irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2021
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $103KPOVERTY REDUCTION INITIATIVEWITH A GRANT RECEIVED FROM NEW YORK STATE FOR POVERTY REDUCTION INITIATIVE,THE ORGANIZATION CREATED A STEERING COMMITTEE AND TASK FORCE TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES EXPERIENCED BY INDIVIUALS LIVING IN POVERTY IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THE ORGANIZATION CREATED A LIST OF DELIVRABLES TO ASSIST LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIVING IN POVERTY AND WILL WORK WITH OTHER LOCAL NOT-FOR-PROFITS TO SEE THE DELIVERABLES ARE CARRIED OUT.
- #2 $90KCOVID 19 CRISIS SUPPORTPROVIDE EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR UTILITIES,GAS,HOUSING AND OTHER NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
COVID-19 Crisis Support
Emergency relief program providing assistance with utilities, housing, and other basic needs; also distributed cleaning supplies, infant supplies, and protective equipment during the pandemic.
Community School Initiative
Site coordination at Edwards-Knox Central School District to enhance access to essential services for students and families and support educational success through community partnerships.
Green Rockets Rising Program
After-school program at Morristown Central School District providing academic and enrichment support for students; part of the SACC (School-Age Child Care) initiative.
Poverty Reduction Initiative
Steering committee and task force established to identify and address challenges faced by individuals living in poverty; works with local nonprofits to implement deliverables.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Child & Youth Meal Programs 2 activities
- Distribute food through backpack and weekend meal programsDistributes bags of nutritious, easy-to-prepare food to students every Friday during the school year for weekend meals through programs like Food 4 Families and Meals with a Mission. Also conducts an annual community-wide food drive in June to collect non-perishable items for local food pantries.
- Operate and coordinate school-based programs addressing student needsCoordinates and supports school-based initiatives such as Meals with a Mission, Food 4 Families, School Age Child Care (SACC), and Community Schools to address food insecurity and connect students and families with essential services. Includes operating a Community School Site Coordinator program at Edwards-Knox Central School District and supporting before- and after-school programs at Morristown Central School.
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Policy Advocacy & Research 1 activity
- Advocate for policy changes related to economic stabilityEngages in advocacy at the state and federal levels to influence policy, including efforts to reform Earned Income Tax Credit laws through the ALICE program. Also launched the first Food Policy Council in Jefferson County in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension.
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Nonprofit Capacity Building Services 1 activity
- Deliver capacity-building and professional development for nonprofitsProvides professional development and education opportunities for nonprofit and business leaders through the North Country Center of Nonprofit Excellence. Also facilitates workshops on poverty awareness, economic self-sufficiency, and workplace stability.
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Nonprofit Organizational Mergers and Integrations 1 activity
- Expand regional service through organizational mergersExpanded service area from Jefferson County to include Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties through mergers with United Way of Lewis County and later United Way of St. Lawrence County in 2000, increasing regional impact and coordination.
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Community Foundation & United Way Support 1 activity
- Fund local nonprofit programs through competitive grantmakingAwards grants to local nonprofit organizations through a community-led, competitive review process to support programs in social determinants of health, child and youth success, and economic stability. Includes Community Impact grants reviewed by volunteer panels and approved by the board, with all locally raised funds directed to Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties.
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Community Event Fundraising 1 activity
- Host fundraising events to support ALICE programOrganizes the annual Cow Kissing for ALICE campaign, including a public event at the Lewis County Fair where the top fundraiser kisses a cow, using a model where each $1 donation equals one vote for a candidate. Funds raised support services for ALICE families in the community.
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Direct Financial Assistance to Individuals 1 activity
- Provide emergency and short-term assistance to ALICE familiesOffers short-term financial and material aid to asset-limited, income-constrained, employed (ALICE) families facing emergencies that threaten stability, including support for utilities, housing, gas, and other basic needs. Also includes stabilization of 259 ALICE families through coordinated resources.
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Fundraising for Community and Charitable Initiatives 1 activity
- Serve as fiscal sponsor for community programsActs as fiscal sponsor for key community initiatives including the Watertown City School District’s Food 4 Families Backpack Program and “Meals with a Mission,” enabling these programs to receive and manage funding from community donations and government sources like Community Development Block Grants.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Conduct research and data collection on regional povertyIdentifies and analyzes challenges faced by individuals living in poverty through steering committees and task forces, producing findings such as that nearly half of families in Northern New York struggle to afford basic necessities.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$821K
Contributions & grants$719K88%
Program service revenue$7K1%
Investment income$76K9%
Other revenue$19K
expenses
Total expenses$729K
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising14%
Salaries & benefits$338K
Grants paid out$267K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.40M
Cash$269K
Investments$1.83M
Liabilities$432K
Net assets$1.97M
Liquid reserves34.5 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +15.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAWN COLE | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $96K |
| CLEMENT WONG | FINANCE DIRE | 40 | $71K |
board members · 18
- AMANDA ROOT — DIRECTOR
- AMY MOORE — DIRECTOR
- ANTHONY SURBER — DIRECTOR
- BRIDGET DAVIS — VICE CHAIR
- DANIEL MENAPACE — CHAIR
- HEATHER GALLAGHER — DIRECTOR
- JAN MOSHER — DIRECTOR
- JOHN JOHNSON — DIRECTOR
- KATHRYN CONNOR — DIRECTOR
- KATI JOCK — DIRECTOR
- KRISTEN AUCTER — DIRECTOR
- KRISTEN ROBERTS — SECRETARY
- MICHELLE PATENAUDE — TREASURER
- NATALIE BURNHAM — IMMEDIATE PA
- PAMELA HEBERT — VICE CHAIR
- PAT FONTANA — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT SAIDEL — VICE CHAIR
- SHELLIE MARKS — DIRECTOR
relationships · 97
Who they work with
- 2025 program partners Partner — Local organizations receiving support to deliver programs in health, youth development, and economic stability.
- 211cny Partner — Partner organization providing 24/7 access to a database of community services.
- ACR Health Partner — Workplace Campaign Partner
- Advanced Business Systems Partner — Workplace Campaign Partner
- AmeriCU Partner — Sponsor of the Cow Kissing for ALICE event
- American Red Cross Partner — Member of the St. Lawrence County Emergency Food and Shelter Program Local Board
- Beaver River Central School Partner — Workplace Campaign Partner
- Brier Hill Fire Department Partner — United Way staff member volunteers there, indicating community integration.
- Carthage Central School Partner — Workplace Campaign Partner
- Catholic Charities Partner — Member of the St. Lawrence County Emergency Food and Shelter Program Local Board
- Citizens Telephone Company Partner — Workplace Campaign Partner
- City National Bank Partner — Workplace Campaign Partner
- City of Watertown Partner — Collaborative partner in supporting the Food 4 Families backpack program.
- City of Watertown Partner — Provides ongoing support to strengthen the Food 4 Families program.
- City of Watertown Partner — Workplace Campaign Partner
- Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County Partner — Workplace Campaign Partner
- Community Bank, N.A. Partner — Workplace Campaign Partner
- Community-based human service organizations Partner — Collaborates with local nonprofits to deliver outcome-driven programs in health, youth development, and economic stability.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County Partner — Collaborated to launch the Jefferson County Food Policy Council.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County Partner — Workplace Campaign Partner
- Corning Partner — Workplace Campaign Partner
- Countryside Veterinary Clinic Partner — Sponsor of the Cow Kissing for ALICE event
- Countryside Veterinary Clinic Partner — Workplace Campaign Partner
- Development Authority of the North Country Partner — Workplace Campaign Partner
- Edwards Knox Central School Partner — Collaborative partnership to support a Community Schools Coordinator and connect families with resources.
- Edwards-Knox Central School District Partner — Hosts a Community School Site Coordinator role funded or supported by United Way of Northern New York.
- Family Counseling Service of NNY Partner — Workplace Campaign Partner
- Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization Partner — Workplace Campaign Partner
- GardenShare Partner — Member of the St. Lawrence County Emergency Food and Shelter Program Local Board
- Haylor, Freyer & Coon Partner — Workplace Campaign Partner
+ 67 more
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.
- ALICE-Focused Financial Instability Interventionmethodology: ALICE-supportBy targeting support to ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households, we address emergency-related instability and build financial resilience because this population is often excluded from traditional aid despite facing real cost-of-living gaps.
- Collaborative Community Action Modelmethodology: collaborative-community-actionBy convening communities, partners, and resources to collectively address local needs, we improve quality of life because shared ownership and coordinated action produce more sustainable and responsive solutions than isolated efforts.
- Community-Driven Funding Allocationmethodology: community-review-panelBy using community review panels and local board processes to allocate funds, we increase local ownership and effectiveness because decisions are made by those closest to the needs and grounded in community context.
- Transformative Poverty Education Modelmethodology: bridges-out-of-povertyBy using structured workshop models like "Bridges out of Poverty" and "Getting Ahead," we foster long-term financial stability because addressing mindset, systemic barriers, and relational networks enables individuals to move beyond survival and engage in economic mobility.