irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $145KVOTER EDUCATION CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - From May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025, Dominicanos USA strengthened civic engagement and voter education through youth leadership, partnerships, and outreach. We held four Youth Ambassador cohorts at several High Schools in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. Implementing an 8-week curriculum in civics. We also conducted nonpartisan voter materials for the June and November general elections via phone and text campaigns. We also held at Hostos Community College and City College, monthly tabling events provided voter registration and citizenship assistance. Registration drives at schools, naturalization ceremonies, and community events yielded 2,120 new voter registrations, reaching over 37,000 people digitally and 20,000 via SMS.
- #2 $140KTECHNOLOGY - From May 2024 to April 2025, Dominicanos USA expanded its Esports, Tech, and Civic Engagement programs for high school students. Held events at the Microsoft Experience Center, schools, and our office, including gaming, guest speakers, trivia, and Civics Chat panels. Over 200 participants engaged with ambassadors and esports celebrated achievements, and learned about civics and voting. An 8-week Intro to Game Design with Unity program at Microsoft provided instruction and equipment, supporting youth, especially in exploring careers in game design. Programs reinforced technical skills, teamwork, leadership, and civic participation through school and community partnerships.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Citizenship Program
Provides free assistance to lawful permanent residents navigating the U.S. naturalization process, including help with N-400 applications, fee waivers, English classes, and citizenship test preparation.
DUSA Tech & Esports
Offers free coding classes, game development training, and esports opportunities for youth, including an Intro to Game Design with Unity program and partnerships with schools and Microsoft.
DUSA Youth Ambassador Program
Trains high school students in civics and community organizing through an 8-week curriculum, engaging them in voter outreach and registration efforts in schools and communities.
Get-Out-The-Vote Campaigns
Conducts nonpartisan voter mobilization through phone banking, text messaging, mailers, and digital outreach to increase voter participation in local, state, and federal elections.
Know Your Rights
Educates immigrant communities about their legal rights in various settings including home, work, and public spaces to promote empowerment and protection.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Immigration Legal Services 1 activity
- Free citizenship assistance and naturalization supportProvides free legal and administrative support to lawful permanent residents applying for U.S. citizenship, including assistance with N-400 forms, fee waivers, test preparation, and English classes. In the most recent fiscal year, screened 505 applicants and completed 173 N-400 applications and 140 fee waivers; has supported 1,973 total N-400 completions since inception.
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Game Community Events & Expos 1 activity
- Immersive Fairs for technology and cross-cultural engagementOrganizes annual Immersive Fairs focused on video game technology, education, and cross-cultural exchange, held in New York City and Santo Domingo. These events are part of broader technology and community engagement initiatives.
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Immigrant Rights Education & Legal Preparedness 1 activity
- Legal rights education for immigrant communitiesProvides education and resources to help immigrant communities understand their legal rights, including guidance on responding to unannounced visits by immigration officials and rights during workplace encounters with enforcement.
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Game Design and Development Education 1 activity
- Technology and esports education for youthOffers technology and esports education programs since 2019, including an 8-week Intro to Game Design with Unity, coding classes using P5.js, and commercial skills absorption initiatives. Programs have engaged over 200 high school students, delivered over 100 hours of training, and provided scholarships and internships for Dominican-American youth to enter the gaming industry.
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Civic Engagement and Voter Mobilization 1 activity
- Voter registration and mobilization outreachConducts voter education, registration, and Get-Out-The-Vote campaigns in New York City communities, particularly those with strong Dominican presence. Activities include in-person canvassing, tabling events, digital campaigns, phone-banking, text messaging, and mailed postcards. Achieved 3,647 new voter registrations across multiple initiatives and delivered election information via 220,000 texts, 46,000 calls, and 8,000 postcards.
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Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Youth Ambassador Program for leadership and civic engagementOperates a Youth Ambassador Program that trains New York City youth in relational organizing, leadership, and community development, with participants contributing to voter registration and civic outreach efforts. The program provides a $250 stipend upon completion of requirements.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$931K
Contributions & grants$924K99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$8K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$792K
Program expenses61%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising20%
Salaries & benefits$527K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$409K
Cash$391K
Investments$0
Liabilities$58K
Net assets$351K
Liquid reserves5.9 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +30.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDWARD CUESTA | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $128K |
board members · 3
- ANYARLENE BERGES — DIRECTOR
- CHRISTIAN CABRAL — TREASURER
- MANUEL MATOS — PRESIDENT
relationships · 17
Who they work with
- Bronx School of Law Partner — Partner school collaborating with Dominicanos USA on the Youth Ambassador Program.
- CUNY Citizenship Now! Partner — Collaborated to provide free legal assistance to green card holders seeking citizenship.
- Catalist Partner — Collaborates with Catalist to apply political data modeling for community engagement in the Dominican-American gaming community.
- Cincinnatus Institute of Craftsmanship Partner — Partnered to launch an in-school technology curriculum at the Bronx School of Law and Finance.
- Cincinnatus/Intelysys Partner — Partnered to provide computer science classes at the Bronx School of Law and Finance.
- DOMINICANOS USA INC Network — Organization operating under the name Dominicanos USA providing immigrant rights resources.
- DOMINICANOS USA INC Partner — Organization providing citizenship application assistance services
- Dominican Studies Institute Partner — Hosted a visit by DUSA's Young Voices program participants.
- Dominicanos USA Partner — DUSA Tech is an initiative of Dominicanos USA (DUSA).
- Grant Associates Partner — Partner organization collaborating with Dominicanos USA on the Youth Ambassador Program.
- International School of Liberal Arts Partner — Partner school collaborating with Dominicanos USA on the Youth Ambassador Program.
- Manhattan Borough President's Office Partner — Hosted a visit by DUSA's Young Voices program participants.
- Microsoft Experience Center Partner — Hosted Esports, Tech, and Civic Engagement events and the Immersive Fair in Video Games Technology.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Dominican Republic) Partner — Collaborated on hosting the Immersive Fair in Video Games Technology, held simultaneously in NYC and Santo Domingo.
- New-York Historical Society Partner — Partnership to offer in-person and virtual citizenship classes.
- Q-LEAGUE Partner — Collaborates on esports, education, and community-building programs for Dominican-American youth.
- Visual Studio Code Partner — Uses Visual Studio Code as the primary integrated development environment for its coding program.
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.
- Civic Engagement Through Gamification and Esportsmethodology: civic_engagement_through_gamificationBy using gamification and esports as pathways to civic participation, the organization engages youth—particularly Dominican and female youth—because interactive, interest-driven formats lower barriers to political involvement and make civic action personally relevant.
- Diaspora Engagement via Shared Interestmethodology: community-of-interest_diaspora-engagementBy connecting the Dominican diaspora to the Dominican Republic through collaborative projects grounded in shared interests, the organization fosters transnational civic engagement because identity-based communities are more likely to act collectively when purpose aligns with cultural connection.
- Education as a Pathway to Economic Opportunitymethodology: education-for-economic-opportunityBy providing access to industry-aligned coding education, the organization creates economic mobility for underserved individuals because skill-building with real-world relevance enables entry into high-opportunity tech sectors like gaming.
- Integrated Civic Empowerment Modelmethodology: civic_empowerment_through_leadership_trainingBy combining rights education, leadership training, and direct civic engagement activities, the organization increases civic participation because informed and skilled individuals are more confident and effective actors in democratic processes.
- Relational Organizing for Leadership and Outreachmethodology: relational_organizingBy mobilizing personal networks through relational organizing, the organization produces deeper community engagement and leadership development because trusted relationships increase participation and ownership in civic processes.