COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

AURORA OF CENTRAL NEW YORK INC
SYRACUSE, NY · EIN 150543651 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Medium ($1M-$10M) · auroraofcny.org
revenue
$2.3M
expenses
$2.6M
net assets
$8.5M
employees
36
volunteers
41
program ratio
85%
mission · from form 990

TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN CNY BY SERVING THE BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED, AND DEAF & HARD OF HEARING.

profile · synthesized from sources

AURORA of Central New York provides rehabilitation, support, and employment services for people who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing. The organization offers in-home and center-based programs including orientation and mobility training, adaptive technology instruction, sign language interpreting, and youth services. It serves individuals across Central New York with a focus on promoting independence and full community access.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $451K
    VA MEDICAL CENTER SWITCHBOARD - AURORA MANAGED THE OPERATIONS AND PROVIDED SERVICES FOR THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTER SWITCHBOARD UNIT. AURORA RECRUITED, TRAINED, DEVELOPED AND EVALUATED STAFF IN THE PROVISION OF SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR SERVICES.
  2. #2 $437K
    BLIND/DEAF SOCIAL WORK - AT ANY AGE OR STAGE OF LIFE, A LOSS OF VISION OR HEARING CAN IMPACT OVERALL WELL-BEING AND PERSONAL CONFIDENCE. AURORA'S SERVICES PROVIDE THE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT, INSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE POSSIBLE.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Bedtime Book Series
Storytime program offering children’s books read aloud in spoken English and American Sign Language to promote literacy among Deaf and hearing children.
Children’s Hearing Aid Program (CHAP)
Provides free or low-cost hearing aids and related services to economically disadvantaged school-aged children who are hard of hearing.
Marjorie Clere Interpreter Referral Service
Professional sign language interpreting services for the Deaf and hard of hearing across 10 counties in Central New York.
Pre-Vocational & Work Experience Training
Work readiness and career development programs for youth who are blind, deaf, or hard of hearing, including paid summer employment opportunities.
Vision Rehabilitation
Instruction in independent living skills, orientation and mobility, low vision device use, and emotional adjustment for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing Support Services 4 activities
    • Offer American Sign Language instruction
      Provides American Sign Language (ASL) classes to the community, taught by Deaf instructors, for learners at all levels.
    • Provide outreach, education, and community awareness programs
      Delivers education on sensory loss treatment, care, and prevention to thousands annually; offers community education on Deaf culture, Deaf awareness, and provider sensitivity training for professionals; and conducts Blind Immersion Experiences and Deaf presentations to build public awareness and empathy.
    • Provide vocational and employment services
      Offers individualized employment preparation support for Deaf job seekers, including resume building, interview practice, and workplace readiness, along with pre-vocational training, career exploration, mentorship, and paid summer employment opportunities for Blind, Deaf, or Hard of Hearing youth aged 10 to 21.
    • Support children and youth with sensory impairments
      Provides children’s instructional services, including the Children’s Hearing Aid Program (CHAP), pre-college skills programs, bilingual storytime videos in English and ASL, and the “Super Kids” socialization program organizing accessible group activities for Blind and visually impaired children and youth.
  • Vision Rehabilitation Services 2 activities
    • Deliver orientation and mobility and rehabilitation services
      Provides vision rehabilitation services including orientation and mobility training, rehabilitation teaching, adaptive technology evaluation and training, and instruction in the use of adaptive equipment for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
    • Support independent living for individuals with sensory impairments
      Provides individualized social work services, instruction in independent living skills, emotional adjustment counseling, support groups, and adaptive equipment (including through a Lending Closet) to help blind, deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind individuals maintain independence at home, work, and in the community.
  • Disability Rights Advocacy & Self-Advocacy Empowerment 1 activity
    • Advocate for sensory-impaired communities
      Conducts long-standing advocacy and awareness efforts for the blind, visually impaired, Deaf, hard of hearing, and DeafBlind communities in Central New York.
  • Language Access Services 1 activity
    • Deliver interpreting and communication access services
      Coordinates access to certified Sign Language interpreters through the Marjorie Clere Interpreter Referral Service across a 13- to 10-county area in Central New York, delivering thousands of hours of professional interpreting services annually.
  • Nonprofit Capacity Building Services 1 activity
    • Provide capacity-building through affiliate knowledge sharing
      Shares knowledge and resources with Liberty Resources through an affiliate relationship to strengthen organizational capacity and service delivery.
  • Hearing Health Services and Support 1 activity
    • Provide low vision and hearing health services
      Offers comprehensive low vision examinations, hearing exams, and ongoing refitting services, along with affordable vision and hearing aids and devices below market price to support individuals with sensory impairments. Provides free to low-cost hearing aids and services specifically to economically disadvantaged hard of hearing school-aged children.
  • Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Publish educational and community newsletters
      Produces and publishes the Dawnings newsletter, with multiple issues released annually, to share information and resources with the community.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Operate a veteran support program for the VA Medical Center
      Manages operations and provides staffing services for the Veterans Administration Medical Center switchboard unit, including recruitment, training, and evaluation of switchboard operators.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.33M
Contributions & grants$1.89M81%
Program service revenue$377K16%
Investment income$29K1%
Other revenue$28K
expenses
Total expenses$2.62M
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$1.82M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$8.93M
Cash$895K
Investments$7.22M
Liabilities$471K
Net assets$8.46M
Liquid reserves37.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -8.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
DEBRA CHAIKEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $143K
TRICIA FILIPPI FINANCE DIRECTOR 40 $82K
board members · 17
  • BRADLEY O'CONNOR CPA — TREASURER
  • DONNA DIFULVIO — SECRETARY
  • DR LAWRENCE STEWART — ASSISTANT TREASURER
  • DR PATRICK OELLERS — DIRECTOR
  • EARLEEN FOULK — CHAIR
  • FELIPE RIVERA — DIRECTOR
  • JACKIE DOE — DIRECTOR
  • JEANNE MATHEWS-FOX — DIRECTOR
  • JOHN MCCORMICK — ASSISTANT SECRETARY
  • KAREN HOVEY — DIRECTOR
  • KEN REGER — VICE-CHAIR
  • MARK ALLNATT — DIRECTOR
  • MIKE IRWIN — DIRECTOR
  • MIKE MAZZAROPPI — DIRECTOR
  • NANCY CARR — DIRECTOR
  • ROBERT WELCHER — DIRECTOR
  • SARAH STEINMANN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 38

Who they work with

  • Acadia Insurance Funder — Community philanthropic supporter funding services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Acces VR Government — Program supporter providing funding or resources for services to individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Baldwinsville Lions Club Funder — Lions Club chapter contributing to services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Boeheim Foundation Funder — Program supporter funding services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Central New York Community Foundation Funder — Program supporter funding services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Chelsea Wilkinson Partner — Family member who has utilized AURORA's services and nominated the organization based on personal experience.
  • Christopher Wood Phillips Fund Funder — Philanthropic fund supporting services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • City of Auburn Government — Program supporter contributing to services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Edwin F. and Delores P. Davis Fund Funder — Fund providing financial support for services to individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Funder — Community philanthropic supporter funding services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Flora Bernice Smith Foundation Funder — Foundation supporting services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Fred & Berthe P. Harder Foundation Funder — Foundation providing support for services to individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Fulton Lions Club, Inc. Funder — Lions Club organization supporting services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • J. Daniel & Diane Pluff Fund Funder — Philanthropic fund providing financial support for services to individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • J. Henry and Martha E. Deboer Fund Funder — Fund supporting services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Kinney Foundation Funder — Philanthropic foundation contributing to services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Kiwanis Club Funder — Community philanthropic supporter contributing to services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Liberty Resources Partner — Affiliate organization enabling mutual knowledge and resource sharing.
  • Liberty Resources, Inc. Partner — Affiliated partner to expand service lines and integrate a total health and well-being approach for people with vision and hearing loss.
  • Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County Partner — Partnered to resume the Bedtime Book Series in 2026, promoting literacy and inclusion for hearing and Deaf children.
  • Marjorie Clere Interpreter Referral Service Partner — Coordinates the provision of certified Sign Language interpreters in Central New York.
  • National Industries for the Blind (NIB) Partner — Program supporter collaborating to provide services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • New York State Commission for the Blind Government — Program supporter providing funding or resources for services to individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • New York State Office of Cannabis Management Government — Program supporter contributing to services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • New York State Office of Family and Child Services (OFA) Government — Program supporter providing support for services to individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) Government — Program supporter providing funding or resources for services to individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Onondaga County Government — Program supporter contributing to services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Robert H. and Norma E. Kemper Fund Funder — Philanthropic fund supporting services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Sanford Cohen Revocable Trust Funder — Trust providing financial support for services to individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
  • Solvay-Geddes-Camillus Lions Club Funder — Lions Club chapter supporting services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing in Central New York
+ 8 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.

  • Dual-Approach Employment Integration
    methodology: dual-approach_employment_support
    By simultaneously empowering Deaf job seekers and equipping employers to address systemic barriers, employment outcomes improve, because sustainable workforce inclusion requires both individual capacity-building and organizational cultural change.
  • Early Intervention with Sensory-Modality Focus
    methodology: early_intervention_specialized_education
    By addressing hearing and vision as primary learning channels through early intervention and specialized education, developmental gaps are bridged and self-advocacy skills are built, because early support during critical learning periods maximizes lifelong educational and social outcomes.
  • Holistic Psychosocial and Practical Rehabilitation
    methodology: holistic-rehabilitation
    By integrating emotional and psychosocial support with practical vision rehabilitation services, the organization addresses the full impact of sensory loss, because mental health and social connection are foundational to sustained engagement and successful adaptation.
  • Integrated Vision Rehabilitation for Independent Living
    methodology: vision_rehabilitation
    By combining vision-specific techniques with training in independent living and mobility skills, individuals achieve safer and more autonomous navigation in home and community settings, because functional skill-building directly enables daily independence after vision loss.
  • Strengths-Based Empowerment Model
    methodology: strengths-based
    By focusing on capabilities and possibilities rather than limitations, this approach empowers individuals with sensory loss to live, work, and thrive, because emphasizing strengths fosters self-efficacy and active engagement in rehabilitation and community life.