irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $136KAfterschool Program: Seed Sowers & Storytellers is an afterschool program for scholars in Grades K-6 from School #33 in the Beechwood neighborhood. This community-based program is designed to celebrate our youth and neighborhood, to work together to build our collective futures while also honoring our legacies.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Listening Tours and Family-to-Family Workshops
Virtual and in-person workshops in partnership with School #33 PTA that create spaces for families to connect, share experiences, and learn together. Designed to elevate parent and family voices and expertise.
Seed Sowers & Storytellers Afterschool Program
After-school literacy and leadership program for K-6 scholars from School #33 in the Beechwood neighborhood. Features small-group reading instruction, culturally relevant curriculum, family engagement, and one-to-one intervention sessions.
Summer Literacy Program
Summer learning experience rooted in the Children's Defense Fund Freedom School model, offering literacy development, cultural activities, and community service opportunities for neighborhood children.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- After-school academic and literacy program for K-6 studentsOperates an after-school program for students in kindergarten through sixth grade from School #33 in the Beechwood neighborhood, providing structured academic support, small-group literacy instruction, and enrichment activities including gardening, storytelling, and action research. The program includes transportation for students from School #33 to St. Mark's & St. John's Church at 1245 Culver Road.
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Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
- Community-based enrichment and experiential learningEngages scholars in gardening, storytelling through discussion and creative expression, and using neighborhood spaces—including streets, gardens, and shared areas—as classrooms for reflection and discovery. Organizes annual trips to Washington, DC for scholars and caregivers to engage in history, culture, and learning.
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Parenting Education and Support Programs 1 activity
- Family and caregiver engagement initiativesCoordinates and hosts Family-to-Family workshops, peer-led workshops on education, parenting, and life skills, and seasonal events that bring families and community partners together. Organizes family meals to build relationships and foster belonging, and provides regularly updated information on job opportunities, community programs, food assistance, and childcare resources for caregivers.
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Structured Literacy Instruction and Dyslexia Support 1 activity
- Literacy instruction and home library developmentProvides focused small-group literacy instruction resulting in measurable growth across all literacy skills, supported by pre-, mid-, and post-assessments. Distributes books to scholars and families to build home libraries and support continued learning, with scholars tracking reading of up to 86 books during program sessions. Books are selected to reflect scholars' lives and identities, allowing them to choose stories grounded in personal experience.
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Youth and Community Research Initiatives 1 activity
- Research on youth literacy and community-based educationConducts and publishes peer-reviewed research on Freedom School-inspired programs as spaces supporting literacy, identity development, academic growth, and collective agency. Research focuses on how youth voice and community knowledge challenge deficit-based education models and how afterschool programs function as spaces of care and resistance, with findings presented at institutions including the University of Pennsylvania, University of Rochester, and National Council on Family Relations.
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Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Staff and servant leader trainingProvides training and capacity-building for staff and servant leaders to support scholar programs, including opportunities for families and friends to lead workshops on practical skills such as cooking and financial management. Supports university-level presentations, posters, and reflective research projects developed through engagement with the organization’s programs.
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Summer Academic Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Summer literacy program for K-8 studentsOperates a full-day summer literacy program from 8 AM to 3 PM, Monday through Friday, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade in Rochester's Beechwood neighborhood. The program is free of charge and uses the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools Integrated Reading Curriculum to strengthen reading skills, cultural connection, and community engagement through small-group instruction with no more than ten scholars per group.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$366K
Contributions & grants$366K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$3510%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$438K
Program expenses61%
Admin / overhead37%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$324K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$90K
Cash$90K
Investments$0
Liabilities$37K
Net assets$54K
Liquid reserves2.5 mo
3 years on record · 2022–2024 · YoY revenue +9.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Smith | Executive Director | 40 | $83K |
| Brittany Smith | President | 0 | $13K |
| Brandon White | Board Member | 0 | $9K |
board members · 5
- Doreen Young — Board Member
- Dr Margaret Brazwell — Board Member
- Joyce Duckles — Treasurer
- Leslie Newman — Secretary
- Thomas Cuyler — Board Member
relationships · 21
Who they work with
- Children's Defense Fund Network — Freedom Scholars Learning Center operates as a Freedom Schools site within the Children's Defense Fund network.
- Children's Defense Fund Network — Freedom Scholars Learning Center originated as a Children's Defense Fund Freedom School in 2007.
- Children's Defense Fund Network — Member of the Children's Defense Fund network, participating in Freedom School programs
- Children's Defense Fund Partner — Collaborates with Freedom Scholars Learning Center in leading the vision and daily work of the Seed Sowers & Storytellers afterschool program.
- Children's Defense Fund Partner — Source of the Integrated Reading Curriculum used in FSLC programs
- Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools Partner — Licensed provider of the Integrated Reading Curriculum used in programming.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Partner — Contributes horticultural expertise and youth development knowledge to the Seed Sowers & Storytellers program.
- Digital Mentor Partner — Partner organization supporting mentorship and digital literacy initiatives
- Freedom Scholars Learning Center Inc Partner — Organization invites individuals and groups to explore partnerships with it.
- Iris Banister School #33 Partner — Supports scholars' school success and community connection in partnership with Freedom Scholars Learning Center.
- Major funders Funder — Organizations that provide financial support to sustain and expand programs.
- Mr. & Mrs. Wightman Partner — Family members actively engaged in the program through parent nights and family participation.
- National Council on Family Relations Partner — Presented research on how afterschool programs function as spaces of care, resistance, and collective agency.
- Relume Partner — Partner organization collaborating with Freedom Scholars Learning Center, as indicated by logo display.
- School #33 PTA Partner — Partner in coordinating, supporting, and hosting Listening Tours and Family-to-Family workshops.
- St. Mark's & St. John's Church Partner — Provides meeting space and serves as the program location for the Seed Sowers program.
- St. Mark's & St. John's Church Partner — Provides space, gardens, and spiritual grounding for the Seed Sowers & Storytellers afterschool program.
- University of Pennsylvania Partner — Presented research on co-creating spaces of belonging, care, and learning in afterschool programs.
- University of Rochester Partner — Presented research on co-creating spaces of belonging, care, and learning in afterschool programs.
- Webflow Partner — Partner organization collaborating with Freedom Scholars Learning Center, as indicated by logo display.
- community partners Partner — Collaborates with community partners to host seasonal events and family gatherings.
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.
- Community-Driven Knowledge and Partnership Modelmethodology: community-based engagementBy centering family and community knowledge, sustaining long-term partnerships, and using place-based learning, the organization strengthens local ownership and relevance of education, because durable change emerges from within communities when they lead and co-create programming.
- Critical Literacy for Consciousness and Agencymethodology: critical-literacyBy using literacy as a tool to analyze systemic injustice and oppression, the organization cultivates critical consciousness and collective agency, because engaging with texts through dialogue and action empowers youth to see themselves as change-makers.
- Culturally Affirming and Identity-Centered Pedagogymethodology: culturally_affirming_educationBy integrating scholars' cultural identities, lived experiences, and community knowledge into literacy and learning, the organization fosters deeper engagement, stronger self-concept, and more effective learning outcomes, because education rooted in identity affirms dignity and counters deficit-based models.
- Holistic Youth Development through Integrated Supportmethodology: whole_child_developmentBy combining literacy instruction with mentorship, family engagement, community partnerships, and social-emotional development, the organization supports sustained academic growth and leadership, because learning is most effective when it addresses the whole child within their ecosystem.
- Relationship- and Joy-Centered Learning Environmentmethodology: joy-centered educationBy creating affirming, safe, and joy-centered environments through small-group instruction, peer relationships, and celebration, the organization increases engagement and confidence, because emotional security and belonging are foundational to sustained learning and development.