irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2019
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $9KEND OF LIFE CHOICES PROVIDES FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS TO CITIZENS AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL AID IN DYING IN NEW YORK IN ADDITION TO SEVERAL OTHER PROPOSED BILLS ON REMOTE WITNESSING AND PATIENT RIGHTS.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
A New Yorker’s Guide to End of Life Planning
Produces and distributes a comprehensive, regularly updated guide covering advance directives, palliative care, hospice, end-of-life options, and legal rights, supported by a grant from the New York Foundation for Eldercare.
Free Support Services
Responds to inquiries from patients, families, and professionals about end-of-life options, advance care planning, and access to care, providing personalized guidance and referrals.
Medical Aid in Dying Education and Advocacy
Provides public and professional education on medical aid in dying, advocates for legalization and implementation of related legislation in New York, and partners with The Academy of Aid-in-Dying Medicine to train clinicians and develop hospice policies.
VSED Support and Resources
Offers comprehensive information, counseling, and clinical guidance on voluntarily stopping eating and drinking as a legal end-of-life option, including video resources, reading materials, and direct support services.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Advance Care Planning Support 3 activities
- Produce and distribute educational materials on end-of-life planningCreates and provides accessible resources such as guides, videos, and downloadable forms to help individuals understand and complete advance directives, including the Health Care Proxy, MOLST, DNR, living wills, and dementia-specific and VSED directives. Includes a plain-language guide to end-of-life rights and a customizable Emergency and End of Life Binder.
- Provide direct support and referral services for end-of-life decision-makingOffers free one-on-one support via phone or email to help individuals navigate end-of-life decisions, including medical advocacy, family meetings, and completing advance directives. Provides referrals to local professionals such as doulas, social workers, geriatricians, and estate planners.
- Support individuals considering or undergoing Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking (VSED)Provides free direct support, educational materials, and clinical guidance to individuals considering or undergoing VSED, including a specialized advance directive form and educational videos. Supported individual cases such as Rosemary Bowen in 2018.
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Healthcare Policy Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocate for medical aid in dying and end-of-life rights legislationLeads advocacy efforts to legalize medical aid in dying in New York, including supporting and achieving passage of the Medical Aid in Dying Act signed into law in February 2026. Also advocated for the Palliative Care Information Act and legislation on remote witnessing and patient rights.
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Volunteer and Professional Training Programs 1 activity
- Build capacity through volunteer training and policy developmentTrains peer volunteers to serve as compassionate companions for individuals facing end-of-life issues and convenes expert committees to develop hospice policy templates for medical aid in dying participation in collaboration with The Academy of Aid-in-Dying Medicine.
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Medical Research & Education Dissemination 1 activity
- Produce research and educational content on VSED as an end-of-life optionConducts and publishes educational articles and co-edits books on Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking (VSED) as a legal and accessible end-of-life option, contributing to public and professional understanding.
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Palliative and End-of-Life Care Education 1 activity
- Provide free public education and informational sessions on end-of-life choicesOffers free educational workshops, webinars, and online meet-and-greet sessions to inform the public and health care professionals about end-of-life options, including advance care planning, hospice, palliative care, and legal forms. These include live and pre-recorded webinars, monthly Zoom presentations, and community education events.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Produce advocacy-focused media contentProduces a monthly vlog featuring professionals, caregivers, and patients to advance public support for medical aid in dying and related legislative reforms.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$526K
Contributions & grants$517K98%
Program service revenue$3K1%
Investment income$6K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$508K
Program expenses68%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising14%
Salaries & benefits$214K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$254K
Cash$231K
Investments$192
Liabilities$9K
Net assets$245K
Liquid reserves5.5 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +107.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MANDI ZUCKER LSW CT | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $127K |
board members · 8
- JEAN CRUZ — DIRECTOR
- KARYN SCHORR — SECRETARY
- KRISTEN KARLBERG — VICE PRESIDENT
- MELODY MADERA — DIRECTOR
- PETER BIENSTOCK — DIRECTOR
- PETER STRAUSS JD — TREASURER
- ROBIN PLUMER — DIRECTOR
- TERRY PERLIN — PRESIDENT
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- Compassion in Dying Network — Former affiliate of Compassion in Dying of New York, originally established as part of a national nonprofit based in Oregon.
- Jansen Hospice Partner — Employer of board member Jean Anne Cruz Menna, a hospice registered nurse, indicating a professional affiliation.
- Judith Schwarz, PhD, RN Partner — Former Clinical Director of End of Life Choices New York and author of educational materials on VSED.
- Medical Aid in Dying Partner — Advocates for the legalization of Medical Aid in Dying in New York, noting it is already legal in ten states and Canada.
- New York Foundation For Eldercare Funder — Funded the development of End of Life Choices New York’s Essentials: Emergency and End of Life Binder.
- New York State Legislature Government — Engaged in advocacy efforts resulting in the passage of state laws related to end-of-life care, including the Palliative Care Information Act and Medical Aid in Dying legislation.
- Northwest Justice Project Partner — Collaborated to develop and provide the dementia advance directive form.
- Patient Choices Vermont Partner — Co-hosts educational events on medical aid in dying in New York.
- The Academy of Aid-in-Dying Medicine Partner — Collaborates on public education, clinical training, and resource provision for medical aid in dying.
- The Academy of Aid-in-Dying Medicine Partner — Collaborates to develop hospice policy templates and provide clinician education on aid-in-dying medicine.
- The Conversation Project Partner — Collaborates by directing individuals to The Conversation Project website for downloadable conversation starter tools on end-of-life care planning.
- Timothy Quill, MD Partner — Board member of End of Life Choices New York and co-editor of a published book on VSED.
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.
- Education-to-Advocacy Pathwaymethodology: education-to-advocacy pathwayBy combining public education with legislative advocacy, the organization advances end-of-life rights, operating on the belief that informed citizens and professionals are more likely to support and drive policy change.
- Patient-Centered Autonomy in End-of-Life Decision-Makingmethodology: patient-centered autonomyBy supporting individuals in making self-directed end-of-life decisions aligned with personal values, the organization increases the likelihood that care preferences are honored, reduces suffering, and prevents family conflict—because autonomy is central to dignity and peaceful dying.
- State-Specific Support Modelmethodology: state-specific support modelBy focusing exclusively on New York-specific laws, resources, and options, the organization provides more actionable and legally relevant support—because localized knowledge increases the effectiveness and accessibility of end-of-life planning.
- Values-Based Advance Care Planningmethodology: advance_care_planningBy using values-based conversation guides and scenario planning to prompt early and proactive articulation of end-of-life preferences, the organization ensures more comprehensive and integrated planning—because discussing values while healthy leads to better decision-making when capacity is lost.