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CHAUTAUQUA OPPORTUNITIES INC
DUNKIRK, NY · EIN 160905222 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE S200 · Community Improvement · Large ($10M-$50M) · chautauquaopportunities.com
revenue
$19.2M
expenses
$18.1M
net assets
$9.3M
employees
275
volunteers
553
program ratio
85%
mission · from form 990

CHAUTAUQUA OPPORTUNITIES, INC.'S MISSION IS TO LEAD THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY BY MOBILIZING RESOURCES AND CREATING PARTNERSHIPS TO PROMOTE EMPOWERMENT, ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE AND OPPORTUNITIES.

profile · synthesized from sources

Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. (COI) is a Community Action Agency founded in 1965 that fights poverty in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties, New York. The organization provides direct services including housing assistance, weatherization, home health care for seniors, and youth development programs. It uses a holistic, outcomes-focused model to promote economic self-sufficiency among low-income individuals and families.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $3.64M
    HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - PROVIDE SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO LOW INCOME PERSONS, AS WELL AS PROVIDED ASSISTANCE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF OTHER SERVICES. SPECIFIC PROGRAMS INCLUDE SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER AND WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE.
  2. #2 $2.40M
    HEALTH & FAMILY SERVICES - PROVIDES ADULT AND SENIOR HOME HEALTH SERVICES, AND RESIDENTIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND ASSET DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH SUCH PROGRAMS AS FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE, YOUTH SAFEHOUSES, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND RESPITE.
named programs · 10 · from sources

What they call their work

Adult and Senior Home Health Services
Provides in-home support and care for older adults to promote independence and well-being.
After-School Programs
Offers educational and recreational activities for children and youth outside school hours.
AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program
Engages adults 55+ as mentors and classroom helpers for children and youth.
Community Conversations
Hosts regular forums for community input, service discussion, and identifying gaps in local support systems.
Fatherhood Initiative
Supports fathers in building strong family relationships and achieving economic stability.
Homelessness Prevention
Offers emergency services and case management to prevent homelessness and support housing stability.
Housing Assistance for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS
Provides rental assistance, utility bill support, housing search, and counseling for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS.
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher
Provides rental subsidies to income-eligible tenants through agreements with local landlords in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties.
Weatherization Assistance
Helps low-income households reduce energy costs by improving home energy efficiency.
Youth Safehouses
Provides safe, supportive environments for youth in crisis or at risk of homelessness.
activities · 13 groups

What they do

  • Intergenerational Connection Programs 1 activity
    • Administer AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program
      Operates a Foster Grandparent Program that engages senior volunteers to mentor children and young people in classrooms, including those with physical disabilities.
  • Neighborhood Civic Engagement 1 activity
    • Conduct community engagement and needs assessment
      Facilitates regular Community Conversations meetings to gather community input on service needs and gaps, and conducts a Community Needs Assessment analyzing housing, health care, and economic conditions in Chautauqua County against regional, state, and national benchmarks.
  • Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
    • Convene regional coalitions and partnerships
      Convenes the Chautauqua County Homeless Coalition through quarterly virtual and in-person meetings and collaborates with local governments and community groups to leverage state and federal funding for community development priorities in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties.
  • Self-Sufficiency Empowerment Workshops 1 activity
    • Deliver education, employment, and family support services
      Provides direct services in education, employment, and family support for low-income families, including programs such as the Fatherhood Initiative, after-school programs, and respite care.
  • Senior Independence Support Services 1 activity
    • Deliver home and community health services
      Provides home health services for adults and seniors, including home care, health education, and supportive services to promote independent living and emotional and physical health. Also offers crisis intervention and mobile crisis services during nights, weekends, and holidays for individuals experiencing mental health crises.
  • Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
    • Engage volunteers across service areas
      Offers volunteer opportunities across multiple service areas, including supporting health services with clerical tasks such as mailings, phone assistance, filing, and photocopying.
  • Residential Support for Developmental Disabilities 1 activity
    • Manage federal grant-supported website operations
      Operates a website supported by federal grants from the Family and Youth Services Bureau, Office of Head Start, and Office of Community Services within the Administration for Children and Families.
  • Section 8 Housing Voucher Administration 1 activity
    • Operate housing programs and rental assistance
      Administers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties, owns and operates rental properties, and provides homelessness prevention, housing case management, and housing assistance for persons living with HIV/AIDS, including rental and utility support.
  • Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 1 activity
    • Operate youth shelter and crisis services
      Runs a 24/7 shelter providing safe housing and crisis services for runaway and homeless youth aged 18 and under.
  • Financial Literacy Education Programs 1 activity
    • Provide financial education and microfinance support
      Offers long-term financial education through staff trained in financial social work, along with micro-loans, business consulting, and start-up training to promote economic security and local business growth.
  • Annual Impact and Evaluation Reporting 1 activity
    • Publish program outcomes and impact reports
      Published a 2025 Annual Impact Report and Head Start Report detailing program outcomes and service delivery in Chautauqua County.
  • Early Childhood Education & Development Programs 1 activity
    • Support early childhood education and child care
      Operates Head Start programs and supports early education classrooms and after-school programs by assisting with activities and maintaining safe environments. Also operates a Child Care Council that provides resources, referrals, training, and support for child care providers.
  • Strategic Planning and Organizational Development 1 activity
    • Support organizational capacity and quality improvement
      Conducts annual Staff Development Day for employee training, implements a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) system using 360-degree feedback, and developed a three-year strategic plan (2024–2026) focused on organizational growth, community strengthening, and sustainability.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$19.23M
Contributions & grants$15.64M81%
Program service revenue$2.89M15%
Investment income$605K3%
Other revenue$104K
expenses
Total expenses$18.06M
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$10.21M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$17.11M
Cash$3.43M
Investments$0
Liabilities$7.76M
Net assets$9.35M
Liquid reserves2.3 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -12.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
DIANE HEWITT-JOHNSON CEO 35 $209K
TERI STALTER CHRO (THRU 1 35 $132K
ROBERT DAHLIN CHRO (BEG 1/ 35 $4K
board members · 22
  • BRITTANY CERRIE-ALLEN — DIRECTOR (BE
  • CHAD BONGIOVANNI — DIRECTOR (BE
  • DOUGLAS RICHMOND — SECRETARY
  • JANET KEEFE — DIRECTOR
  • KEVIN O'CONNELL — CHAIR
  • KEVIN WHITAKER — DIRECTOR
  • KRISTEN KATHMAN — DIRECTOR (BE
  • LAURA WHITE — DIRECTOR
  • MARIE CARRUBBA — DIRECTOR
  • MELISSA POTTER — DIRECTOR (BE
  • MICHELE BAUTISTA — DIRECTOR
  • NATALIE LUCZKOWIAK — DIRECTOR (TH
  • REBECCA RUIZ — VICE CHAIR
  • ROBERT BANKOSKI — DIRECTOR
  • ROBERT MOORE — TREAS (BEG 1
  • SUSAN FORRESTER-MACKAY — DIRECTOR (TH
  • TESLA TEXIDOR — DIRECTOR (BE
  • THOMAS CARLE — DIRECTOR (BE
  • THOMAS WHITNEY — DIRECTOR
  • TRICIA MOORE — TREASURER(TH
  • VERONICE B JONES — DIRECTOR
  • WILL PEKRUL — DIRECTOR (BE
relationships · 13

Who they work with

  • Administration for Children and Families Government — Parent division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services providing grant funding
  • Chautauqua County Homeless Coalition Coalition — Member organization participating in a network that provides intervention and prevention services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
  • Chautauqua County Homeless Coalition Network — CHAUTAUQUA OPPORTUNITIES INC is a member and convener of the Chautauqua County Homeless Coalition, a network addressing homelessness in the region.
  • Chautauqua Opportunities for Development, Inc. Partner — Collaborates on implementing a Continuous Quality Improvement system to ensure high-quality service delivery.
  • Community Services Block Grant Government — Recipient of Community Services Block Grant funds
  • Family and Youth Services Bureau Government — Federal grant funder supporting the organization's website
  • National Community Action Foundation Network — Proud member of the National Community Action Foundation
  • National Community Action Partnership Network — Proud member of the National Community Action Partnership
  • New York State Community Action Association Network — Proud member of the New York State Community Action Association
  • Office of Community Services Government — Federal grant funder supporting the organization's website through NY State
  • Office of Head Start Government — Federal grant funder supporting the organization's website
  • Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Government — Administers housing assistance through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.
  • US Department of the Treasury Government — Certified Chautauqua Opportunities for Development, Inc. (CODI) as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
strategies · 10

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.

  • Community-Driven Program Design
    methodology: community-responsive_program_design
    By designing programs based on community input and participatory needs assessments, we ensure relevance and effectiveness, because local knowledge increases program adoption and impact.
  • Continuous Quality Improvement via Feedback Loops
    methodology: continuous-quality-improvement
    By applying Continuous Quality Improvement with 360-degree feedback, we enhance program effectiveness, because iterative refinement based on stakeholder input strengthens service delivery over time.
  • Coordinated Network for Homelessness Prevention
    methodology: coordinated-network-model
    By aligning diverse organizations through a coordinated network model, we improve service delivery for homelessness intervention, because systemic collaboration reduces gaps and duplication in care.
  • Economic Independence via Entrepreneurship Development
    methodology: economic-independence-through-entrepreneurship
    By providing business development services to new and existing entrepreneurs, we foster economic independence, because targeted support enables individuals to generate wealth and reduce dependency on aid.
  • Home-Based Support for Autonomy
    methodology: home-based_support
    By delivering care and education in the home, we support informed decision-making and independence, because familiar environments enhance dignity and improve health and social outcomes.
  • Housing Stability as Foundation for Empowerment
    methodology: housing_stability
    By providing safe and affordable housing, we empower families and strengthen communities, because stable housing enables access to education, employment, and health services.
  • Intergenerational Mentoring for Youth Inclusion
    methodology: intergenerational-mentoring
    By connecting youth with older adult volunteers through intergenerational mentoring, we support development and inclusion, because cross-generational relationships build social capital and reduce isolation.
  • Multidisciplinary Mobile Crisis Response
    methodology: mobile_crisis_response
    By deploying mobile crisis teams with clinical and peer advocates, we improve engagement during mental health emergencies, because combining lived experience with professional expertise increases trust and continuity of care.
  • ROMA-Based Holistic Client Empowerment
    methodology: ROMA-based holistic anti-poverty framework
    By applying a ROMA-based, strength-focused framework, we guide clients from crisis to thriving through measurable, individualized progress, because structured outcome tracking enhances client agency and program effectiveness.
  • Systemic Empowerment Through Barrier Removal
    methodology: systemic_empowerment
    By addressing systemic barriers, we empower individuals to achieve lasting success, because removing structural obstacles enables sustainable personal and economic advancement.