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A Fair Shake for Youth Inc
New York, NY · EIN 273855519 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE O50 · Youth Development · Small ($100K-$1M) · afairshakeforyouth.org
revenue
$276K
expenses
$212K
net assets
$347K
employees
3
program ratio
80%
mission · from form 990

A Fair Shake for Youth helps underserved and vulnerable NYC youth realize greater opportunities and possibilities for their lives by building critical social and emotional skills using a structured hands-on program with therapy dogs.

profile · synthesized from sources

A Fair Shake for Youth helps underserved middle school students in New York City build social and emotional skills through hands-on programs with registered therapy dogs. The organization partners with public schools and community organizations in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn to deliver structured 10-week curricula that foster empathy, self-esteem, and positive communication. Programs use dog training and care activities to teach life skills and reduce bullying.

named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

School-Based Therapy Dog Program
10-week program during the school year where therapy dog teams and instructors work with 12 middle school students to build social and emotional skills through structured dog-handling activities and discussions.
Summer Camp Therapy Dog Program
Shorter, six-week version of the core program offered in conjunction with summer camps, focusing on dog-related activities to teach empathy, communication, and self-esteem.
activities · 2 groups

What they do

  • Animal-Assisted Support Services 2 activities
    • Delivers structured therapy dog programs to build social and emotional skills in middle school youth
      Provides a 10-week (6-week in summer) hands-on program during the school year and summer camps, using registered therapy dogs to help underserved middle school students in New York City develop empathy, self-esteem, communication skills, and reduce bullying. The curriculum includes dog-handling, positive reinforcement training, and discussions on animal welfare topics such as shelters, second chances, and breed discrimination.
    • Facilitates weekly small-group interactions between youth and therapy dog teams
      Conducts weekly one-hour sessions where 12 youth are grouped into teams of four to engage in hands-on activities and discussions with therapy dog teams, each consisting of a certified handler and dog, supported by an instructor.
  • Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
    • Supports volunteer participation in therapy dog programs through transportation reimbursement
      Provides transportation or reimburses parking and other transport costs for volunteers with prior approval who travel to schools and programs to participate in therapy dog sessions with youth.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$276K
Contributions & grants$249K90%
Program service revenue$27K10%
Investment income$700%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$212K
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$125K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$351K
Cash$326K
Investments$0
Liabilities$5K
Net assets$347K
Liquid reserves18.4 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +15.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Audrey Hendler Exec Director 40 $85K
board members · 5
  • Addie Walsh — Director
  • Blair Harbour — Secretary
  • Brenda Johnson — Director
  • Elizabeth Nieto — Treasurer
  • Lauren Afflixio — President
relationships · 23

Who they work with

  • Barrier Free Living Domestic Violence Shelter Partner — Community partner organization collaborating with A Fair Shake for Youth to deliver programs.
  • Barrier Free Living Domestic Violence Shelter Partner — Non-school partner organization collaborating with A Fair Shake for Youth on programming.
  • BronxWorks Partner — Non-school partner organization collaborating with A Fair Shake for Youth on programming.
  • BronxWorks Betances Community Center Partner — Non-school partner organization collaborating with A Fair Shake for Youth on programming.
  • Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters Partner — Community partner organization collaborating with A Fair Shake for Youth to deliver programs.
  • Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters Partner — Non-school partner organization collaborating with A Fair Shake for Youth on programming.
  • Children of Promise Partner — Community partner organization collaborating with A Fair Shake for Youth to deliver programs.
  • Henry Street Settlement Partner — Community partner organization collaborating with A Fair Shake for Youth to deliver programs.
  • Henry Street Settlement Partner — Non-school partner organization collaborating with A Fair Shake for Youth on programming.
  • Pet Partners Partner — Collaborates with Pet Partners to certify therapy dogs used in youth programs.
  • Pet Partners Partner — Collaborates with Pet Partners, a major therapy dog organization, to support therapy dog programming in New York City.
  • Pet Partners Partner — Registers therapy dogs used in A Fair Shake for Youth programs
  • Pet Partners Partner — Therapy dog teams must be registered with Pet Partners or certified by The Good Dog Foundation to participate in A Fair Shake for Youth programs.
  • Pet Partners Partner — Therapy dog teams must be registered with Pet Partners to participate in A Fair Shake for Youth programs.
  • The Good Dog Foundation Partner — Certifies therapy dogs used in A Fair Shake for Youth programs
  • The Good Dog Foundation Partner — Collaborates with The Good Dog Foundation to certify therapy dogs used in youth programs.
  • The Good Dog Foundation Partner — Collaborates with The Good Dog Foundation, a regional therapy dog organization, to support therapy dog programming in New York City.
  • The Good Dog Foundation Partner — Therapy dog teams may be certified by The Good Dog Foundation to participate in A Fair Shake for Youth programs.
  • The Good Dog Foundation Partner — Therapy dog teams must be certified by The Good Dog Foundation or registered with Pet Partners to participate in A Fair Shake for Youth programs.
  • Youth INC Network — Recognized as a proud partner in the Youth INC network.
  • community organizations Partner — Collaborates with community organizations to implement youth programs in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn.
  • public schools Partner — Partners with public schools to deliver in-school programs for middle school youth.
  • therapy dogs Partner — Therapy dogs are integral partners in the program, working directly with students to support social and emotional development.
strategies · 3

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.

  • Animal-Assisted Social-Emotional Learning
    methodology: animal_assisted_social_emotional_learning
    By engaging youth in hands-on interaction with therapy dogs and structured discussions about animal behavior, we develop empathy, self-awareness, and social-emotional skills because the non-judgmental presence of dogs creates a safe environment for emotional growth and experiential learning.
  • Continuity of Care Through Consistent Volunteer Teams
    methodology: continuity_of_care
    By maintaining long-term, stable relationships between youth and therapy dog volunteer teams, we build trust and emotional safety over time, because consistent positive interactions foster deeper engagement and developmental progress.
  • Resilience Modeling Through Rescue Animals
    methodology: resilience_modeling_through_rescue_animals
    By using rescue therapy dogs as living examples of overcoming adversity, we teach youth that resilience and success are possible despite difficult beginnings, because seeing animals thrive after hardship provides a relatable and hopeful narrative.