COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

COMMISSION ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GREATER CAPITAL REGION INC

TROY, NY · EIN 141490509 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE S200 · Community Improvement · Large ($10M-$50M) · ceoempowers.org
revenue
$15.3M
expenses
$15.8M
net assets
$24.2M
employees
237
volunteers
75
program ratio
92%
mission · from form 990

THE COMMISSION ON OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GREATER CAPITAL REGION (CEO) IS AN UMBRELLA AGENCY THAT PROVIDES THE OVERALL LEADERSHIP, POLICY GUIDANCE, AND SUPPORT NECESSARY TO SUCCESSFULLY DELIVER A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES. THE PROGRAMS AT CEO ARE DESIGNED TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO BUILD SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN ALL LIFE AREAS AND RISE OUT OF POVERTY. CEO WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND THE LARGER COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS BY ADDRESSING THEIR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Community Action agency serving the Greater Capital Region of New York, focused on reducing poverty through direct services in food security, housing, early childhood education, and financial empowerment. Provides emergency food, weatherization for low-income homes, Head Start programs, and free tax preparation. Operates as an umbrella organization with over 200 staff delivering services across Rensselaer County.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $1.52M
    NUTRITION PROGRAMS - CEO'S FOOD PANTRY PROVIDES RENSSELAER COUNTY RESIDENTS WITH EMERGENCY FOOD WIC (SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN) PROVIDES NUTRITION EDUCATION AND NUTRITIONAL FOOD PACKAGES FOR INCOME ELIGIBLE WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT, BREAST-FEEDING, OR HAVE GIVEN BIRTH AND THEIR CHILDREN UP TO AGE FIVE. APPROXIMATELY 2,000 FAMILIES WERE SERIVED DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDING 2025.
  2. #2 $941K
    HOUSING PROGRAMS - WEATHERIZATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGETO INCOME ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS. EMPOWER NY ASSISTS HOUSEHOLDS WITH ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS. APPROXIMATELY 450 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDING 2025.
named programs · 8 · from sources

What they call their work

Babies in Waiting
Prenatal support program for eligible pregnant women, offering childbirth education, family development, and nurse consultations; links to Early Head Start upon birth.
Fatherhood Initiative
Engages fathers and father figures in children's lives through participation in Head Start and Early Head Start events and activities.
Food Pantry
Provides emergency food for up to three days every 14 days to Rensselaer County residents; operates on a customer-choice model to reduce waste and promote nutrition.
Head Start & Early Head Start
Early childhood education programs for children ages birth to five, promoting school readiness through comprehensive services including health, nutrition, and family engagement.
Home Base
Home visiting program for infants and toddlers, providing weekly visits and bi-weekly socialization activities as part of Early Head Start.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Free in-person and virtual tax preparation services for low-income taxpayers in New York State with household income under $69,000.
WIC Program
Offers nutrition education and supplemental food packages to income-eligible pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women and their children up to age five.
Weatherization Assistance
Provides free insulation, air-sealing, and heating system repairs to income-eligible households in Rensselaer County to reduce energy costs and improve home safety.
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • WIC Nutrition Support Services 1 activity
    • Administering the WIC program for pregnant women and young children
      Provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and access to healthy food and formula for income-eligible pregnant and postpartum women and children up to age five through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Distributes benefits redeemable at designated stores.
  • Early Childhood Education & Development Programs 1 activity
    • Delivering Head Start and Early Head Start early childhood education programs
      Operates federally funded Head Start and Early Head Start programs providing comprehensive early childhood education, developmental assessments, and family support services for children from birth to age five, including prenatal support and home visiting. Services are available in Albany, Rensselaer, and Schenectady counties.
  • Low-Income Home Energy Efficiency Upgrades 1 activity
    • Delivering home weatherization and energy efficiency services
      Provides free insulation, air-sealing, and energy efficiency improvements through the EMPOWER NY program for income-eligible households in Rensselaer County. Includes BPI-certified home energy audits, blower door testing, and customized weatherization plans involving insulation, caulking, weather-stripping, and heating system repairs.
  • Community Resource Navigation and Support Services 1 activity
    • Offering community resource navigation and support services
      Operates a Community Resource Specialist service to help individuals access needed social services and supports, connecting them with resources to improve financial stability and quality of life.
  • Comprehensive Community Service Hubs 1 activity
    • Operating anti-poverty programs across multiple domains
      Operates over 15 programs focused on helping individuals and families rise out of poverty by addressing social, emotional, financial, and educational needs through education, skill building, and resource connection. Programs are delivered in Rensselaer County and surrounding areas with a staff of over 200.
  • Home Repair Assistance for Low-Income Households 1 activity
    • Operating the HOME program for homeowner repairs
      Assists eligible homeowners in the City of Troy with home repairs and improvements through the HOME program, supporting housing stability and safety for low-income residents.
  • Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
    • Providing emergency food assistance and operating community food pantries
      Distributes safe and nutritious food to individuals in need through a community food pantry, offering emergency food for up to three meals per day for three days every 14 days per household member during crises. Served 11,800 individuals and received 7,300 volunteer hours in support of food services.
  • Free Tax Preparation Services 1 activity
    • Providing free tax preparation services using IRS-sponsored platform
      Offers free in-person and virtual tax preparation and filing services for low-to-moderate income individuals through the IRS-sponsored "Get Your Refund" platform, utilizing certified volunteer preparers.
  • Parenting Education and Support Programs 1 activity
    • Running the Fatherhood Initiative to engage fathers in child development
      Operates the Fatherhood Initiative since 2008 to actively involve fathers and father figures in their children's development through classroom participation, events, and family engagement activities.
  • Intergenerational Connection Programs 1 activity
    • Sponsoring the Foster Grandparent Program for senior volunteers
      Sponsors the Foster Grandparent Program, which engages over 100 seniors annually across nine counties in eastern New York, including Albany, Rensselaer, and Schenectady, who serve as mentors and tutors to children through educational and recreational activities. Volunteers receive tax-free stipends for 5–40 hours of weekly service.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$15.27M
Contributions & grants$233K2%
Program service revenue$14.70M96%
Investment income$145K1%
Other revenue$185K
expenses
Total expenses$15.78M
Program expenses92%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$9.38M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$26.13M
Cash$2.27M
Investments$4.96M
Liabilities$1.97M
Net assets$24.15M
Liquid reserves5.5 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -24.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
SUZANNE ROSA PRESIDENT 40 $203K
MARY O'GRADY CFO (UNTIL JUNE 2024) 40 $191K
board members · 15
  • ABIGAIL CEVALLOS — MEMBER
  • BETTY BELLINO-GIUGNO — MEMBER
  • BRIAN WILLIAMS — CHAIRPERSON
  • DAN CASALE — MEMBER
  • DEMETRIA CANTY — MEMBER
  • ELLEN VENSON — MEMBER
  • FORTUNE OMASE — MEMBER
  • MARK FLEMING — MEMBER
  • MEGAN ROSS — TREASURER
  • MICHAEL BOSSERT — MEMBER
  • MICHAEL STAMMEL — MEMBER
  • PATRICIA O'CONNOR PHD — VICE CHAIRPERSON
  • PATRICK MORPHY ESQ — SECRETARY
  • PETER GRIMM — MEMBER
  • STEVEN MCLAUGHLIN — MEMBER
relationships · 19

Who they work with

  • Administration for Children and Families Government — Federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that administers grants supporting CEO's early childhood services.
  • Building Performance Institute Government — CEO's energy auditors are certified by the Building Performance Institute.
  • Capital Region Workforce Development Board Partner — Private sector board member serves as Executive Director
  • Community Partners Partner — Collaborates with multiple community partners to ensure high-quality service delivery.
  • Community Partners Partner — Network of local organizations collaborating with CEO to deliver services.
  • EMPOWER NY Partner — Collaborates on providing weatherization and energy efficiency services to income-eligible households.
  • Facebook Partner — Uses Facebook to share updates about seasonal initiatives, one-time programs, news, and press releases.
  • Fatherhood Initiative Partner — Program integrated within Head Start and Early Head Start to engage fathers and father figures in children's development.
  • Feeding America Network — Member of the national Community Action network that includes alignment with broader anti-poverty initiatives.
  • Head Start and Early Head Start Partner — Foster Grandparent Program participants are placed in Head Start and Early Head Start programs to support early childhood education.
  • Hoosick Town Government — Local government representation via Town Supervisor on board
  • IRS Government — Utilizes the IRS-sponsored "Get Your Refund" platform for virtual tax preparation services.
  • Office of Head Start Government — Provides grant funding and administrative support for CEO's early childhood education programs.
  • Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York Network — Member of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York food distribution network.
  • Rensselaer County Government — Public sector representation through county executive and legislators
  • Russell Sage Colleges Partner — Private sector board member affiliated with the institution
  • Schodack Town Government — Local government representation via Town Supervisor on board
  • The Food Pantries of the Capital District Network — Member of The Food Pantries of the Capital District network.
  • Tri City Rentals Partner — Private sector board member affiliated with the organization
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
    methodology: client_choice
    By allowing households to select their own food based on household size, we reduce food waste and increase utilization, because client autonomy leads to better alignment with actual needs and preferences.
  • Empowerment Through Skill-Building
    methodology: empowerment-model
    By focusing on skill development and equipping individuals with tools and resources, we create long-term self-sufficiency, because empowerment enables people to drive their own growth out of poverty rather than relying on temporary aid.
  • Integrated Life-Stage Support
    methodology: integrated-community-support
    By providing coordinated services across life stages—from prenatal through childhood and into senior years—we improve long-term outcomes, because continuity of care addresses evolving needs within families over time.
  • Tripartite Governance for Community Representation
    methodology: tripartite_governance
    By integrating low-income community members, public officials, and private-sector professionals into board governance, we ensure equitable decision-making, because shared leadership increases responsiveness to community needs and builds trust in organizational priorities.