named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
1st Hour Family Support
Direct support program for families with infants, providing resources and guidance during the child's first year.
2nd Hour Family Support
Continued family support program for children ages one to three, focusing on developmental milestones and parental engagement.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Annual Impact and Evaluation Reporting 1 activity
- Annual reporting and program documentationProduces annual reports that document program activities, partnerships, and donations to communicate impact and support transparency.
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Organizational DEI Capacity Building 1 activity
- DEI integration and Equity CouncilIntegrates diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into organizational practices and governance through the Room to Grow Equity Council, which advises on and guides DEI initiatives across the organization.
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Benefit Events for Arts and Culture 1 activity
- Fundraising through annual gala and donation campaignsHosts an annual gala and accepts financial donations to support program operations and expansion; the 2026 gala raised $1.5 million to support programs in New York and Boston.
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Diaper and Baby Supply Distribution 1 activity
- Operation of a baby boutique for family selection of essential itemsOperates a baby boutique where enrolled families select essential items such as clothes, books, toys, feeding and hygiene supplies, bedding, and equipment during regular program visits. Inventory is sourced through community, corporate, and product partner donations, including via Amazon Wish Lists.
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Intake and Referral Coordination 1 activity
- Referral network with community partnersReceives family referrals through partnerships with hospitals, prenatal clinics, and community-based organizations to identify and enroll eligible families into the three-year support program.
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Parenting Support for At-Risk Families 1 activity
- Three-year family support program providing parenting guidance and essential itemsProvides one-on-one parenting support sessions and essential baby and toddler items through a structured three-year program beginning in the third trimester of pregnancy, with 13 biannual visits and ongoing communication via phone, text, or email. The program includes developmental support, goal planning, and connections to community resources for families raising children in low-income circumstances.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Volunteer engagement and warehouse operationsEngages volunteers to support program operations, including maintaining warehouse and baby boutique inventory, organizing donations, and providing hands-on assistance. Volunteer labor is integral to the distribution of donated baby and toddler items.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.60M
Contributions & grants$4.06M88%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$619K13%
Other revenue$-85K
expenses
Total expenses$7.74M
Program expenses66%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising23%
Salaries & benefits$5.22M
Grants paid out$717K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$13.42M
Cash$5.24M
Investments$5.28M
Liabilities$2.30M
Net assets$11.13M
Liquid reserves16.3 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -66.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 8
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AKILAH KING | CEO | 40 | $256K |
| ERIN HILL | CHIEF EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT OFFICER | 40 | $215K |
| JOANNA GROCCIA | DIRECTOR, PROGRAM OPERATIONS | 40 | $176K |
| SANDRA P MEDEIROS | EXEC DIRECTOR - NEW YORK | 40 | $160K |
| KIMBERLEE FUREY | EXEC DIRECTOR - CHICAGO | 40 | $152K |
| LAUREN NOWLAN | EXEC DIRECTOR - BOSTON (AS OF 1/24) | 40 | $151K |
| JULIANA ZEMKOHEN | MANAGING DIRECTOR, PROGRAM | 40 | $128K |
| ONEDA HORNE | EXEC DIRECTOR - BOSTON (UNTIL 1/24) | 40 | $13K |
board members · 10
- CLEO CAVOLO — DIRECTOR
- ERIC SUTHERLAND — DIRECTOR
- FRANK MASON — DIRECTOR
- JULIE BURNS — PRESIDENT
- LIONEL HARRIS — DIRECTOR
- MAGGIE TOWLES — DIRECTOR
- NANCY TWINE — DIRECTOR
- RASHAAN R REID — DIRECTOR
- SHADMAN RIAZ — DIRECTOR
- UMA THURMAN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 23
Who they work with
- Baby2Baby Network — Member of the Baby2Baby National Network, a collaborative of nonprofits serving children in poverty.
- Boston Partner — Location of a Room to Grow Family Center where program services are delivered
- Boston Family Center Partner — Location where Room to Grow program visits are conducted.
- Charity Navigator Government — Rated by Charity Navigator for financial accountability and transparency.
- DonateNYC Coalition — Participates in the DonateNYC nonprofit and community collaborative to strengthen program capacity and community engagement.
- Epiphany Early Learning Center Partner — Early childhood education partner collaborating with Room to Grow to support families.
- Estella Baby Gifts Partner — Product partner that donates baby and toddler items, including books, to support home learning environments.
- First Book Partner — Academic/nonprofit partner providing children’s books to enhance home learning environments.
- Good 360 Partner — Nonprofit partner that collaborates with Room to Grow to distribute essential goods to families.
- Liberty Mutual Partner — Corporate partner whose employee volunteer groups support warehouse and boutique operations.
- New York Partner — Location of a Room to Grow Family Center where program services are delivered
- New York Family Center Partner — Location where Room to Grow program visits are conducted.
- New York Junior League Partner — Community volunteer group that contributes volunteer labor to support Room to Grow’s operations.
- Pajama Program Partner — Nonprofit partner collaborating to provide children’s essentials and support early childhood well-being.
- Room to Grow Equity Council Partner — Internal council serving as advisors on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across the organization.
- Room to Grow National Inc Network — Implied central coordinating entity for the Room to Grow program model
- Scholastic Partner — National corporate partner that donates books and other items to support families in the program.
- Soles4Souls Partner — Nonprofit partner providing footwear donations to support families served by Room to Grow.
- South End Community Health Center Partner — Community partner organization involved in referrals and collaborative support for families.
- The Select Equity Group Foundation Funder — Long-time foundation partner that provides financial support and awarded Room to Grow the “Excellence in Action Award.”
- UPPAbaby Partner — Product partner that donates high-quality baby items such as strollers to support Room to Grow’s families.
- Young Professionals Council Partner — Group of emerging leaders that supports Room to Grow through time, talents, networks, and resources.
- Ziegfeld Ballroom Partner — Venue host for the Annual Gala in New York City.
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.
- Client-Choice Model with Developmental Supportmethodology: client-choice modelBy allowing parents to select developmentally appropriate baby and toddler items through a client-choice boutique model, we strengthen parental autonomy and engagement, because this choice fosters dignity, builds trust, and supports tailored child development planning.
- Early Childhood Development Through Material and Emotional Supportmethodology: early_childhood_supportBy providing essential baby items alongside emotional and developmental guidance during infancy, we promote child safety, reduce parental stress, and support long-term enrichment, because material security is foundational to healthy early development.
- Integrated Wrap-Around Family Supportmethodology: wrap-around supportBy combining personalized parent coaching, material support, and community referrals into a single coordinated model, we improve early childhood outcomes, because addressing multiple needs simultaneously amplifies effectiveness and enables parents to focus on developmental goals.
- Long-Term, Family-Driven Relationship Modelmethodology: family-driven supportBy building sustained, trusting relationships over a three-year period and centering family-defined goals, we promote lasting stability and engagement, because long-term, family-driven support enables deeper impact on parenting confidence and child development.