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FENCING IN THE PARK INC
BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 853724880 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · pisteacademy.org
revenue
$628K
expenses
$580K
net assets
$764K
employees
2
volunteers
80
program ratio
81%
mission · from form 990

TO PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF HIGH-IMPACT SERVICES REVOLVING AROUND THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF FENCING TO INSPIRE EXCELLENCE, PREPARE HIGH- PERFORMERS, IMPROVE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES, ENABLE ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND BUILD PRODUCTIVE LEARNING COMMUNITIES, IN AND FOR AT-RISK UNDERREPRESENTED YOUTH FROM TARGETED OVERLOOKED COMMUNITIES.

profile · synthesized from sources

FENCING IN THE PARK INC, operating as The Prescod Institute for Sport, Teamwork, and Education (PISTE), provides free fencing instruction and educational enrichment to underserved youth in New York City. The organization uses fencing as a vehicle for youth development, offering academic tutoring, character building, and leadership training. Programs are delivered through school partnerships, summer camps, and year-round academies, primarily in Brooklyn.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $65K
    PISTE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS - 12 SCHOOLS/COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS CONTRACTED WITH US - THREE SCHOOLS ATTENDED IVY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS AS SPECTATORS - THREE SCHOOLS COMPETED AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS - ONE STUDENT WON THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP.
  2. #2 $52K
    EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING - - OVER 2,200 HOURS OF TUTORING ADMINISTERED - SIX GIRLS ATTENDED SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL PREP AT STUYVESANT - STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN CODING, CHESS, ART, DANCE AND FILMMAKING CLASSES
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Educational Enrichment
Academic tutoring, chess, and enrichment in music, art, design, and journalism for academy students
Fencing in the Park (FITP)
Summer program introducing fencing to youth in Brooklyn parks, targeting those with little to no prior experience
NYC Schools Program
Partnerships with public, charter, and independent schools to deliver fencing curriculum as PE, elective, or after-school program
PISTE Academy
High-performance, year-round fencing program for students committed to competitive fencing and intensive training
activities · 2 groups

What they do

  • Youth and Community Fencing Programs 5 activities
    • Deliver community-based introductory fencing programs for youth in under-resourced communities
      Runs the "Fencing in the Park" summer program, launched in 2020, which introduces children ages 5–12 from under-resourced communities in Brooklyn to fencing through free outdoor instruction led by elite-level instructors, including members of Olympic, World, and NCAA teams.
    • Deliver fencing curriculum through school and community partnerships across New York City
      Contracts with 12 schools and community organizations to deliver fencing as physical education, an elective, or after-school program, taught by world-class athletes and PISTE-approved instructors, serving predominantly Black and Brown youth and low-income families.
    • Host youth fencing competitions and regional circuits
      Hosted over 700 youth fencers in the Buckie Leach Regional Youth Circuit, providing competitive opportunities and supporting student participation in championships, including Ivy League spectator events and Middle School Athletic League competitions.
    • Provide free, year-round fencing training and academic support to high-achieving students in Brooklyn
      Offers no-cost, intensive fencing instruction and one-on-one academic tutoring and mentorship to 20–24 exemplary students in Brooklyn through a volunteer roster that includes honors students from Stuyvesant High School; integrates character development and educational programming.
    • Support student participation in fencing competitions with equipment and logistics
      Provides electric fencing equipment and logistical support to enable student participation in local, regional, and national fencing competitions.
  • After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
    • Provide supplemental educational programming including tutoring, chess, and arts
      Administers over 2,200 hours of tutoring and offers weekly chess instruction, coding, art, dance, filmmaking, music, design, and journalism programs to broaden students’ academic and career exposure.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$628K
Contributions & grants$506K81%
Program service revenue$109K17%
Investment income$13K2%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$580K
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$198K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$795K
Cash$655K
Investments$0
Liabilities$31K
Net assets$764K
Liquid reserves13.6 mo
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue -8.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
NZINGHA PRESCOD DIRECTOR 30 $73K
SARA TAFFEL TREASURER 25 $37K
board members · 4
  • HYDE KWAN — BOARD DIRECT
  • JAMILA HEWITT — BOARD DIRECT
  • OMOSEFE AIYEVBOMWAN — BOARD CHAIR
  • TEKEYA PRESCOD — SECRETARY
relationships · 31

Who they work with

  • BBFC Partner — Bronze sponsor of the PISTE Annual Showcase.
  • Bally's Corporation Partner — Founding sponsor of the PISTE Annual Showcase.
  • Bank of America Securities Partner — Bronze sponsor of the PISTE Annual Showcase.
  • BofA Securities Funder — Supporting sponsor of the institute
  • Buckie Leach Regional Youth Circuit Partner — Hosted youth fencers in this regional fencing circuit.
  • Cadillac Funder — Founding sponsor of the institute
  • Cadillac Partner — Bronze sponsor of the PISTE Annual Showcase.
  • EY Funder — Sponsor and supporter of PISTE programs
  • EY Partner — Gold sponsor of the PISTE Annual Showcase.
  • Ernst & Young (EY) Funder — PISTE is a project under the EY corporate responsibility portfolio; Jamila Hewitt serves as EY sponsor through the EY Ripples program.
  • FENCING IN THE PARK INC Partner — Collaborates on community fencing initiatives, as indicated by shared branding and programming imagery.
  • Fried Frank Funder — Founding sponsor of PISTE
  • Fried Frank Partner — Gold sponsor of the PISTE Annual Showcase.
  • Hot 97 Partner — Media partner supporting outreach and engagement for PISTE programs
  • NYC public schools Partner — Partner organization hosting PISTE fencing programs as part of their school offerings.
  • Nike Funder — Founding sponsor of The Prescod Institute for Sport, Teamwork, and Education
  • Peter Westbrook Foundation Partner — Collaborative relationship through which the founder was introduced to fencing; serves as a foundational influence on the organization's mission.
  • RBC Funder — Supporting sponsor of the institute
  • RBC Partner — Gold sponsor of the PISTE Annual Showcase.
  • Samsung Funder — Corporate sponsor of PISTE
  • Samsung Partner — Host and silver sponsor of the PISTE Annual Showcase.
  • Stuyvesant High School Partner — Collaborates on specialized high school preparation programming for students.
  • Stuyvesant High School Partner — Partner school in the NYC Schools Program
  • Stuyvesant High School Partner — Source of volunteer tutors and mentors for academy students.
  • Stuyvesant High School Honors Society Partner — Partner organization providing mentorship and academic support to PISTE students.
  • The Prescod Institute for Sport, Teamwork, and Education Network — Fencing in the Park is a program operated by The Prescod Institute for Sport, Teamwork, and Education.
  • USA Fencing Partner — Bronze sponsor of the PISTE Annual Showcase.
  • USA Fencing Partner — Partner organization supporting the institute's fencing programs
  • YMCA Partner — Partner organization collaborating with PISTE on programming
  • charter schools Partner — Partner organization hosting PISTE fencing programs as part of their school offerings.
+ 1 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.

  • Community-Based Access to Transformative Sport
    methodology: community-based access
    By bringing fencing to local parks in under-resourced communities and offering full scholarships, we enable sustained participation because removing financial and geographic barriers allows at-risk youth to access the developmental benefits of competitive sport.
  • Fencing as Holistic Youth Development
    methodology: fencing-based youth development
    By using fencing as a structured sport and "physical chess," we develop cognitive skills, character, and leadership in youth because the discipline and strategic thinking inherent in fencing reinforce academic and personal growth.
  • Olympism and Character Building Through Sport
    methodology: olympism-based development
    By applying Olympism—the integration of body, will, and mind—we foster resilient character and holistic development in students because the philosophy links athletic training with moral and intellectual growth.
  • Peer and Elite Mentorship as Development Leverage
    methodology: peer_mentorship
    By pairing youth with peer mentors and elite athlete-instructors, we deepen engagement and inspire excellence because relatable role models and high-achieving mentors reinforce both academic and athletic aspirations.