irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $98KCommunity Impact - Community impact initiatives bring together diverse partners and stakeholders to address a significant issue or need in the community that can't be solved by one organization. Causewave works in partnership with all relevant nonprofit organizations, government agencies, businesses and funders to find a long-term, sustainable solution to a problem. This group uses a collective impact approach and engages in project management, market research, action plan development, campaign creation, media planning, program development / improvement and impact measurement. This broad-based effort often includes significant in-kind support from marketing, media and market research professionals.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Impact Initiatives
Facilitates collective impact projects by bringing together nonprofits, government agencies, businesses, and community stakeholders to address significant local issues through strategic planning, market research, campaign development, and impact measurement.
Nonprofit Capacity Building
Provides strategic, operational, and marketing support to nonprofits, including project management, facilitation, and program development, often with subsidized fees and grant funding to reduce cost barriers.
Nonprofit Talent Initiatives
Supports nonprofits with staffing needs and talent development, leveraging volunteer professionals and capacity-building programs.
Race & Media Initiative
Examines how race is portrayed in local news media and works to improve representation and narratives in collaboration with community partners and stakeholders.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Nonprofit Capacity Building Services 1 activity
- Capacity building for nonprofit organizationsProvides strategic, operational, marketing, and institutional fundraising support to over 200 nonprofits annually, including coaching, grant management assistance, and professional development through programs like Catalyst Club. Engages approximately 200 local professionals each year as volunteers to strengthen organizational effectiveness.
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Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
- Community impact initiatives using collective impact modelImplements data-driven, cross-sector collaborations to address complex community challenges such as school attendance and distracted driving, providing facilitation, strategy development, consensus building, and impact measurement in partnership with nonprofits, government agencies, businesses, and funders.
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Charitable Grantmaking to Specific Causes 1 activity
- Funding capacity-building initiatives for nonprofitsAwards grants to partner organizations to cover program costs, with a focus on reducing financial barriers by funding up to 75% of capacity-building program expenses based on mission area and geographic scope.
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Professional Job Board & Career Placement Services 1 activity
- Job board platform for nonprofit sector employmentOperates a regional job board that lists employment opportunities for nonprofit organizations and community partners, supporting workforce development and hiring in the sector.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Pro bono and in-kind resource mobilizationSecures and leverages donated professional time and services, receiving approximately $500,000 in in-kind contributions annually from individuals and organizations across multiple fields, along with over $1 million in pro bono media resources and professional time each year.
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Documentary Film Production 1 activity
- Public awareness and media production for community causesProduces public service media including videos for C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association and Alzheimer’s caregivers, and leads community dialogue initiatives such as examining bias in the broadcast industry.
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Nonprofit Sector Research & Data Analysis 1 activity
- Research on equity and representation in the nonprofit sector and mediaConducts original research including studies on the nonprofit talent pipeline in Western New York, representations of race in local news media (repeated in 2018 and 2020), and a first-of-its-kind survey on discrimination faced by multiple subgroups in the Greater Rochester area.
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Flexible Grants to Grassroots Organizations 1 activity
- Support for BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving organizationsDirectly partners with BIPOC-led or BIPOC-serving nonprofits, which represented 42% of total projects in 2022, and allocates a portion of its marketing budget to sponsor events hosted by these organizations.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.57M
Contributions & grants$1.77M69%
Program service revenue$805K31%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.44M
Program expenses57%
Admin / overhead33%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$1.19M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.86M
Cash$1.81M
Investments$104K
Liabilities$1.20M
Net assets$1.66M
Liquid reserves16.0 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +132.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Todd Butler | President & CEO | 40 | $189K |
board members · 24
- Caytie Bowser Director Through — 6/24), Secretary (Began 7/24)
- Courtney Cotrupe — Director
- Denise DiNoto — Director
- Denishea Ortiz — Director
- Dr Ashley Cross — Director
- Dr Donna Harris — Director
- Dr Shaun Nelms — Vice-Chair
- Elizabeth Paul PhD — Director
- Erin Budd Barry — Director (Began 7/24)
- Jahmar Elliott — Director (Began 7/24)
- Jared Longmore — Director
- Julio Saenz — Director
- Kevin Kopp — Director
- Lisa Marcello — Director (Began 7/24)
- Marisol Ramos-Lopez — Secretary (Through 6/24)
- Mark Kokanovich — Director
- Mark Stone — Director (Through 6/24)
- Martha Bush — Director
- Mary Holleran — Director (Through 6/24)
- Megan Jaffarian — Director
- Natosha McDonald — Director
- Peter Platt — Director
- Ron Wille Jr — Director
- Sady Alvarado-Fischer — Director (Through 6/24)
relationships · 52
Who they work with
- 540W Main Partner — Staff completed the Intro to Anti-Racism course offered by the organization.
- Accountable Digital, LLC Partner — Provides digital marketing consultation and implementation support to Causewave and its nonprofit partners.
- Audacy Partner — Media partner donating broadcast space for community initiatives
- Black Bar Association Partner — Partnered on promoting the Roy W. King Legal Diversity Internship.
- C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association Partner — Collaborated on the production of a video to support their mission after receiving the Matchstick Prize.
- Charles Settlement House Partner — Partner organization that has posted job opportunities through Causewave's job board.
- Children’s Institute Partner — Partner organization that has posted job opportunities through Causewave's job board.
- Community Wealth Partners Partner — Research partner on the Nonprofit Talent Pipeline initiative in Western NY.
- Connected Communities Partner — Helped engage the community in revising the Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan for the EMMA and Beechwood neighborhoods.
- Daystar Kids Partner — Partner organization that has posted a job opportunity through Causewave's job board.
- Deaf Refugee Advocacy Partner — Supported in building the first operating plan for the startup nonprofit.
- Democrat & Chronicle Partner — Media partner donating print and digital space for community initiatives
- ESL Charitable Foundation Partner — Local funder partnering with Causewave to support small and mid-sized nonprofits in building fundraising capacity.
- Erie County Partner — Collaborated on developing a solution to increase diversity in jury selection.
- Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Partner — Corporate supporter providing resources or funding
- Fast Forward Film Festival Partner — Collaborated with Causewave volunteer Nan Burgess-Whitman on an environmental film festival initiative to promote sustainability awareness in the Rochester community.
- Flower City Studios Partner — Partnering to establish a home for Icon Robotics Cinema in Rochester.
- Friends & Foundation of the Rochester Public Library Partner — Partner organization that has posted a job opportunity through Causewave's job board.
- Genesee Land Trust Partner — Partner organization that has posted a job opportunity through Causewave's job board.
- Get AMPED Partner — Partners on electric vehicle adoption and clean energy initiatives
- Get Ready to GROW Partner — Collaborates on comprehensive developmental checks for children
- Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity Partner — Partner organization that has posted job opportunities through Causewave's job board.
- Greater Rochester Health Foundation Funder — Foundation providing financial support
- Greater Rochester Health Foundation Partner — Local funder collaborating with Causewave to strengthen nonprofit capacity for institutional fundraising in Rochester.
- Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation Funder — Foundation led by Pete Potter’s granddaughters that supports Causewave’s work.
- Jewish Federation’s Levine Center to End Hate Partner — Partner in conducting a local survey on discrimination in the Greater Rochester area.
- Lamar Outdoor Advertising Partner — In-kind donor providing outdoor advertising space
- Lifespan of Greater Rochester, Inc. Partner — Partner organization that has posted a job opportunity through Causewave's job board.
- Merlin International Partner — Corporate supporter providing resources or funding
- Monroe County Department of Public Health Government — Government agency collaborating on public health initiatives
+ 22 more
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.
- Capacity Building through Expert Strategic Supportmethodology: capacity_buildingBy providing targeted strategic guidance in fundraising, marketing, and planning to under-resourced nonprofits, we strengthen community safety nets because building institutional capacity enables long-term sustainability and impact.
- Collective Impact with Data-Driven Collaborationmethodology: collective_impactBy aligning cross-sector stakeholders around a common agenda through coordinated research, planning, and measurement, we produce meaningful community change because shared goals and evidence-based roadmaps increase systemic effectiveness.
- Community-Owned Change through Participatory Engagementmethodology: community_owned_changeBy using compensated participatory research and consensus-building processes, we produce equitable program design and stakeholder buy-in because centering BIPOC voices and compensating lived expertise fosters trust, relevance, and sustainability.
- Internal-to-External Systems Changemethodology: internal_to_external_changeBy starting with internal organizational change—particularly in addressing structural racism—we produce more authentic and effective community impact because sustainable external change requires accountable, transformed institutions.