irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $227KHOSPITAL HEPPENINGS: ENCOURAGE KIDS PARTNERED WITH ICONIC TOY BRAND, FAO SCHWARZ, TO CREATE A NEW, HIGH-QUALITY PLUSH BEAR. WE DELIVER THESE BEAUTIFUL CO-BRANDED TEDDY BEARS NATIONWIDE TO HELP PEDIATRIC PATIENTS NAVIGATE THE STRESS OF TREATMENT, ILLNESS, AND HOSPITALIZATION. THESE BEARS ARE ALSO A VITAL RESOURCE IN SUPPORTING KIDS DURING PAINFUL PROCEDURES, LONG HOURS OF WAITING, AND ANY TIME WHEN THEY NEED A REASSURING HUG WHILE AWAY FROM THE COMFORTS OF HOME. THE BEAR IS ALSO A POWERFUL TOOL IN FOSTERING COPING SKILLS, PREPARING FOR MEDICAL PROCEDURES, AND EDUCATING PEDIATRIC PATIENTS ABOUT DIAGNOSES.
- #2 $825KPEDIATRIC HOSPITAL SUPPORT: THIS UNIQUE HOSPITAL PROGRAM SUPPORTS THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS SUCH AS MUSIC THERAPY, FACILITY DOGS AND PET THERAPY, SENSORY THERAPY, RECREATIONAL ROOMS, TECHNOLOGY AND LEARNING DEVICES, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES TO SUPPORT A MORE CHILD-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT, AND MANY OTHER INITIATIVES THAT ENHANCE THE LIVES OF HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Hospital Happenings
Provides psychosocial support through weekly clown visits and virtual programs during COVID-19 to reduce fear and boredom for hospitalized children.
Pediatric Hospital Support Program
Funds creative arts therapies, sensory therapy, recreational rooms, facility dogs, adaptive equipment, and technology to improve the hospital experience for children.
Send a Smile, Send a Bear
Partnership with FAO Schwarz to distribute co-branded teddy bears to pediatric patients nationwide, providing emotional comfort during treatment and hospitalization.
Virtual Camp EKF
Online camp experience for families during the pandemic, maintaining engagement and support when in-person programs were suspended.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Child Welfare Professional Training & Capacity Building 1 activity
- Capacity building for child life services in pediatric hospitalsProvides resources and funding to hospitals without child life departments to help them build the case for hiring Certified Child Life Specialists and implementing psychosocial support programs. Partners with Certified Child Life Specialists to deliver evidence-based programming that meets the emotional and developmental needs of pediatric patients.
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Therapeutic Comfort Kits and Room Makeovers 1 activity
- Distribution of comfort items and therapeutic resources to pediatric patientsDistributes teddy bears, toys, games, craft items, and age-appropriate Hospital Admission and Comfort Kits to pediatric patients nationwide to support emotional well-being during hospitalization and treatment. The co-branded teddy bear program, developed with FAO Schwarz, is delivered nationwide to help children cope with stress.
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Pediatric Medical Care and Research Support 1 activity
- Funding and support for therapeutic programs in pediatric hospitalsProvides grants and resources to fund creative arts therapies, pet therapy, music therapy, horticulture therapy, sensory therapy, support groups, recreational outings, and adaptive sports programs in pediatric hospitals. Specific funded initiatives include music therapy at Blythedale Children’s Hospital, facility dogs at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, and a ski trip for pediatric patients at Windham Mountain.
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Hospital and Medical Center Support 1 activity
- Provision of child-friendly medical equipment and hospital infrastructure improvementsFunds and purchases child-friendly medical equipment such as exam tables, infant scales, themed IV poles, rocking chairs, MamaRoo® swings, and entertainment systems for pediatric units. Also supports facility renovations and adaptive technology in response to hospital needs, including equipment for Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Vassar Brothers Medical Center.
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Youth and Community Research Initiatives 1 activity
- Research on the role of play in pediatric healingConducted a multi-million-dollar evidence-based research program analyzing how play and creative engagement contribute to healing and recovery in pediatric patients, informing program development and therapeutic interventions.
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Recreational and Emotional Support Programs for Children with Serious Illnesses 1 activity
- Support for inpatient entertainment and therapeutic media programmingSupports and funds closed-circuit therapeutic TV programming such as KidZone TV at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital, providing educational and patient-created content. Also supplies tablets, recording technology, and inpatient entertainment systems to enhance engagement and emotional support for pediatric patients.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Volunteer engagement and program delivery supportEngages individual volunteers to staff programs, assist with office operations, and support fundraising events. Organizes volunteer-led projects to create and distribute themed activity packs to hospitalized children, and recognizes long-term contributors with a Volunteer of the Year Award.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.27M
Contributions & grants$1.30M102%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$44K3%
Other revenue$-74K
expenses
Total expenses$1.51M
Program expenses70%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising20%
Salaries & benefits$515K
Grants paid out$263K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.39M
Cash$1.15M
Investments$834K
Liabilities$73K
Net assets$2.32M
Liquid reserves15.8 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -16.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEAN BUTLER | PRESIDENT AND CEO | 35 | $249K |
board members · 15
- ADAM SPIES — BOARD MEMBER
- ALAN ROTH — BOARD MEMBER
- CLAUDIA HILBERT — BOARD MEMBER
- ERIKA FEIL-LINCOLN — BOARD MEMBER
- JEFFREY GURAL — CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
- JOAN PALERMO — VICE CHAIR
- JOCELYN CHISHOLM CARTER — BOARD MEMBER
- JOE WESSELY — BOARD MEMBER
- JOHN ANASTASIO — TREASURER
- MARY KRAYESKE — SECRETARY
- MICHAEL WEINSTEIN — BOARD MEMBER
- PAUL VERDI — BOARD MEMBER
- ROB ROSENBERG — BOARD MEMBER
- STEVE CARBONE — BOARD MEMBER
- TONY FINEMAN — CHAIR
relationships · 54
Who they work with
- ACORE Capital, LP Partner — Employer of board member Tony Fineman, who serves as Board Chair and Treasurer of enCourage Kids Foundation
- Association of Child Life Professionals Network — enCourage Kids is a member of the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP), using membership to stay informed about the evolving hospital landscape and child life needs.
- Atrium Books Partner — In-kind donor providing literary entertainment for children in hospitals.
- Blythedale Children's Hospital Partner — Funded music therapy program as part of child life services
- Blythedale Children’s Hospital Partner — Funds the music therapy program as part of the child life program at Blythedale Children’s Hospital.
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital Partner — Provides Hospital Admission and Comfort Kits to pediatric patients
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital Partner — Funds Hospital Admission and Comfort Kits at Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital.
- Brookdale University Hospital & Medical Center Partner — Funds monthly sickle cell support group for children and families
- Captivate Partner — Partner that delivers enCourage Kids’ messaging through digital elevator marketing media.
- Certified Child Life Specialists Partner — Collaborates with Certified Child Life Specialists to meet the psychosocial needs of hospitalized children by providing entertainment, supplies, and programs.
- Children's Health System Partner — Collaborated on a multi-million-dollar evidence-based research program analyzing the role of play in pediatric healing and recovery.
- Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. Partner — Employer of board member Mary Krayeske, who serves as Secretary of enCourage Kids Foundation
- Cra-Z-Art Partner — Partnered on a toy donation for Harlem Hospital Center in NYC.
- Cra-Z-Art Partner — Provides art supplies and games to enhance the hospital experience for pediatric patients.
- Ernst & Young LLP Partner — Employer of board member Joan Palermo, who serves as Vice Chair of enCourage Kids Foundation
- FAO Schwarz Partner — Collaborated to create and distribute co-branded plush bears for pediatric patients.
- FAO Schwarz Partner — Collaborated to design a co-branded teddy bear for the Send A Smile, Send A Bear program.
- FAO Schwarz Partner — Partnered to expand the Send a Smile, Send a Bear program and co-brand a therapeutic bear for pediatric patients.
- FAO Schwarz Partner — Partnered with FAO Schwarz to create a high-quality plush bear for the Send a Smile, Send a Bear program.
- Facebook Partner — Social media platform used for outreach and engagement
- Flushing Hospital Medical Center Partner — Funded the VECTA Deluxe Mobile Sensory Station for pediatric units
- GFP Real Estate Partner — Employer of board member Jeff Gural, who serves as Chairman Emeritus of enCourage Kids Foundation
- GFP Real Estate LLC Partner — Provides discounted rent and office space for enCourage Kids staff.
- Garden of Dreams Foundation Partner — Provides free tickets and luxury suites for events at Madison Square Garden for children and families.
- Grassi Partner — Provides financial services management and advisory support to enCourage Kids Foundation.
- Harlem Hospital Center Partner — Received a toy donation through a partnership with Cra-Z-Art and enCourage Kids Foundation.
- Hospital for Special Surgery Partner — Funded adaptive ski trips for pediatric patients at Windham Mountain
- Instagram Partner — Social media platform used for outreach and engagement
- Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Partner — Funded child-friendly exam tables and infant scale in the Pediatric Emergency Department
- Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Partner — Purchased child-friendly medical equipment for the Pediatric Emergency Department at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
+ 24 more
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.
- Partnership-Driven Needs Alignmentmethodology: hospital-partnered needs assessmentBy collaborating with hospitals and child life specialists, we ensure programs address the specific psychosocial needs of pediatric patients, because clinical partnerships enable targeted, unfunded support that complements medical care and improves emotional outcomes.
- Play-Based Therapeutic Engagementmethodology: play-in-medicineBy integrating play through creative, cognitive, and environmental activities, we support emotional and developmental healing in pediatric patients, because evidence-based play interventions reduce stress, distract from pain, and sustain engagement during treatment.
- Therapeutic Companion Modelmethodology: therapeutic_companionBy providing therapeutic plush bears and other comfort objects, we help children cope with medical procedures and build resilience, because tangible emotional supports reduce anxiety and improve readiness for treatment.