named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Cooperative Family Participation
Member families volunteer for events, attend general meetings, and participate in classroom and school governance through the Steering Committee
Enrichment Programs
Weekly sessions in visual arts with an on-staff atelierista, music and movement with visiting teaching artists, and Spanish language instruction through Espanate
Field Trips and Neighborhood Integration
Curriculum-connected outings to local sites such as the Transit Museum or Queens County Farm, as well as neighborhood visits for real-world learning
Financial Aid Program
Tuition reduction of 10–50% for qualifying families based on household income, assessed through NAIS SSS
Play-Based Learning Curriculum
Child-directed program emphasizing free play, science and math exploration, literacy, and social development through structured yet flexible daily routines
activities · 12 groups
What they do
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Patient and Family Support Services 1 activity
- Advocate for children's access to support servicesSupports families in advocating for children to access necessary support services by helping locate qualified providers and contributing input during advocacy meetings.
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Cultural Exchange and Community Integration Events 1 activity
- Celebrate cultural diversity and individual milestonesHosts cultural and family holiday celebrations as well as individual birthday observances to promote inclusion, cultural awareness, and community building among children and families.
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Admissions Outreach and Enrollment Support 1 activity
- Conduct family tours and admissions outreachOffers scheduled in-person tours for families applying to the school, supporting recruitment and enrollment for upcoming academic years such as 2026–2027.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Deliver enrichment programs through teaching artists and specialized instructorsPartners with weekly teaching artists and external providers to deliver programming in visual arts (led by a part-time atelierista), music and movement, and Spanish language instruction (via Espanate) to support creative expression and multilingual development.
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Volunteer Commitment Programs 1 activity
- Foster cooperative school model with active family participationEngages member families as partners in school operations through classroom and administrative volunteering, attendance at four annual general meetings, and participation in at least two school events per year. Families also lead cultural and educational activities in classrooms.
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Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Host summer camp program for current and incoming studentsOperates an exclusive summer camp program for children already enrolled or entering the preschool, continuing educational and social engagement during summer months.
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Early Childhood Education Financial Assistance 1 activity
- Offer financial aid and tuition reduction based on needProvides financial assistance to qualifying families, including tuition reductions of 10–50%, to ensure access to preschool education regardless of economic circumstances.
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Early Childhood Education & Development Programs 1 activity
- Operate full-day preschool program for children ages 2 to 4 years, 8 monthsProvides early childhood education for 61–62 children through a full-day preschool program with student-teacher ratios between 4:1 and 6:1 across four classrooms. The program follows a structured yet flexible daily schedule that includes circle meetings, free play, hands-on learning in science and math, literacy development, and field trips.
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Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs 1 activity
- Promote social-emotional learning and conflict resolutionAddresses discipline challenges by guiding children to understand consequences, practice alternative behaviors, and develop skills in problem solving, negotiation, and conflict resolution within a supportive environment.
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Before and After School Childcare 1 activity
- Provide extended day childcare servicesOffers pre-registered extended day care for children outside regular school hours, providing additional supervision and programming beyond the standard preschool day.
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Family-School Engagement Programs 1 activity
- Provide regular family communication and classroom updatesShares weekly narrative reports and classroom photos with families via a classroom blog to keep parents informed about their child's experiences and progress.
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Special Education Support Services 1 activity
- Support inclusive education for children with special needsCollaborates with external special education teachers and therapists to support children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Works with families to advocate for needed services and, when necessary, identify alternative educational settings if a child’s needs exceed available resources.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.02M
Contributions & grants$720K36%
Program service revenue$1.29M64%
Investment income$11K1%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$1.69M
Program expenses74%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$1.19M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.60M
Cash$1.07M
Investments$0
Liabilities$191K
Net assets$1.41M
Liquid reserves7.6 mo
7 years on record · 2018–2024 · YoY revenue +24.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 6
- Amy Brito — Secretary
- David Heales — Board Chair
- Junie Francois Pswarayi — Board Member
- Mark Buswinka — Board Member
- Nate Martinez — Board Member
- Rob Van Es — Treasurer
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- ABFE Partner — Junie Francois Pswarayi created fundraising partnerships with ABFE to expand outreach to communities of color.
- BFS Community Building Committee Partner — Committee of member families focused on strengthening community engagement within the cooperative school.
- Committee for Special Preschool Education Government — Referral and coordination partner for preschool special education services.
- Democracy Works Partner — Junie Francois Pswarayi previously managed finance, HR, and operations at Democracy Works, a civic tech nonprofit.
- Empower MyHood Partner — Junie Francois Pswarayi created fundraising partnerships with Empower MyHood to expand outreach to communities of color.
- Espanate Partner — Provides Spanish language instruction through its instructor Raquel.
- Gabi Moisan Partner — Part-time professional artist (atelierista) who collaborates with teachers and children on visual arts programming.
- Good Shepherd Services Partner — Junie Francois Pswarayi is a member of the first cohort of the Anti-Racism Equity Institute at Good Shepherd Services.
- Joane Riel Partner — Visiting teaching artist who leads movement and improvisational-based sessions for youngest classrooms.
- Marxy Labs Partner — Junie Francois Pswarayi created fundraising partnerships with Marcy Labs to expand outreach to communities of color.
- National Association of Independent Schools' School and Student Services Partner — Partner organization through which families submit financial aid applications.
- Shawn Farrar Partner — Visiting teaching artist who provides music sessions for older children using opera-informed musical concepts.
- Steering Committee Partner — Governing body elected by members to lead the cooperative school for the following academic year.
- Stripe Partner — Amy Brito, Board member, leads a commerce and agency partnerships team at Stripe.
- Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP Partner — David Heales, Chair of the BFS Board, is a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.
- member families Partner — Member families are actively involved in school operations and classroom participation as part of a cooperative model.
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.
- Diversity-Integrated Relational Educationmethodology: diversity-in-educationBy intentionally cultivating a diverse school environment and using relational approaches grounded in mutual respect, children develop cultural competency, self-control, and social balance because exposure to difference within a supportive, respectful community fosters healthy identity and interpersonal growth.
- Family-Engaged Civic and Educational Partnershipmethodology: family-engaged_civic_learningBy actively involving families in education and advocacy processes, the organization strengthens children’s perception of parental engagement and improves access to necessary services, because family participation models civic behavior and increases the effectiveness and appropriateness of support systems.
- Inquiry-Based and Contextualized Literacy Developmentmethodology: inquiry-based learningBy embedding literacy in authentic daily experiences and extending children's natural inquiry through observation-based facilitation, foundational language and scientific thinking skills develop organically because learning is most effective when rooted in context and curiosity.
- Play-Based Learning Modelmethodology: play_based_learningBy designing classroom environments around play and hands-on exploration, children become active collaborators in their learning, developing self-generated theories and a sense of joy in discovery because play is the primary mode through which young children make sense of the world.
- Process-Oriented and Child-Directed Developmentmethodology: process-oriented learningBy emphasizing the learning process over end products and balancing structure with free choice, children develop autonomy, confidence, and pride in their capabilities because meaningful learning emerges from agency and personal investment rather than performance outcomes.