irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $173KBEAR GIVERS CREATED THE EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM TO EMPOWER CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS AND OTHER LEARNING DISABILITIES,AND TEACH THEM ABOUT GIVING AND RECEIVING. BEAR GIVERS DONATES TEDDY BEARS TO SCHOOLS SERVING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND THE STUDENTS DECIDE WHO TO GIVE THEM AWAY TO. THIS ENABLES THEM TO EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF GIVING TO OTHERS THEY BELIEVE ARE IN NEED OF COMFORT. AS THESE STUDENTS ARE USUALLY THE RECIPIENTS OF CHARITY,THIS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES THEM WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK. THE EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM WILL BE INTRODUCED TO MORE SCHOOLS AND FACILITIES IN FUTURE YEARS.
- #2 $99KBEAR GIVERS INTRODUCED THE EMPOWERART PROGRAM TO ENABLE CHILDREN WITH AUTISM RELATED DISORDERS AND OTHER LEARNING DISABILITIES TO DISPLAY AND SELL THEIR ARTWORK. BEAR GIVERS ACCOMPLISHED THIS BY SPONSORING ART SHOWS FOR SCHOOLS SERVING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THESE SHOWS TOOK PLACE IN A PROFESSIONAL SETTING TO ALLOW THE CHILDREN TO FEEL PROUD AND EMPOWERED. THEIR CREATIVITY AND TALENT WAS RECOGNIZED, IMPROVING THEIR SELF-ESTEEM AND SENSE OF PRIDE. THIS WAS FURTHERED BY THE KNOWLEDGE THAT 100% OF THE SALE PROCEEDS OF THEIR ARTWORK WENT DIRECTLY BACK TO THEIR SCHOOL. BEAR GIVERS INTENDS TO SPONSOR MORE ART SHOWS FOR A GREATER NUMBER OF SCHOOLS AND FACILITIES IN THE FUTURE.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Art, Cocktails and Comedy
Hosts fundraising events combining art exhibitions, cocktails, and comedy performances to support program initiatives.
EmpowerArt Program
Sponsors art shows for children with autism and learning disabilities, enabling them to display and sell their artwork, with proceeds benefiting their schools.
Empowerment Program
Distributes teddy bears to schools serving children with special needs, allowing students to decide who receives them, fostering a sense of agency and joy in giving.
Entrepreneur Empowerment Program
Provides resources and support to underserved entrepreneurs, particularly women and older adults starting businesses.
Pay It Forward
Encourages students to extend kindness by organizing bear donations to peers or community members in need.
Teddy Bear Clinic
Organizes visits to children's hospitals where teddy bears are given to patients, providing comfort and cheer during difficult times.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Therapeutic Comfort Kits and Room Makeovers 3 activities
- Deliver teddy bears and emotional support to non-hospital populationsProvides teddy bears and personal visits to senior citizens, adults undergoing cancer treatment, families in shelters, recent immigrants, and military troops to offer emotional support.
- Distribute teddy bears to children and families in hospitalsDistributes teddy bears to hospitalized children and their families through organized visits by representatives, providing comfort and emotional support. The program has conducted visits at hundreds of hospitals globally, including North Shore University Hospital and Johns Hopkins.
- Operate Teddy Bear Clinics to reduce anxiety around medical proceduresRuns Teddy Bear Clinics designed to reduce children's anxiety related to medical procedures, including events conducted at hospitals such as Johns Hopkins in 2025.
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Holiday and Seasonal Essentials Distribution 1 activity
- Implement school-based kindness and giving projectsPartners with schools to implement the Kindness Project, customizing teddy bears and organizing visits, including for schools serving children with special needs. Programs have been implemented at NEST+m School, Wagner MS167, P.S. 076 The Bennington School, Spruce Street School, and P94M@340.
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Art Programs for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities 1 activity
- Organize art shows for children with disabilitiesSponsors and organizes art shows through the EmpowerArt Program for children with autism-related disorders and other learning disabilities, enabling them to exhibit and sell their artwork in professional or virtual settings. The program has been ongoing since at least 2020.
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Jewish Lifecycle-Integrated Service Projects 1 activity
- Run youth engagement programs in service and givingOperates programs that enable children and youth, including those with disabilities, to participate in service and giving activities through milestone events like Bar Mitzvahs and Confirmations, as well as through art-based initiatives and fundraising events.
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Charity Golf Tournament Fundraiser 1 activity
- Sponsor charitable events and community programsOrganizes and supports a range of charitable events including Art, Cocktails and Comedy, hospital visits, senior citizen visits, and donation drives to support children and families in need.
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Startup Acceleration & Business Growth Support 1 activity
- Support underserved entrepreneursLaunched a program to support underserved entrepreneurs, particularly women and older individuals starting businesses, by providing resources and opportunities.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$998K
Contributions & grants$888K89%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$110K11%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$686K
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead4%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$16K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$1.88M
Cash$771K
Investments$953K
Liabilities$0
Net assets$1.88M
Liquid reserves30.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +15.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIANE LEMPERT | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 25 | $59K |
| KRISTEN DICHIARO | DIRECTOR | 25 | $48K |
board members · 4
- AVIGAIL ROSEMORE — DIRECTOR
- JOSEPH B SPRUNG — DIRECTORCHAIRMAN
- MICHELE MIRMAN — DIRECTORPRESIDENT
- RICHARD FINK — DIRECTORVICE PRESIDENT
relationships · 41
Who they work with
- AllinBklyn Partner — Michele Mirman, President of Bear Givers, is a member of AllinBklyn, a women’s giving circle supporting Brooklyn-based organizations.
- Boy Scouts Partner — Boy Scouts participate as BG Ambassadors in fundraising and teddy bear distribution.
- Brooklyn Kindergarten Society Partner — Michele Mirman is a longtime supporter of the Brooklyn Kindergarten Society, which supports preschools in underprivileged areas.
- Candlelighters NYC Partner — Partnered on events supporting children and families, including hospital visits.
- Chai Lifeline Partner — Joseph Sprung, Chairman and Founder of Bear Givers, is Past President and currently Chairman of the Executive Committee of Chai Lifeline, indicating a close organizational affiliation.
- College Groups Partner — College groups participate as BG Ambassadors in fundraising and teddy bear distribution.
- Ellie Ruby Foundation Partner — Partnered on hospital-based initiatives including at Shaare Zedek Hospital.
- Fraternities Partner — Fraternities participate as BG Ambassadors in fundraising and teddy bear distribution.
- Freedom Start Foundation Partner — Richard Fink, Vice President of Finance at Bear Givers, founded the Freedom Start Foundation, which supports disadvantaged individuals and artists, indicating a leadership link.
- Friendship Circle of Brooklyn Partner — Collaborated on multiple events including art shows and holiday celebrations.
- Girl Scouts Partner — Girl Scouts participate as BG Ambassadors in fundraising and teddy bear distribution.
- Grady Health System Partner — Collaborates on hospital visit programs for children.
- High School Clubs Partner — High school clubs participate as BG Ambassadors in fundraising and teddy bear distribution.
- Johns Hopkins Partner — Collaborated on a Teddy Bear Clinic event.
- Kool Kids Passaic Partner — Collaborated on annual art shows and community events.
- MS Wagner 167 Partner — Implemented the Leading with Kindness initiative together.
- Making Headway Foundation Partner — Michele Mirman is a longtime supporter of The Making Headway Foundation, which funds pediatric brain cancer research.
- Mending Kids Partner — Collaborated on events in 2023 and in Tanzania.
- Mending Kids Partner — Partner organization involved in a teddy bear distribution event on July 12, 2015.
- Mercatus Center Partner — Richard Fink founded the Mercatus Center in 1977, indicating a founding-level affiliation.
- NEST+m School Partner — Partnered with BEAR GIVERS INC to implement the Kindness Project in January 2024.
- North Shore University Hospital Partner — Site of teddy bear delivery visit by Bear Givers.
- P.S. 076 The Bennington School Partner — Partnered with BEAR GIVERS INC to implement the Kindness Project in March 2024.
- P94M@340 Partner — Visited for a school engagement activity in partnership with Wagner.
- Palm Beach Children’s Hospital Partner — Collaborated on the Teddy Bear Clinic initiative.
- Palm Beach Children’s Hospital Partner — Conducted multiple visits including holiday parties, superhero carnivals, and Teddy Bear Clinics.
- ROTC Partner — ROTC groups participate as BG Ambassadors in fundraising and teddy bear distribution.
- Sororities Partner — Sororities participate as BG Ambassadors in fundraising and teddy bear distribution.
- Spruce Street School Partner — Partnered with BEAR GIVERS INC to implement the Kindness Project in 2025.
- Tenement Museum of New York City Partner — Michele Mirman serves as a trustee of the Tenement Museum of New York City, indicating an institutional affiliation.
+ 11 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.
- Altruism Amplification Through Experiential Kindness Educationmethodology: kindness-education_to_combat_prejudiceBy designing structured giving experiences that teach kindness and inclusion through research and direct action, we reduce prejudice and amplify altruistic behavior because experiential learning fosters empathy and challenges stereotypes in ways that abstract instruction cannot.
- Emotional Support Through Symbolic Gift-Giving and Shared Experiencemethodology: emotional_support_through-gift-visitsBy delivering comfort through teddy bear visits—especially in hospital settings—we reduce anxiety and loneliness because symbolic, tangible acts of care create emotional connection and provide psychological reassurance during times of distress.
- Peer-Led Giving to Foster Empowerment and Agencymethodology: peer-to-peer_givingBy engaging children, especially those typically in recipient roles, as active givers through peer-led acts of generosity, we foster empathy, personal growth, and a sense of agency because participating in giving builds self-worth and transforms identity from passive recipient to empowered contributor.
- Youth Engagement Through Milestone and Creative Participationmethodology: milestone-service-integrationBy integrating service into youth milestone celebrations and creative expression like art, we instill lifelong philanthropic habits because linking giving to meaningful personal events and self-expression deepens emotional investment and sustains engagement.