irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $20KSBPLI ORGANIZES A GRADE SCHOOL ROBOTICS PROGRAM WITH APPROX 45 SCHOOLS, FOR AGES 6 - 9, AND FOR AGES 9 - 14. LAST YEAR APPROXIMATELY 125 TEAMS PARTICIPATED.
- #2 $10KFIRST TECH CHALLENGE INCLUDED 40 TEAMS, GRADES 7 - 12) TO DESIGN, BUILD, PROGRAM AND OPERATE ROBOTS IN HEAD-TO-HEAD CHALLENGES.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
FIRST LEGO League Challenge
Robotics and innovation program for students ages 9 to 14, combining a robot game with research projects; includes qualifying tournaments and a Long Island championship.
FIRST LEGO League Discover
Early STEM program for children ages 4 to 6, designed to spark interest in science, technology, engineering, and math through playful learning.
FIRST LEGO League Explore
Introductory STEM program for students ages 6 to 10 using LEGO models and Show Me posters to explore real-world themes; culminates in a remote festival.
FIRST Tech Challenge
STEM robotics competition for students ages 12 to 18, involving designing, building, programming, and operating robots for head-to-head challenges; includes qualifying tournaments and a Long Island championship.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
-
STEM Competition and Robotics Programs 7 activities
- Administer FIRST Tech Challenge program for middle and high school teamsManages all aspects of the FIRST Tech Challenge in Nassau and Suffolk counties as the official Affiliate Partner, organizing qualifying tournaments, scrimmages, and the Long Island Championship for approximately 40 teams of students in grades 7–12. Events include head-to-head robot competitions and alliance formats.
- Deliver FIRST LEGO League Jr. (Explore) programs and exposRuns the FIRST LEGO League Jr. program for children ages 6 to 9, including annual expos such as the THINK TANK challenge, with participation from up to 63 teams. Has hosted Jr. Expos for over ten years, serving nearly 100 teams across Long Island.
- Distribute robotics Kits of Parts to launch seasonal programsProvides Kits of Parts to local high school robotics teams to initiate the annual robotics season, supporting student teams in building competitive robots.
- Host FIRST LEGO League Challenge and Championship tournamentsOrganizes and presents the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Long Island Tournament and Championship events annually, hosting up to 39 teams of students ages 9 to 14 from Nassau and Suffolk Counties, with remote and in-person formats.
- Organize and host FIRST Robotics Competition Regional eventsHosts the annual FIRST Robotics Long Island Regional Competition at Hofstra University each March, bringing together approximately 48–50 high school teams from Long Island, New York City, and international locations to compete. The event has grown from 8 teams in 1999 to over 50 teams.
- Provide mentorship and STEM skill development for student robotics teamsOffers mentorship through adult coaches and mentors to support students in developing STEM skills, engineering principles, and career readiness through robotics programs.
- Support grade school robotics programs through FIRST partnershipsOrganizes a comprehensive grade school robotics initiative involving approximately 45 schools and 125 teams for children aged 6 to 14, delivered through partnership with FIRST and structured across multiple age-based divisions including Discover, Explore, and Challenge.
-
-
University-Specific Endowment and Program Funding 1 activity
- Award scholarships for students in STEM fieldsEstablishes and administers scholarships such as the Fred Breithut Scholarship for students pursuing degrees in engineering, science, or technology at Farmingdale State College.
-
-
Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 1 activity
- Facilitate business-school partnerships for student internships and careersBuilds and manages partnerships between schools and local businesses, facilitating over 30,000 internships, jobs, and professional relationships for students.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$295K
Contributions & grants$295K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$80%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$195K
Program expenses96%
Admin / overhead4%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$293K
Cash$288K
Investments$0
Liabilities$6K
Net assets$287K
Liquid reserves17.8 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +25.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 14
- BERTRAM DITMAR — EXEC DIR CO CHAIR
- CARL MESHENBERG — DIR
- CATHERINE GONZALEZ — DIR
- DAVID SEINFELD — DIR
- DR MARY ELLEN FREELY — DIR
- DR YACOV SHAMASH — CHAIR
- FRANK LANGRO — DIR
- GEORGE DUFFY — DIR CO CHAIR
- JEFFREY STERN — DIR
- JENNIFER OSTRAGER — DIR
- PATRICE HEINS — DIR
- RICHARD HINES — DIR
- TIKAK K PILLAI — DIR
- WILLIAM RECCE — TREAS DIR
relationships · 30
Who they work with
- Allstate Partner — Partner in the Comsewogue, Middle Country, and Longwood (LI FIRST) programs
- BAE Systems Partner — Partner in the Bay Shore (LI FIRST) program
- Brookhaven Labs Partner — Partner in the William Floyd (LI FIRST) program
- Dowling College (Aviation & Transportation Center) Partner — Partner in the Sachem (LI FIRST) program
- FESTO Partner — Partner in the Hauppauge (LI FIRST) and Smithtown (LI FIRST) programs
- FESTO Partner — Provides discounted parts to FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge teams through a sponsorship arrangement.
- FIRST Network — DBA FIRST Long Island and operates as a local affiliate partner of the international FIRST program.
- FIRST Network — Local affiliate bringing the national FIRST Robotics program to Long Island.
- FIRST Network — Participates in the FIRST LEGO League Challenge as part of the larger FIRST network.
- FIRST Partner — Implements the FIRST Tech Challenge program under the FIRST organization's framework.
- FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Network — SBPLI operates as FIRST® Long Island, implementing FIRST LEGO League programs locally.
- FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Partner — Partnership to organize and administer robotics programs for students on Long Island.
- FIRST – For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Partner — National program partner that mentors students to become leaders in technology-related industries.
- Half Hollow Hills School District Partner — Co-presented the Half Hollow Hills Invitational with FIRST Long Island.
- Hofstra University Partner — Hosts the _FIRST_ Robotics Long Island Regional Competition annually at its campus in Hempstead, NY.
- JP Morgan Chase Partner — Partner in the Carle Place (LI FIRST) and Glen Cove (LI FIRST) programs
- KeySpan Partner — Partner in multiple LI FIRST programs including Deer Park, Island Trees, Plainedge, Sag Harbor, and Wyandanch
- LEGO Company Partner — Collaborates with the LEGO Company in an alliance to deliver the _FIRST_ LEGO League Challenge program.
- Liberty Mutual Insurance Partner — Partner in the Malverne (LI FIRST) program
- Lockheed Martin Partner — Partner in the East Islip (LI FIRST) program
- Longwood Central School District Partner — Co-hosted the sixth Annual Long Island Jr. FIRST LEGO League Expo.
- McDonald's Partner — Partner in the Hicksville, North Babylon, and Southold (LI FIRST) programs
- NASA Partner — Partner in the Smithtown (LI FIRST) and St. Anthony’s (LI FIRST) programs
- NYCFIRST Partner — Cooperated with SBPLI to present FIRST Tech Challenge Qualifying Tournaments.
- Qualcomm Funder — Presented sponsor of the FIRST Tech Challenge seasons including SKYSTONE and ROVER RUCKUS.
- SUNY Stony Brook Partner — Partner in the Smithtown (LI FIRST) program
- Schenck USA Corporation Partner — Long-standing sponsor and host site for the distribution of Kits of Parts for the FIRST Long Island Regional Robotics Competition.
- Suffolk Community College Partner — Partner in the Sachem (LI FIRST) program
- Suffolk County Community College Partner — Partner in the West Islip (LI FIRST) program
- UPS Partner — Partner in the Lindenhurst (LI FIRST) and Sachem (LI FIRST) programs
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.
- Early and Inclusive Hands-On STEM Engagementmethodology: gender-inclusive stem outreachBy introducing hands-on robotics challenges to children as young as six and promoting targeted inclusion of underrepresented groups like girls, the organization builds long-term interest in STEM, because early exposure combined with identity-affirming outreach counters systemic barriers and establishes foundational curiosity and self-efficacy in science and technology.
- Mentorship and Volunteer-Driven Youth Developmentmethodology: mentorship_through_national_program_partnershipBy engaging volunteers and partnering with national mentoring programs, the organization supports youth leadership and personal growth in technology fields, because sustained adult mentorship provides role models, builds confidence, and deepens students’ connection to STEM careers.
- School-Business-Community Partnerships for STEM Workforce Developmentmethodology: school-business-community partnershipBy creating collaborative partnerships among schools, businesses, community organizations, and government entities, the organization engages students in hands-on robotics and STEM education to prepare them for future technology careers, because multi-sector collaboration exposes students to real-world applications, career pathways, and mentorship opportunities that deepen engagement and build workforce readiness.
- Sports-Model Engagement in Robotics Educationmethodology: sports-model engagementBy structuring robotics programs with a sports-like atmosphere—including competitive gameplay, team alliances, and public recognition—the organization increases student motivation and sustained participation in STEM, because gamified, team-based challenges mimic the excitement and accountability of athletics, making technical learning more accessible and engaging.