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THE LEARNING WEB INC
ITHACA, NY · EIN 161494941 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE O50 · Youth Development · Medium ($1M-$10M) · learning-web.org
revenue
$1.3M
expenses
$1.3M
net assets
$647K
employees
16
volunteers
145
program ratio
93%
mission · from form 990

THE LEARNING WEB IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING HANDS-ON EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION TO TOMPKINS COUNTY YOUTH THROUGH THE AGE-OLD MENTOR-APPRENTICE MODEL. THIS ONE-TO-ONE RELATIONSHIP TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE VALUABLE JOB AND LIFE SKILLS AND EMPOWERS THEM THROUGH INCREASED SELF-AWARENESS AND SELF-ESTEEM TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO THE WORLD OF ADULT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Learning Web provides hands-on experiential education for youth in Tompkins County, New York, through career exploration tours, apprenticeships, and community service. The organization uses a mentor-apprentice model to help young people develop job and life skills. It focuses on empowering youth to transition successfully into adult roles and responsibilities.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $447K
    THE YOUTH EXPLORATION PROGRAM. YOUTH EXPLORATION OFFERS COMMUNITY LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO YOUTH, AGE 12 AND OLDER, WHO ARE LIVING AT HOME AND ATTENDING SCHOOL. TAILORED TO EACH YOUNG PERSON'S INTERESTS, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDE CAREER EXPLORATION TOURS, APPRENTICESHIPS, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

First Job Fundamentals Workshop
Supports youth in creating an employment portfolio with step-by-step guidance from coordinators to prepare them for entering the workforce.
Youth Exploration Program (YEP)
Offers community learning experiences including career exploration tours, apprenticeships, and community service tailored to youth aged 12 and older who are living at home and attending school.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 4 activities
    • Drop-in center and basic needs support
      Operates a drop-in center offering food, clothing, hygiene supplies, showers, laundry, internet access, computer lab, phones, and a children’s play area for youth. Also provides emergency distribution of hygiene supplies and referrals to food pantries and emergency meals.
    • Housing Scholarship Program – Transitional Living
      Operates a transitional living program providing rent and utility payments, funding for furniture and household supplies, and case management support for eligible youth for 12 to 18 months while they pursue education or employment. Includes eviction prevention, landlord mediation, and assistance securing new housing.
    • Youth Homeless Demonstration Project – Permanent Supported Housing
      Since 2022, operates 16 units of permanent supported housing with comprehensive support services for homeless youth, combining stable housing with wraparound case management, life skills training, and community integration.
    • Youth Outreach Program with intensive case management
      Provides long-term, intensive case management and independent living skills training to homeless and transient youth ages 16–24, supporting housing stability, education, employment, and personal development. Serves approximately 200 homeless youth annually in Tompkins County.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Community service engagement and recognition
      Engages youth in community service at local nonprofits, issues certificates of completion, and supports use of volunteer hours toward high school graduation requirements.
  • Foster Youth Transition Support 1 activity
    • Life Skills Prevention services for at-risk youth
      Delivers Life Skills Prevention services to youth ages 14–24 facing challenges related to addiction, education, employment, financial instability, pregnancy, or parenting. Includes support for youth in foster care under contract with Tompkins County Department of Social Services, focusing on independence, transition to adulthood, and accessing public benefits and identity documents.
  • Parenting Support for At-Risk Families 1 activity
    • Support services for young parents
      Provides comprehensive support to young parents aged 16–26 in Tompkins County, including intensive case management, mental health counseling, parenting education, access to childcare equipment and supplies, assistance with public benefits (SNAP, WIC, Medicaid), housing stabilization, and leadership development through peer mentoring. Also offers child-friendly spaces during meetings and runs the Supporting Strong Families program.
  • Youth Workforce Readiness Programs 1 activity
    • Youth Exploration Program for career and experiential learning
      Operates the Youth Exploration Program, serving over 350 youth annually in Tompkins County through career exploration tours, apprenticeships, community service, and job readiness support. Activities include workplace visits, hands-on technology experiences, resume building, and one-on-one mentoring tailored to individual interests.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.34M
Contributions & grants$1.32M98%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$21K
expenses
Total expenses$1.31M
Program expenses93%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$686K
Grants paid out$78K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$823K
Cash$546K
Investments$0
Liabilities$176K
Net assets$647K
Liquid reserves5.0 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -0.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
OLAN MACK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $100K
board members · 9
  • ADAM HUGHES — VICE PRESIDENT
  • CHRISTOPHER SPOON — DIRECTOR
  • CONNIE KAN — DIRECTOR
  • GARY BERCOW — DIRECTOR
  • JON HILTON — SECRETARY
  • KRISTINE DELUCA — PRESIDENT
  • NICHOLAS BENNETT — DIRECTOR
  • ROBERT BELLE — DIRECTOR
  • TAMMY DEAN — TREASURER
relationships · 25

Who they work with

  • Administration for Children and Families Government — Funding partner through the Family and Youth Services Bureau
  • Advocacy Center Partner — Collaborates with The Learning Web and Tompkins County Department of Social Services to provide parenting services to pregnant and parenting youth.
  • Advocacy Center Partner — Collaborates with The Learning Web to deliver the Supporting Strong Families program for young parents in Tompkins County.
  • Ben & Jerry’s Partner — Partnered with The Learning Web to establish the first Ben & Jerry’s youth entrepreneurship “partnershop” in Ithaca.
  • Cayuga Medical Center Partner — Hosts apprenticeship experiences in retail sales within a healthcare setting.
  • Cayuga Sunrise Farm Partner — Hosts guided farm tours for The Learning Web’s youth participants to learn about animal care and farming equipment.
  • Cornell Cooperative Extension Partner — Partners with The Learning Web to support young parents through the Supporting Strong Families program in Tompkins County.
  • Cornell University Partner — Maintains programmatic and research ties with The Learning Web, originating from its founding as a Cornell-based initiative.
  • Department of Social Services Government — Provides advocacy and support for youth and families involved with the agency.
  • Family and Youth Services Bureau Government — Funding partner through Grant Number 90CX7462-03-00
  • Farmer Ground Flour Partner — Hosts tours for The Learning Web’s youth to learn about traditional stone-ground milling and miller responsibilities.
  • Herson-Wagner Funeral Home Partner — Provides apprenticeship experiences in the mortuary sciences field.
  • Joint Youth Commission Funder — Funds the Volunteer Community Service Program.
  • Joint Youth Commission of the Town of Ithaca and the Villages of Lansing and Cayuga Heights Government — Government funding partner
  • Local fire station in Ithaca Partner — Hosts behind-the-scenes tours for The Learning Web’s youth to meet firefighters and learn about emergency response.
  • NYS Bureau of Housing Services Government — Government funding partner
  • NYS Office of Children and Family Services Government — Government funding partner
  • REI Co-op Partner — Hosts tours for The Learning Web’s youth participants to explore outdoor industry careers and sustainability practices.
  • TSA Partner — Partners with The Learning Web to provide educational tours at the Ithaca Airport on airport security operations.
  • Tompkins Community Homeless Housing Partner — Collaborates to help youth access the community homeless housing wait list.
  • Tompkins County Department of Social Services Government — Contracts with The Learning Web Inc to provide Life Skills Prevention services to youth in family foster care.
  • Tompkins County Department of Social Services Government — Contracts with The Learning Web to deliver Life Skills services for youth in foster care and collaborates on parenting services for youth families.
  • Tompkins County Youth Services Government — Government funding partner
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Government — Funding partner through the Administration for Children and Families
  • United Way of Tompkins County Funder — Private funding partner
strategies · 5

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 Intervention with Individualized Case Management
    methodology: early_intervention_for_at-risk_youth
    By offering individualized, goal-oriented case management to at-risk youth—even before they experience homelessness—we reduce the likelihood of future crises, because early, tailored support builds resilience and accountability through personalized planning and service access.
  • Housing-First Approach for Youth Stability
    methodology: housing-first_for_youth
    By providing temporary housing and removing financial barriers through housing scholarships, we enable youth to focus on education and employment goals, because stable housing is a foundational platform for long-term self-sufficiency and engagement in supportive services.
  • Mentor-Apprentice Model for Youth Development
    methodology: mentor-apprentice model
    By pairing youth with mentors through one-to-one apprenticeships that include real-world work experience, we build employability skills, self-awareness, and self-esteem, because sustained relational support and experiential learning together foster successful transitions to adulthood.
  • Youth-Centered Collaborative Support
    methodology: youth-centered collaboration
    By using a collaborative, problem-solving approach that centers youth voices, we help young people overcome barriers to independent living, because empowering youth to define their own goals increases ownership, engagement, and long-term success.
  • Youth-Centered Experiential Learning
    methodology: experiential learning with mentorship
    By designing career exploration and community service activities around youth interests and real-world applications, we increase engagement and skill development, because hands-on experiences connected to personal interests deepen learning and foster peer relationships.