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MOSAIC - WE ARE BORN TO LEARN
WHITE PLAINS, NY · EIN 871700033 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE E60 · Health Care · Small ($100K-$1M) · weareborntolearn.org
revenue
$699K
expenses
$727K
net assets
$-152K
employees
0
volunteers
5
program ratio
67%
mission · from form 990

MOSAIC WAS ESTABLISHED TO EDUCATE AND SUPPORT PARENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT A DIFFERENT PATHWAY OF LEARNING KNOWN AS SELF-DIRECTED EDUCATION (SDE).

profile · synthesized from sources

MOSAIC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and supporting parents and young people about self-directed education (SDE). It provides a platform and community for families practicing independent, meaningful learning through resources, events, and membership services. The organization operates primarily online, serving a geographically dispersed population interested in alternative education pathways.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Events
Organized gatherings and activities to support families in their self-directed learning journey
Membership Services
Platform providing resources, events, and community support for families practicing self-directed education, accessible through paid membership
Resource Platform
Online hub offering content, tools, and information to support independent meaningful learning for parents and young people
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Leadership & Policy Dialogue Forums 1 activity
    • Advocacy and dialogue on learner-centered education
      Participates in multi-organization dialogues on the future of education, including contributions to discussions on AI and learner-centered education such as "The Future of the Educator."
  • Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
    • Capacity building for educators and families in self-directed learning
      Provides coaching and community-building support to families and educators transitioning to self-directed learning models.
  • Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
    • Curiosity-driven and interest-based learning programs
      Facilitates hands-on, interest-based learning experiences centered on individual passions, including programs that support future career development in technology, and encourages learning through curiosity-driven dialogue and podcasting.
  • Special Education Support Services 1 activity
    • Inclusive learning environments for neurodivergent children
      Creates inclusive, supportive learning environments and produces educational content specifically focused on neurodivergent learning and children with hypervigilant nervous systems.
  • Parenting Education and Support Programs 1 activity
    • Parent and caregiver education on self-directed education
      Offers education and personalized support to parents and caregivers navigating self-directed learning through coaching, one-on-one sessions, and monthly Guide-moderated gatherings such as Coffee Chats.
  • Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
    • Podcast and multimedia content production for alternative learning
      Produces a podcast series for families exploring alternative learning approaches, with practical reflections on learner-led home environments, and creates supplementary educational resources summarizing key concepts from episodes. Accepts and publishes community-submitted content including videos, audio, photography, and written reflections via an email-based system.
  • Youth and Community Research Initiatives 1 activity
    • Research on self-directed education
      Conducted a nationally representative survey on self-directed education in 2021, which was peer-reviewed and published in the International Journal of Progressive Education, revealing 74% of U.S. families expressed interest in independent experiential learning.
  • Homeschool Support Services 1 activity
    • Support for self-directed learning for families
      Provides materials, workshops, virtual one-on-one meetings with Guides, and a private community platform with exclusive events, webinars, and a curated resource library to support families engaged in self-directed learning. Offers a 60-day free trial membership and a free welcome series through email subscription.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$699K
Contributions & grants$699K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$10%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$727K
Program expenses67%
Admin / overhead33%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$150K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$193
Cash$193
Investments$0
Liabilities$152K
Net assets$-152K
Liquid reserves0.0 mo
2 years on record · 2023–2024 · YoY revenue +3.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
BONNIE BENJAMIN-PHARISS BOARD CO-CHAIR/SECRETARY/EXEC. DIR. 20 $150K
board members · 5
  • BRENDA ROBINSON — BOARD MEMBERS
  • EMILY LIEBTAG — BOARD MEMBERS
  • FISH STARK — BOARD MEMBERS
  • JEFFREY WESTPHAL — BOARD MEMBERS
  • JONATHAN SAPPEY — BOARD CO-CHAIR
relationships · 6

Who they work with

  • Collective Membership Network — Network offering free 60-day access to resources and community gatherings for families engaged in self-directed learning
  • International Journal of Progressive Education Partner — Published Mosaic's peer-reviewed research on self-directed education.
  • Kristen Himm Partner — Founder of MOSAIC - WE ARE BORN TO LEARN and lead guide in self-directed education for neurodivergent learners.
  • Paya Government — Third-party payment processing partner used to collect membership fees.
  • Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman Partner — Featured guest and collaborator on podcast discussing neurodivergent learning
  • Selfdirect.school Partner — Collaborated on the publication "The Future of the Educator," a dialogue on AI and learner-centered education.
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.

  • Community-Centered Resource Development
    methodology: community_built_resources
    By co-creating resources through collective participation and centering values like equity, respect, and inclusion, the organization ensures relevance and accessibility for diverse families, because community-built models foster ownership, trust, and sustained engagement in self-directed learning.
  • Needs-Based Behavioral Approach
    methodology: needs_based_behavioral_interpretation
    By interpreting challenging behaviors as communications of unmet needs and reframing neurodivergent traits like PDA as physiological realities rather than deficits, the organization shifts adult responses toward support and accommodation, because such reframing reduces conflict and builds trust in learning relationships.
  • Reflective Family Coaching Model
    methodology: reflective_family_coaching
    By using reflective questioning and emotional reframing, the organization helps families identify their underlying needs and build confidence in self-directed learning, because this coaching approach shifts mindsets and strengthens family agency without prescriptive instruction.
  • Self-Directed Learning Model
    methodology: self_directed_learning
    By trusting children to follow their intrinsic curiosities and stepping back from traditional instruction, the organization fosters deeper engagement and authentic learning outcomes, because autonomy and interest-driven exploration support mental, physical, and emotional thriving in young people.