irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $244KWILDLIFE ROCKSTARS:THE WILDLIFE ROCKSTARS PROGRAM IS A UNIQUE, NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED INITIATIVE COMBINING WILDLIFE EDUCATION WITH DISABILITY SERVICES. INDIVIDUALS WITH BRAIN INJURIES AND OTHER DISABILITIES CARE FOR NON-RELEASABLE WILD AND EXOTIC ANIMALS AND DELIVER INTERACTIVE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE. IN 2024, THE PROGRAM PRESENTED OVER 150 OUTREACH EVENTS TO SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. THIS VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOSTERS CONFIDENCE, COMMUNICATION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WHILE PROMOTING AWARENESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.
- #2 $304KSERVICE COORDINATION AND HEALTH HOME CARE MANAGEMENT:BRIDGES PROVIDED MEDICAID-FUNDED SERVICE COORDINATION AND HEALTH HOME CARE MANAGEMENT TO INDIVIDUALS WITH BRAIN INJURIES AND COMPLEX NEEDS. CASE MANAGERS SUPPORTED 100+ CLIENTS IN ACCESSING HEALTHCARE, HOUSING, BENEFITS, EMPLOYMENT SERVICCES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THESE SERVICES ARE CRITICAL TO ENSURING INDIVIDUALS CAN LIVE INDEPENDENTLY, AVOID INSTITUTIONAL PLACEMENTS, AND MAINTAIN SAFETY AND STABILITY IN THEIR HOMES. STAFF COORDINATED CARE AMONG PROVIDERS, ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF CLIENTS AND ENSURED SERVICE PLANS MET EVOVLING NEEDS.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Health Home Care Management
Medicaid-funded case management program that supports individuals with brain injuries and complex needs in accessing healthcare, housing, employment services, and other community resources.
Service Coordination
Direct support service where coordinators work with brain injury survivors to design individualized plans promoting independent living and preventing nursing home placement.
Wildlife Rockstars
Vocational and educational program where individuals with brain injuries and other disabilities care for non-releasable wild and exotic animals and deliver interactive conservation outreach programs across New York State.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
-
Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 2 activities
- Deliver wildlife and conservation education programsProvides in-person and virtual wildlife education programs to schools, libraries, community groups, senior centers, youth organizations, and public events through structured presentations featuring non-releasable wildlife ambassadors. Offered programs include Wildlife Rockstars Roadshow (1-hour), Wildlife Mini-Adventure (30-minute), and seasonal public events such as Wildlife Wednesday at Eastview Mall.
- Facilitate Scout badge achievement through conservation workshopsOffers hands-on wildlife conservation and education workshops for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts to help participants earn badges related to environmental stewardship and animal science.
-
-
Day Habilitation Services 2 activities
- Operate day programs for brain injury survivorsRuns structured day programs including Without Walls (community outings to parks, museums, and festivals) and Outside the Lines (creative arts activities such as jewelry making and ceramics) to support rehabilitation, social connection, emotional healing, and identity rebuilding for individuals with brain injury. Programs operate Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Support skill-building and independence for brain injury survivorsProvides hands-on coaching in daily living skills such as cooking, budgeting, and transportation to promote independence, confidence, and long-term wellness for individuals recovering from brain injury.
-
-
Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release 1 activity
- Care for non-releasable wildlife used in education programsMaintains permanent care for over 60 non-releasable wild animals placed by wildlife rehabilitators or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, operating under USDA licensing and insurance. Ensures all animals have current health certificates, appropriate permits, proper handling restraints, experienced handlers, safe transport protocols, and waste removal procedures.
-
-
Children's Themed Birthday Parties 1 activity
- Host wildlife and barnyard birthday partiesHosts onsite birthday parties combining a 30-minute wildlife education presentation featuring 4–7 animal ambassadors, 1.5 hours of celebration time, hands-on barnyard animal encounters (feeding alpacas, petting goats and ponies), themed giveaways (t-shirts, wristbands), and personalized video recognition for the guest of honor.
-
-
Medicaid Health Home Care Coordination 1 activity
- Provide care coordination and service management for individuals with brain injuryOffers comprehensive care and service coordination through dedicated Care Managers who develop personalized care plans, coordinate medical care and appointments, support medication management, and help individuals access healthcare, housing, employment services, public benefits (including SNAP and Medicaid renewals), food pantries, and transportation. Served over 100 clients in 2024 and 73 in 2020.
-
-
Brain Injury Support & Rehabilitation 1 activity
- Raise awareness about traumatic brain injury and preventionConducts outreach to raise public awareness about the effects of traumatic brain injury, living with disability, and prevention practices, including integrating head injury prevention education into wildlife programs.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.58M
Contributions & grants$64K4%
Program service revenue$1.47M93%
Investment income$27K2%
Other revenue$24K
expenses
Total expenses$1.42M
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.00M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.79M
Cash$829K
Investments$0
Liabilities$922K
Net assets$863K
Liquid reserves7.0 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +6.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAURA DONALDSON | CEO | 40 | $98K |
board members · 6
- BECKY HERMAN — DIRECTOR
- BERNADETTE MAHLE — PRESIDENT
- CHARITY BOOK — DIRECTOR
- DR TERRY STEELE — DIRECTOR
- LINDA WIENER — TREASURER
- MOLLY NERO — DIRECTOR
relationships · 30
Who they work with
- Ammerly Advisors Partner — Supporter or affiliated organization, represented through a linked logo on the website.
- CP Rochester Partner — Expressed appreciation for Bridges for Brain Injury’s programs, indicating a collaborative or engaged relationship.
- Carlson YMCA Partner — Hosted a Wildlife Rockstars science outreach session for children.
- DeMay Living Center Partner — Hosted a Wildlife Rockstars educational program for residents.
- Dr. Dana Coover Partner — Provides veterinarian care and oversight for animal health.
- Eastview Mall Partner — Hosts weekly Wildlife Wednesday events by BRIDGES FOR BRAIN INJURY INC during the summer.
- FLFCU Partner — Supporter or affiliated organization, represented through a linked logo on the website.
- Finger Lakes Mobile Veterinary Services Partner — Provides veterinarian care and oversight for animal health.
- Greater Rochester Health Homes Network Network — Member of the Greater Rochester Health Homes Network, a collaborative service program under New York State's Health Home initiative.
- Hornell Library Partner — Partners with BRIDGES FOR BRAIN INJURY INC to host wildlife education programs featuring animal ambassadors.
- Howard Hanna Partner — Supporter or affiliated organization, represented through a linked logo on the website.
- Indian Landing School Partner — Hosted a Wildlife Rockstars educational program for students.
- Jarod Miller Partner — Serves as Zoological Consultant, providing expertise in zoology and animal handling.
- Medicaid Government — Provides services to individuals with Medicaid and assists with enrollment and recertification.
- Middlesex Valley Elementary School Partner — Hosted a Wildlife Rockstars family event featuring animal presentations and personal stories.
- Morgan's Farm Market Partner — Hosts BRIDGES FOR BRAIN INJURY INC's meet-and-greet events with animal ambassadors.
- NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Licensed program under NYS DEC regulations.
- New York Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Receives non-releasable animals from the DEC and collaborates on placements.
- New York State Department of Health Government — Receives personal health information for oversight purposes as part of regulatory compliance.
- Rochester Museum and Science Center Partner — Presented the Wildlife Rockstars educational outreach program at the museum during February break.
- Scribner Road Elementary School Partner — Hosted a Wildlife Rockstars presentation for 4th grade students and adults.
- Seneca Falls Library Partner — Hosted and rebooked a Wildlife Rockstars educational program for community patrons.
- Seneca Falls Library Partner — Hosted the Wildlife Rockstars educational program and rebooked the group for future events.
- The Children's School at URMC Partner — Hosted the Wildlife Rockstars program on two occasions for children and staff.
- USDA Government — USDA licensed and insured program
- United States Department of Agriculture Government — Licensed program under USDA regulations.
- University of Rochester Partner — Collaborated with a science outreach program sponsored by a University of Rochester faculty member to deliver a wildlife education session at the Carlson YMCA.
- Victor Farmington Library Partner — Hosts free wildlife presentations by BRIDGES FOR BRAIN INJURY INC featuring flying, creeping, and crawling animals.
- Wildlife Rehabilitators Partner — Works with licensed wildlife rehabilitators who assess injured animals and refer non-releasable cases for permanent placement.
- Wood Library Partner — Hosts recurring all-ages wildlife presentations by BRIDGES FOR BRAIN INJURY INC.
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.
- Metaphor-Based Resilience Trainingmethodology: metaphor-based-rehabilitationBy using animal survival traits as metaphors for human resilience, the organization supports emotional and cognitive recovery in brain injury survivors because symbolic parallels make abstract concepts of adaptation and perseverance tangible and personally relevant.
- Person-Centered Community Integrationmethodology: person-centered_careBy providing individualized service coordination and holistic support, the organization helps brain injury survivors achieve independent living and avoid institutionalization because tailored plans that include home-based services and community resources address the full spectrum of social, medical, and practical needs.
- Rehabilitation Through Wildlife Engagementmethodology: rehabilitation-through-educationBy involving brain injury survivors in wildlife care and educational programming, the organization fosters skill-building, confidence, and community integration because hands-on responsibilities and metaphor-based narratives link animal resilience to personal recovery, enhancing engagement and self-efficacy.