sewing and repair social enterpriseRuns the Rochester Sewing and Repair program to train hard-to-place refugees in sewing skills and produce soft goods, functioning as a vocational training and social enterprise initiative.
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ESL and Citizenship Instruction 1 activity
- Provide English language instructionHosts weekly beginner-level English language classes for adult refugees at the RRRS office, supporting language acquisition and integration.
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Affordable Housing Development and Management 1 activity
- Provide affordable refugee housingOwns and manages a portfolio of over 60 housing units, having housed more than 300 refugees since 2014. All properties are located within 15 minutes of the organization’s office and undergo energy audits and lead testing to ensure safety and habitability.
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Direct Mental Health Counseling and Support Services 1 activity
- Provide mental health and case management servicesDelivers mental health evaluations and case management for refugee clients through home visits and team consultations. Conducted research on PTSD among refugees during U.S. resettlement, identifying it as a common experience.
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College Access and Success Support 1 activity
- Support refugee education and college transitionSupports refugee students in completing high school and transitioning to college; all supported students are enrolled in colleges across New York State.
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Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
- Support refugee employment and job placementOperates as a job placement and temporary employment agency exclusively for refugees, offering career advancement support to over 400 New Americans. Expanded reach through partnerships with local and regional employers to match refugee skills with employment opportunities.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Develop immigration education programmingDeveloped and completed an 8-week immigration education course offered at the Rochester Institute of Technology's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, expanding civic and legal literacy among participants.
- Produce educational materials for refugeesPublished a guidebook and produced a companion video to help refugees maintain safe and healthy homes in the United States, providing practical, accessible resources for new arrivals.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.55M
Contributions & grants$557K36%
Program service revenue$847K55%
Investment income$95K6%
Other revenue$46K
expenses
Total expenses$1.52M
Program expenses89%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$521K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$2.77M
Cash$131K
Investments$0
Liabilities$2.52M
Net assets$256K
Liquid reserves1.0 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +14.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Djifa Kothor | Executive Director | 40 | $76K |
| Michael Coniff | CEO | 42 | $8K |
board members · 14
- Albert Algarin — Board Member
- Christine Birnie — Board Member
- Christopher Klee — Board Member
- Dan Keefe — Board Member
- James Ryan — Treasurer
- Joe Cassidy-Schaffer — Board Member
- Kathy LaBue — Board Chair
- Kristina Owens — Board Member
- Lucas Kwaitowski — Board Member
- Mark Hare — Board Member
- Maung Thet Win — Board Secretary
- Nick Glamack — Board Member
- Rose Davis — Board Member
- Selvia Hanna — Board Member
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- AmeriCorps Partner — Collaborates with AmeriCorps by training and leading volunteer crews in construction and housing rehabilitation projects.
- Church at the Ascension Partner — Hosted the Syrian community event in collaboration with RRRS
- Esma Nacakgedigi Partner — Legal services lead developing the immigration program at RRRS
- Fisher Law Firm Partner — Collaborated with Esma Nacakgedigi during her time as a law clerk, supporting legal services for refugees.
- Genesee Co-Op Federal Credit Union Partner — Partner organization providing access to a First-Time Homebuyer Program for refugee clients.
- Greater Rochester Health Foundation Funder — Funded a three-year mental health program focused on PTSD among refugees.
- International Products and Services Partner — IPS is a for-profit corporation wholly owned by Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services, Inc., functioning as a staffing and job placement agency for refugees.
- Kim Partner — Volunteer teaching English classes at RRRS
- Mary’s Place Refugee Outreach Partner — Partner organization working in collaboration with RRRS; formerly where board chair Mark Hare volunteered and served on the board.
- Mary’s Place Refugee Outreach Center Partner — RRRS originated as an offshoot of Mary’s Place Refugee Outreach Center, which focused on immediate and basic needs for refugees.
- Nazareth University Partner — Supports RRRS with English education resources and client support
- Rochester Institute of Technology Partner — Hosted an 8-week immigration education course through its Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in collaboration with RRRS.
- Rochester International Academy Partner — Provided educational support to Syrian refugee youth, in coordination with RRRS
- YouTube Partner — Hosts video content produced by Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services Inc.
- community members Partner — Contributes laptop donations to support refugee clients' access to technology.
- local funders Partner — Provides laptop donations to support refugee clients' educational and language needs.
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.
- Client-Centered and Community-Led Empowermentmethodology: community_led_modelBy involving refugees as active participants in program design and community events, the organization fosters ownership, mutual support, and reduced isolation, because programs shaped by community input are more relevant, trusted, and sustainable.
- Culturally Competent and Lived-Experience Staffingmethodology: culturally_competent_careBy employing staff who are New Americans with lived refugee experience, the organization bridges cultural and systemic gaps in service delivery, because shared language and cultural fluency increase trust, understanding, and client engagement.
- Housing as a Base for Integrationmethodology: housing_firstBy providing affordable housing combined with personalized support, the organization enables refugee families to stabilize and engage more effectively in cultural and systemic integration, because housing stability reduces immediate survival stress and creates space for long-term adaptation.