named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
GRADA/PUL Summer Leagues
Adult and youth leagues held during the summer, continuing the legacy of the long-running Players' Ultimate League with divisions for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players.
Spirit of the Game Education
Programs and resources promoting sportsmanship, fair play, and self-officiating, including coaching guidelines and player expectations centered on respect and integrity.
Youth Coaching and Background Screening
Requires background checks for all youth coaches and organizers through a third party to ensure player safety and uphold organizational standards.
Youth Ultimate Program
Offers spring and summer junior leagues for high school students, focusing on skill development, sportsmanship, and introducing young players to organized ultimate frisbee.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Amateur Sports Competition Programming 2 activities
- Facilitates women-matching ultimate frisbee programmingOperates dedicated women-matching ultimate frisbee leagues and pickup games, including 5v5 and 7v7 draft leagues and weekly Saturday sessions, to promote inclusive and equitable participation opportunities for female-identifying and gender-minority players.
- Organizes youth and adult ultimate frisbee leagues and programsProvides year-round ultimate frisbee programming for youth and adults in the Rochester, NY area, including seasonal leagues, pickup games, and skills development opportunities for players of all ages and skill levels. Programs emphasize inclusivity, safety, equity, and the Spirit of the Game.
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Youth Sports Safety & Risk Management 1 activity
- Ensures safety and compliance in youth programsRequires background checks and training for all coaches, coordinators, and organizers involved in youth leagues, in compliance with USA Ultimate standards, to ensure a safe environment for young participants.
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Youth and Amateur Rugby Development 1 activity
- Hosts youth ultimate frisbee development programs and clinicsOffers structured youth programs including SPRY (Spring Youth), SLY (Summer League for Youth), Learn To Play, and Progressions to teach fundamental and advanced ultimate frisbee skills to players ages 8–18. Programs focus on skill development, sportsmanship, and life skills such as communication and conflict resolution.
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Youth Sports Community Events 1 activity
- Organizes tournaments and special events for ultimate frisbee playersHosts regional tournaments and special events including a Memorial Day weekend high school tournament, the Queen's Cup women-matching draft tournament, and other competitive and community-building events that support player engagement and fundraising for local causes.
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Youth Sports Volunteer Coordination 1 activity
- Provides volunteer coaching and leadership developmentOffers coaching opportunities for youth programs and conducts free Leadership Summits to train team captains and organizers in safety, equity, communication, and league policies, fostering leadership and positive team dynamics.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$72K
Contributions & grants$7501%
Program service revenue$71K99%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$72K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$61K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$61K
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -13.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 6
- Ed Wiltse — Director
- Eric Dahlstrom — Director
- Kaitlyn Schneider — Director
- Marlena Vera-Shockner — Director
- Raleigh Haskins — Director
- Ryan Gardner — Director
relationships · 25
Who they work with
- Angela Dana Partner — GRADA Youth Committee member contributing to youth program development
- Becky "Boomer" Gravenstede Partner — GRADA Youth Committee member supporting youth ultimate initiatives
- Christine “Kit” Purtell Partner — GRADA Youth Committee member involved in youth programming
- Communications Director Partner — Manages volunteer photography, videography, and social media activities.
- Dan Bell Partner — GRADA Youth Committee member contributing to youth ultimate efforts
- Doug Carney Partner — GRADA Youth Committee member supporting youth programs
- Hales Pink Partner — GRADA Youth Committee member involved in youth development
- Jessica Brunner Partner — Youth Development Director leading youth programs and community engagement
- Kevin Baldwin Partner — GRADA Youth Committee member supporting youth ultimate activities
- Leagues Director Partner — Oversees volunteer coordination for leagues and field setup.
- National Center for Safety Initiatives Partner — Third-party vendor contracted by GRADA to conduct background screenings for coaches and organizers in youth leagues.
- Outreach Director Partner — Coordinates volunteer efforts for youth coaching and clinic facilitation.
- Players' Ultimate League (PUL) Network — GRADA evolved from and continues the legacy of the Players' Ultimate League, operating under its structure and traditions.
- Raleigh Haskins Partner — GRADA Youth Committee member contributing to youth programming
- Ryan Gardner Partner — Leagues Director responsible for GRADA leagues and point of contact for league-related inquiries.
- SIDE Committee Partner — Committee responsible for overseeing captain-related inquiries and Leadership Summits.
- SIDE Director Partner — Leads volunteer initiatives focused on safe play, inclusion, diversity, and equity.
- Skylar Brunner Partner — GRADA Youth Committee member supporting youth ultimate initiatives
- Spirit of the Game Partner — Teaches and promotes the Spirit of the Game as a core component of youth Ultimate Frisbee programming.
- USA Ultimate Partner — Collaborates with USA Ultimate for coach background screening and training standards.
- USA Ultimate Partner — Provides coaching resources, team organizer guidelines, and recommendations for background checks used by GRADA.
- USAU Network — Aligns gender declaration policy with USAU gender inclusion policies.
- Willow Domestic Center Partner — Recipient of proceeds from the Queen's Cup women-matching charity tournament.
- Youth Director Partner — Leads volunteer engagement for youth programs and coaching.
- pickupultimate.com Partner — Platform used to list and share information about GRADA pickup games.
strategies · 3
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.
- Gender-Inclusive Team Composition and Participation Policymethodology: gender_inclusion_policyBy implementing a gender-inclusive "women-matching" framework that affirms self-identified gender identity, we ensure safety, belonging, and equitable access for trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming players because it removes bureaucratic barriers and centers dignity and comfort in gameplay design.
- Spirit of the Game as a Pedagogy of Inclusion and Self-Officiationmethodology: spirit_of_the_gameBy centering the "Spirit of the Game" — a player-led ethic of self-officiation, mutual respect, and consent-based communication — we foster inclusive, safe, and equitable play environments because players internalize responsibility for fairness, actively include others, and resolve conflicts ethically without reliance on external referees.
- Youth Development Through Non-Competitive, Character-Based Sportmethodology: character_development_through_sportBy using a non-competitive, play-centered approach to teach Ultimate Frisbee, we promote youth engagement, skill acquisition, and long-term participation because it reduces performance pressure and intentionally integrates life skills like communication, sportsmanship, and conflict resolution into athletic development.