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research dossier

DART COLLECTIVE INC
BUFFALO, NY · EIN 932508739 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B99 · Education · Medium ($1M-$10M) · dartcollective.net
revenue
$1.1M
expenses
$270K
net assets
$850K
employees
0
volunteers
10
program ratio
100%
mission · from form 990

WE CREATE TOOLS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT HOW TO RECOGNIZE, NAVIGATE, AND STAY VIGILANT AGAINST SCAMS. WE ARE CURRENTLY BUILDING A MOBILE GAME AND A GAMIFIED LEARNING PLATFORM TAILORED TO THE NEEDS AND PREFERENCES OF AMERICANS OVER 60.

profile · synthesized from sources

DART Collective Inc creates educational tools to help people, especially Americans over 60, recognize and avoid scams. The organization develops a gamified mobile game called DeepCover and an e-learning platform called DART Academy to teach scam awareness through engaging, accessible methods. It also conducts research through DART Labs on emerging scam risks like crypto ATM fraud.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $88K
    GENERAL PROGRAMS SUPPORTS OPERATIONS NOT SPECIFIC TO A PARTICULAR PRODUCT. SERVES TO BUILD AWARENESS ABOUT DART. ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE CREATION OF OUR WEBSITE, A BLOG, NEWSLETTER, AND SOME SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING. SUCCESS INDICATORS INCLUDE 500+ MEMBERS OF OUR NEWSLETTER MAILING LIST AND INVITATIONS TO SPEAK TO COMMUNITY GROUPS.
  2. #2 $77K
    DART ACADEMY IS OUR E-LEARNING PLATFORM. THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORT, AND ADAPTATION OF THE PLATFORM FOR OTHER DEMOGRAPHICS.
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

DART Academy
An e-learning platform offering interactive modules that immerse older adults in realistic scam scenarios to improve digital literacy and scam awareness.
DART Labs
Research initiative studying emerging scam trends such as crypto ATM fraud, focusing on user behavior, policy gaps, and real-time intervention strategies.
DeepCover
A mobile game where players act as retired agents uncovering scam tactics through puzzles and story-based levels, designed to educate older adults about scam recognition in an engaging way.
General Programs
Supports operations through website, blog, newsletter, and social media advertising to build awareness about DART and its mission.
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Scam Prevention Education 6 activities
    • Deliver scam prevention training and presentations
      Provides interactive trainings, presentations, and custom educational materials to professionals, caregivers, community groups, and organizations on recognizing and responding to online scams targeting older adults.
    • Develop and distribute DeepCover mobile game
      Creates and operates DeepCover, a free mobile game with spy-themed gameplay that educates players about scam tactics through immersive, multi-layered scenarios and real-life victim stories.
    • Develop gamified scam prevention curriculum
      Designs and implements a gamified curriculum using immersive real-life scenarios to educate older adults and at-risk communities on recognizing and avoiding online scams.
    • Operate DART Academy e-learning platform
      Provides an interactive e-learning platform to improve older adults' online awareness, scam recognition, and digital skills through realistic scam scenarios, available online and in group workshops.
    • Produce podcast featuring scam victim stories
      Produces a podcast that shares real-life scam experiences through interviews between DART experts and victims, offering prevention insights and raising public awareness.
    • Provide scam reporting assistance and resources
      Offers a resource page and direct support to help individuals report online scams and understand deception techniques.
  • Leadership & Policy Dialogue Forums 1 activity
    • Host annual expert roundtable
      Organizes an annual roundtable event that brings together leading academics and industry partners to discuss aging, cybersecurity, and digital inclusion.
  • Open Research Infrastructure & Publishing 1 activity
    • Operate AI-generated media detection platform
      Manages an open-access platform that uses research-based methods to detect AI-generated images, videos, and audio, supporting fact-checking and news reporting during critical events.
  • Intergenerational Connection Programs 1 activity
    • Operate DART Labs participatory program
      Runs DART Labs, an intergenerational program focused on aging, cybersecurity, policy, and digital inclusion, including youth-led digital literacy mentoring and community engagement.
  • Public Awareness and Educational Outreach 1 activity
    • Produce public education resources and updates
      Creates and distributes articles, safety resources, newsletters, blog posts, and social media content to inform the public about online scams and DART Collective's activities.
  • Industry Research and Benchmarking 1 activity
    • Produce research publications and policy analysis
      Generates white papers, position papers, and policy analysis on digital safety, aging, and cybersecurity to inform public understanding and policy development.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Provide youth leadership development through digital literacy mentoring
      Offers youth participants leadership development and volunteer experience by training them to mentor older adults in digital safety through the DART Labs program.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Conduct research on cryptocurrency ATMs and fraud
      Studies the use of cryptocurrency ATMs in fraud, including location patterns, machine design impacts, user behavior, and community responses, to develop research-based strategies for user protection.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.11M
Contributions & grants$1.11M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$270K
Program expenses100%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$872K
Cash$48K
Investments$0
Liabilities$22K
Net assets$850K
Liquid reserves2.1 mo
1 years on record · 2024–2024
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 3
  • ANITA NIKOLICH — VICE PRESIDENT
  • CYNTHIA STEWART — SECRETARY/TREASURER
  • SIWEI LYU — PRESIDENT
relationships · 31

Who they work with

  • AFP Partner — Used Deepfake-o-Meter on its fact check website to detect deepfake video
  • Academia Partner — Collaborates with academic institutions to research and address digital threats to older adults.
  • App Store Partner — Distributes the DeepCover game for iPhone devices
  • Clemson University Institute for Engaged Aging Research Partner — Collaborates on research and development of the DART platform.
  • Clemson University Watt Family Innovation Center Media Forensics Hub Partner — Collaborates on research and development of the DART platform.
  • Cornell University Department of Communications Partner — Collaborates on research and development of the DART platform.
  • DART Collective Inc Partner — Organization offering scam prevention education through the DeepCover mobile game and community outreach.
  • DART Labs Partner — Research partner providing evidence and insights used in DART Collective's training, content, and consulting services.
  • DeepCover Partner — Collaborates on a game used to teach older adults how to recognize scams.
  • Google Play Partner — Distributes the DeepCover game for Android devices
  • Grady Health System Partner — Partner organization collaborating on delivering DART Academy workshops.
  • Industry partners Partner — Partners with industry organizations to address cybersecurity and digital inclusion challenges for older adults.
  • Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram as a platform to share updates and engage with the public on online deception prevention.
  • Lehigh University Computer Science and Engineering Partner — Collaborates on research and development of the DART platform.
  • University at Buffalo Center for Information Integrity Partner — Collaborates on research and development of the DART platform.
  • University at Buffalo Center for Information Integrity Partner — Research and development partner co-leading the DART initiative
  • University at Buffalo Center for Information Integrity Partner — Research and development partner in the DART Collective
  • University at Buffalo Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Partner — Collaborates on research and development of the DART platform.
  • University at Buffalo Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Partner — Research and development partner co-leading the DART initiative
  • University at Buffalo Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Partner — Research and development partner in the DART Collective
  • University of Illinois Illinois Informatics Partner — Collaborates on research and development of the DART platform.
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Information Sciences Partner — Collaborates on research and development of the DART platform.
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Information Sciences Partner — Research and development partner co-leading the DART initiative
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Information Sciences Partner — Research and development partner in the DART Collective
  • Vishvas News Partner — Used Deepfake-o-Meter to detect deepfake video content
  • X Partner — Shares updates and resources through its X/Twitter account.
  • aging services providers Partner — Works with aging services providers to protect vulnerable populations from crypto ATM scams.
  • crypto ATM operators Partner — Partners with crypto ATM operators to test and implement safety improvements such as enhanced warnings and user support.
  • financial institutions Partner — Collaborates with financial institutions to improve crypto ATM safety through data sharing, co-design workshops, and pilot interventions.
  • policymakers Partner — Engages with policymakers to inform regulations and policies that reduce fraud risks associated with crypto ATMs.
+ 1 more
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.

  • Cross-Sector Collaboration for Systemic Prevention
    methodology: cross-sector_collaboration
    By fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and policy sectors, we create more robust and scalable solutions to online scams because complex, evolving threats require integrated expertise across research, technology, and regulation.
  • Gamified, Immersive Scenario-Based Learning
    methodology: gamified_learning
    By using gamification and immersive scenarios that simulate real-world scam tactics, we improve older adults' engagement and retention in scam prevention education because interactive experiences build defensive skills more effectively than passive instruction.
  • Harm-Reduction Design for Digital Risks
    methodology: harm_reduction
    By applying harm-reduction principles to digital scam environments, we reduce victimization while preserving access to technology because practical, layered interventions (machine, policy, education) address systemic risks without stigmatizing users.
  • Trusted-Source and Intergenerational Peer Learning
    methodology: peer_learning
    By delivering scam prevention education through trusted relationships and intergenerational peer mentoring, we increase receptivity and reduce defensiveness because learning is more effective when it occurs within supportive, non-patronizing social contexts.
  • Victim-Centered, Research-Informed Education
    methodology: research-informed_education
    By grounding scam prevention education in ongoing research and the lived experiences of victims, we ensure relevance and adaptability to evolving threats because real-world data and empathy-driven design increase the practicality and effectiveness of interventions.