irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $504KRETURNING HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL CAN BE A DISORIENTING AND ISOLATED FEELING FOR THE PATIENTS AND FOR THE PARENTS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. THEY FIND THEMSELVES STRUGGLING TO ADJUST TO A FAMILIAR PLACE WHERE EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED. TO THIS END, MAKING HEADWAY PROVIDES, FREE OF CHARGE, INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYACHIATRIC COUNSELING FOR PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH A BRAIN OR SPINAL CORD TUMOR AND FREE OF CHARGE EDUCATIONAL COUNSELING FOR CHILDREN SURVIVING A BRAIN OR SPINAL CORD TUMOR WHO HAVE DIFFICULTIES RETURNING TO SCHOOL AND KEEPING UP WITH THE CURRICULUM.
- #2 $120KAT LOCAL HOSPITALS, WE PROVIDE PATIENT SUPPORT IN SOME OTHER WAYS, SUCH AS FUNERAL EXPENSES FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY AND WHOSE FAMILIES CANNOT AFFORD THE COSTS, SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN SURVIVING A BRAIN TUMOR AND OTHER FAMILY EVENT EXPENSES FOR THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Educational Counseling
Supports children returning to school after treatment with home instruction, academic reintegration planning, and accommodations for learning challenges caused by treatment
Financial Assistance Program
Provides support for funeral expenses, scholarships for survivors, and family event costs related to a child's diagnosis or treatment
Free Psychological and Psychiatric Counseling
Offers individual counseling at no cost for children diagnosed with brain or spinal cord tumors and their parents to support mental health throughout treatment and recovery
Ongoing Care Team
Provides long-term educational and emotional support for children post-treatment, including coordination with schools, neuropsychological evaluations, and advocacy for individualized education programs
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Recreational and Emotional Support Programs for Children with Serious Illnesses 3 activities
- Delivering hospital-based quality-of-life and family support programsProvides in-hospital services including a playroom with arts and crafts, games, and nutritional snacks, and funds a child life specialist, nurse clinician, massage therapy, and yoga at Hassenfeld Children’s Center. Also funds a Core Coordinator and Educational Advocate to support families during and after treatment.
- Hosting annual recreational and family events for affected familiesHosts free annual events including a Family Fun Day, a yacht cruise around Manhattan aboard the Skyline Princess with lunch and entertainment, and a New York City theatrical show. Events are designed to provide comfort and connection for families affected by pediatric brain or spinal cord tumors.
- Providing free psychological and educational support services to pediatric brain tumor patients and familiesOffers free individual psychological and psychiatric counseling for children diagnosed with brain or spinal cord tumors and their parents, along with long-term educational counseling and advocacy to support survivors' return to school. Services include coordinating with schools, attending meetings, classroom observations, and ensuring legal compliance for academic accommodations, often continuing throughout a child’s educational career.
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Cancer Research Funding 1 activity
- Funding medical research and clinical infrastructure for pediatric brain and spinal cord tumorsFunds basic medical research, clinical trials, neuro-oncology fellowships, a clinical research manager, and a biorepository center that distributes tumor tissue samples globally. Awards annual research and clinical trial grants nationwide to advance treatments and cures for pediatric brain and spinal cord tumors.
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Financial and Emotional Support for Bereaved Families 1 activity
- Providing financial assistance and bereavement support for familiesOffers financial assistance for funeral expenses of up to $5,000 for low-income families who have lost a child to brain or spinal cord tumors, along with bereavement counseling and support groups. Also provides scholarships for child survivors and assistance with family event expenses.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.12M
Contributions & grants$983K88%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$132K12%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.33M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$356K
Grants paid out$106K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.93M
Cash$479K
Investments$2.56M
Liabilities$106K
Net assets$3.82M
Liquid reserves27.5 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +7.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 11
- AUDREY MANLEY — Secretary
- CHARLIE McMAHON — Director
- CLINT GREENBAUM — Vice-Chair/fdr
- DAVID ALMEIDA — Treasurer
- EDWARD MANLEY — Chair Emeritus
- ELISA GREENBAUM — Chair
- GREG TAUBIN — Director
- JEFFREY ALLEN MD — Director
- MAYA MANLEY — Founder
- SAM SCHWARTZ — Vice President
- SUSAN RUBIN ESQ — Vice President
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- American University Partner — Alma mater of Michael Schwartz, a pediatric brain tumor survivor supported by Making Headway, and an institution attended by scholarship recipients.
- Chappaqua Rotary Club Partner — Received Annual Award for Community Service.
- Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce Partner — Honored as “Nonprofit of the Year” in 2013.
- Children’s Brain Tumor Network Network — Executive Council member organization collaborating on pediatric brain tumor research initiatives.
- Department of Education Government — Engages with the Department of Education to advocate for individualized educational programs for children affected by brain tumors.
- Grady Health System Partner — Integrated food prescriptions into primary care
- GreatNonprofits.org Network — Recognized with top ratings by GreatNonprofits.org.
- Guidestar Network — Platinum-level participant in Guidestar from 2012 to 2024.
- Hassenfeld Children’s Center at NYU Langone Medical Center Partner — Long-standing partner where Making Headway funds and operates hospital-based support programs for pediatric cancer patients.
- NYU Partner — Provides educational coordination services through a Making Headway-funded Educational Coordinator at NYU.
- New York State Senate Government — Issued a proclamation recognizing the organization’s work.
- Not specified Partner — Collaborates with schools to secure academic accommodations and support for pediatric patients.
- STEPHEN D HASSENFELD CHILDREN'S CENTER FOR CANCER AND BLOOD DISORDERS Partner — Receives patient support funding from Making Headway Foundation for programs including financial assistance and family services.
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.
- Brain-Behavior Informed Advocacymethodology: brain_behavior_informed_advocacyBy using specialists trained in brain-behavior relationships to guide educational advocacy, the foundation ensures children receive appropriate academic accommodations, because understanding the neurological impact of tumors and treatment leads to more effective, individualized school interventions that preserve self-esteem and prevent academic failure.
- Continuity of Care Modelmethodology: continuity_of_careBy extending psychosocial and educational support beyond hospital discharge, the foundation prevents families from coping in isolation and improves long-term outcomes, because sustained engagement reduces the risk of academic failure, emotional distress, and social fragmentation during recovery.
- Funding Research for Underfunded Diseasesmethodology: research_funding_for_underfunded_diseaseBy directing philanthropic resources to high-impact pediatric brain tumor research, the foundation accelerates progress toward better treatments and a cure, because focused funding addresses systemic underinvestment in rare childhood cancers that lack commercial research incentives.
- Integrated Psychosocial Supportmethodology: integrated_psychosocial_supportBy treating psychological care as equally essential as medical care, the foundation improves overall well-being for children and families, because addressing emotional and neurological challenges alongside treatment enhances resilience, engagement, and recovery outcomes.
- Scholarship Support for Survivorsmethodology: scholarship_support_for_medical_survivorsBy providing college scholarships to brain tumor survivors, the foundation reduces financial barriers to higher education, because access to post-secondary opportunities improves long-term independence, self-worth, and socioeconomic recovery after illness.