named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Fridge Program
Weekly cooking class for adults aged 18+ that prepares meals for a local community fridge, combining skill-building with community service
Foodie Friends
30-week progressive cooking program for teens and young adults aged 13-21 focusing on building culinary, social, and independent living skills
One-On-One Services
Customized virtual or in-home cooking instruction tailored to individual needs, goals, and learning preferences
Popup Cooking Classes
Hands-on cooking classes for children aged 5-13 held at partner locations throughout New York City with one-on-one volunteer support
Snack and Chat
Bi-weekly food tasting meet-up for youth aged 14-18 in Brooklyn and Manhattan to build social connections through food
Virtual Cooking Classes
Free monthly popup cooking classes held over Zoom for participants of all ages and abilities
activities · 3 groups
What they do
-
Youth and Family Cooking Education 3 activities
- Deliver cooking programs for youth and adults to promote healthy eating and skill developmentProvides structured cooking classes for youth aged 13 to 21 and adults aged 18+, including a 30-week progressive program for teens and young adults, with curricula focused on preparing basic, replicable meals in a supportive, self-paced environment. Classes emphasize healthy eating habits, motor skills, independence, and social connections.
- Host popup and virtual cooking classes for children and familiesOrganizes in-person popup cooking classes for children aged 5 to 13 at partner locations across New York City, featuring a 1:1 volunteer-to-child ratio to support engagement and social connection. Also offers free monthly virtual popup classes for all ages via Zoom.
- Provide individualized one-on-one cooking instructionOffers tailored cooking classes on a one-on-one basis, either virtually or in-home, designed to meet individual needs, goals, strengths, and preferences. Includes volunteer-student pairings during group classes to support children with personalized attention.
-
-
Plant-Based Nutrition Education & Support Programs 1 activity
- Develop and share inclusive educational cooking resourcesCreates and publishes accessible, inclusive educational materials such as visual recipes, holiday cooking guides, lunch ideas, and content on nutrition and kitchen accessibility to support diverse dietary needs, cultural traditions, and learning abilities.
-
-
Inclusive Social & Recreational Events 1 activity
- Facilitate food-related social engagement for youthHosts bi-weekly food tasting meet-ups for youth aged 14 to 18 in Brooklyn and Manhattan to foster social connections through shared food experiences.
-
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$119K
Contributions & grants$47K39%
Program service revenue$72K61%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$125K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$103K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$11K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$11K
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +2.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelley Bligh | Executive Director | 35 | $32K |
board members · 4
- Burhan Halilov — Board Director
- Eduard Frauneder — Board Director
- Meredith Wilford — Board Director
- Nancy Molesworth — Board Chair
relationships · 8
Who they work with
- Brooklyn Partner — Hosts bi-weekly food tasting meet-ups for youth in Brooklyn
- Cooking schools Partner — Partners with cooking schools to host cooking classes for children.
- ElevenLabs Partner — Technology partner providing AI-powered voice technology for audio content.
- Hotels Partner — Partners with hotels to host cooking classes for children.
- Manhattan Partner — Hosts bi-weekly food tasting meet-ups for youth in Manhattan
- Offices Partner — Partners with offices to host cooking classes for children.
- Restaurants Partner — Partners with restaurants to host cooking classes for children.
- partners throughout the city Partner — Hosts popup cooking classes at partner locations.
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.
- Culinary Empowerment for Neurodiverse Individualsmethodology: culinary-empowermentBy engaging neurodiverse individuals in structured culinary programming, we develop practical life skills and promote health, because hands-on cooking fosters autonomy, competence, and personal agency in daily living.
- Individualized Mentorship Modelmethodology: individualized_mentorshipBy pairing participants one-on-one with trained volunteers during culinary activities, we strengthen social and independent living skills, because personalized attention fosters trust, tailored learning, and meaningful peer connections.
- Progressive Skill-Building Through Cookingmethodology: progressive_skill-buildingBy structuring culinary education as a stepwise, cumulative curriculum, we build lasting cooking competence and executive functioning, because incremental learning reinforces mastery, confidence, and transferable cognitive skills.
- Sensory-Engaged Inclusive Learningmethodology: sensory-engagementBy designing kitchen experiences that engage multiple senses, we promote positive food interactions and inclusive participation, because sensory-rich environments reduce barriers for neurodiverse learners and encourage exploration without pressure.