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DIASPORA COMMUNITY SERVICES INC
BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 113122295 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Medium ($1M-$10M) · diasporacs.org
revenue
$9.9M
expenses
$9.8M
net assets
$1.6M
employees
93
volunteers
5
program ratio
82%
mission · from form 990

diaspora community services is a social support service agency that empowers low income families and individuals to maximize their abilities to overcome obstacles to their well-being and self-sufficiency.

profile · synthesized from sources

Diaspora Community Services Inc (DCS) is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that empowers low-income individuals, immigrants, and youth through culturally sensitive health, housing, and social services. The organization operates transitional housing programs for homeless and parenting youth, provides HIV/Hep-C testing and prevention, supports asylum seekers, and runs youth development initiatives focused on sexual health and empowerment. Founded in 1981, DCS serves nearly 10,000 people annually across New York City.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $1000K
    RESIDENTIAL SERVICES - DCS OPERATES 2 TRANSITIONAL INDEPENDENT LIVING (TIL) PROGRAMS (COMPREHSENSIVE SHELTER PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH WHO ARE UNHOUSED): MOTHERS GAINING HOPE HOUSE (MGH) AND THE CONNECT HOUSE. RESIDENTS RECEIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND COUNSELING TO ASSIST WITH EDUCATION AND CAREER GOALS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, HEALTH EDUCATION, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND HEALTHY PARENTING SKILLS (FOR MGH PARTICIPANTS). THE PRIMARY GOAL OF OUR TIL PROGRAMS IS TO MOVE THE YOUTH TOWARDS INDEPENDENT LIVING BY PROVIDING THEM WITH THE RESOURCES AND SKILLS TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AS SELF-SUFFICIENT ADULTS.
  2. #2 $990K
    HIV SERVICES - THIS PROGRAM IS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION RELATED TO HIV PREVENTION, HEALTH INSURANCE ACCESS AND ENROLLMENT AND NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE AS PRIORITY AREAS. THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE HIV TRANSMISSION, PROVIDE HIV TESTING, INCREASE THE USE OF PEP/PREP (CONNECT/SAMSHA), AND ENSURE INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE HEALTH INSURANCE (MBAP) AND SNAP BENEFITS.
named programs · 9 · from sources

What they call their work

Atlantic Sanctuary & Fort Hamilton
Emergency shelter sites providing temporary housing and social services for adult asylum seekers and immigrant families in Brooklyn.
CONNECT
HIV prevention and substance management program for LGBT+ youth and young adults up to age 25, including testing, counseling, and community navigation services.
HIV & Hep-C Testing & Prevention
Free and confidential testing, PrEP/PEP referrals, and sexual health education for communities in North and Central Brooklyn, with home testing kits available.
Health Homes
Care coordination program for Medicaid-enrolled individuals with chronic conditions, linking clients to medical, mental health, housing, and social services.
Medical Benefits Assistance Program (MBAP)
Enrollment assistance for people living with HIV/AIDS to access health insurance, medication coverage, and financial support programs in New York State.
Mothers Gaining Hope House (MGH)
Transitional independent living program for pregnant and parenting youth ages 16–20, providing housing, case management, parenting skills, and education support for up to 24 months.
STAR (Safe Teens Acting Responsibly)
Youth development program offering reproductive health education, family planning, and workshops on anti-bullying, financial literacy, and violence prevention for adolescents in Brooklyn.
The CONNECT House
Transitional housing program for LGBTQ+ youth ages 16–20 who are homeless or runaway, offering counseling, life skills training, and pathways to independent living.
Women of Color Groups (WOC)
Workshop series including SISTA, WILLOW, and Healthy Love interventions focused on HIV prevention, healthy relationships, and sexual health for women of color ages 18+.
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • HIV/AIDS Prevention and Support Services 6 activities
    • Care Management and Care Coordination for Chronically Ill Individuals
      Provides care management and navigation services for chronically ill individuals, including those living with HIV/AIDS, involving development of care plans, coordination of medical appointments, and support with accessing medications, health insurance, and social services.
    • Community Outreach and Public Health Education
      Conducts community outreach activities and delivers public health education on HIV prevention, sexual health, and harm reduction to increase awareness and access to care.
    • HIV and HCV Testing and Prevention Services
      Provides free and confidential HIV and Hepatitis C testing, prevention education, and at-home test kits, particularly targeting individuals in North and Central Brooklyn, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • Sexual Health Counseling, Testing, and Referral Services
      Provides sexual health counseling, testing for HIV, HCV, and STIs, and referral services, including care navigation for individuals who test positive.
    • Specialized HIV Prevention Interventions for Women of Color
      Delivers evidence-based group and individual HIV/STD risk-reduction interventions—including SISTA, Sister to Sister, WILLOW, and Healthy Love programs—for women of color aged 18 and older, focusing on ethnic pride, behavioral self-management, social skills, and coping strategies.
    • Substance Management and HIV Prevention Program for LGBT+ Youth
      Operates a substance management and HIV prevention program tailored for LGBT+ youth and young adults up to age 25 in North and Central Brooklyn, including outreach, education, and harm reduction services.
  • Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 5 activities
    • Emergency Shelter and Case Management for Adult Asylum Seekers
      Provides temporary emergency shelter and comprehensive case management services to adult families and single adult asylum seekers in Brooklyn, NY.
    • Residential and Support Services for Community Members
      Operates residential programs and connects individuals and families with essential benefits, counseling, education, housing support, and referrals to trusted partner organizations.
    • Transitional Housing and Support Services for LGBTQ+ Adolescents
      Provides transitional housing and comprehensive support services, including case management and counseling, for LGBTQ+ adolescents aged 16–20 who are runaway or homeless, for up to 24 months.
    • Transitional Housing and Support Services for Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents
      Provides transitional housing and comprehensive support services, including case management and counseling, for pregnant and parenting adolescents aged 16–20 who are runaway or homeless, for up to 24 months.
    • Transitional Independent Living Programs for Unhoused Youth
      Operates two transitional independent living programs—Mothers Gaining Hope House and The Connect House—that provide case management, counseling, and skill-building in education, financial literacy, health, relationships, and parenting to support unhoused youth in transitioning to self-sufficient adulthood.
  • Domestic Violence Survivor Support Services 1 activity
    • Comprehensive Support Services for Sexual Assault Survivors
      Operates the C.A.R.E program to provide client-centered, culturally sensitive support for survivors of sexual assault, including crisis intervention, counseling, legal and medical advocacy, court accompaniment, and cognitive behavioral education.
  • Comprehensive Community Service Hubs 1 activity
    • Comprehensive Support for Low-Income and Vulnerable Populations
      Provides integrated services to low-income residents, immigrants, and the chronically ill through three programmatic sites in New York City, serving nearly 10,000 people annually with health, housing, education, and social support.
  • Reproductive Health Advocacy & Education 1 activity
    • Sexual and Reproductive Health Education and Access for Adolescents
      Increases access to sexual and reproductive health information, family planning services, and comprehensive reproductive health care for adolescents in North and Central Brooklyn to prevent pregnancies, STIs, and HIV/AIDS.
  • Youth Development and Support Services 1 activity
    • Youth Empowerment and Life Skills Development
      Provides educational, social, recreational, vocational, and economic opportunities for adolescents to develop life skills and support healthy transitions to adulthood.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Youth Leadership Development and Civic Engagement
      Offers leadership development training and civic engagement opportunities through peer educator programs such as the Core Group and on-site workshops in schools across Brooklyn.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$9.90M
Contributions & grants$9.55M96%
Program service revenue$294K3%
Investment income$4860%
Other revenue$55K
expenses
Total expenses$9.81M
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$5.86M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.35M
Cash$1.15M
Investments$0
Liabilities$2.74M
Net assets$1.61M
Liquid reserves1.4 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +17.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
CARINE JOCELYN CEO 40 $246K
board members · 5
  • Caleb Terry — Secretary
  • Dominique Etienne — Director
  • JeRRY RAPHAEL — Treasurer
  • Kenrick Ross — Chairman
  • MARITSA Hofherr — Director
relationships · 16

Who they work with

  • Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Funder — Funding partner supporting DCS programs
  • Brooklyn schools Partner — Provides on-site workshops in school settings across Brooklyn.
  • CDC Government — CDC-supported evidence-based intervention provider
  • Central Brooklyn Partner — Location where anti-poverty initiatives and social services are implemented
  • Department of Youth & Community Development Government — Government funding partner supporting DCS programs
  • Durst Foundation Funder — Funding partner supporting DCS programs
  • Gilead Sciences Funder — Funding partner supporting DCS programs
  • Healthy Heart Foods Funder — Funding partner supporting DCS programs
  • LGBT+ youth and young adults Partner — Target population served through the CONNECT program focused on substance management and HIV prevention.
  • New York State Department of Health Government — Government funding partner supporting DCS programs
  • North/Central Brooklyn communities Partner — Liaison between local communities and service providers for LGBT+ youth health services
  • PayPal Funder — Platform used for donation processing, indicating a financial partnership for fundraising.
  • Public HealthSolution Partner — Partner organization collaborating with DCS
  • The Research Foundation of the City University of New York Partner — Partner organization collaborating with DCS
  • United States Department of Health & Human Services Government — Federal funding partner supporting DCS programs
  • United States Department of Justice Government — Federal funding partner supporting DCS programs
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.

  • Client-Centered, Culturally Grounded Care Model
    methodology: client_centered_culturally_sensitive_care
    By delivering services through a client-centered, culturally sensitive approach that reflects shared identity and lived experience, the organization fosters trust and self-efficacy, leading to improved engagement and health outcomes, particularly among marginalized LGBT+ and diaspora communities.
  • Community Liaison Model for Health Access
    methodology: community_liaison_model
    By acting as a trusted intermediary between marginalized LGBT+ communities and health service providers, the organization improves access to HIV prevention, substance management, and other critical health services through culturally resonant outreach and navigation.
  • Empowerment-Focused Behavioral Interventions for HIV Prevention and Care
    methodology: empowerment_based_hiv_intervention
    By delivering culturally tailored, sex-positive, and empowerment-based curricula, the organization builds behavioral self-management, coping skills, and safer sex practices among women of color and people living with HIV, addressing both social and psychological drivers of health outcomes.
  • Holistic Integration of Health and Social Services
    methodology: holistic_support
    By addressing interconnected needs through integrated health care, housing, youth development, and benefits enrollment, the organization improves community well-being and health outcomes, particularly for individuals with chronic conditions or complex social needs.
  • Strengths-Based, Peer-Powered Youth Development
    methodology: peer_led_education
    By using peer-led education and a strengths-based youth development model, the organization increases engagement and builds life skills among adolescents, leveraging relatability and empowerment to reduce risk behaviors and promote self-sufficiency.