named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Be Well Bro
Digital mental wellness hub offering tools, stories, and resources across all 7 Dimensions of Wellness for young men of color
Behind the Bars
Creative wellness program using music, lyrics, and poetry to support emotional expression, mental health awareness, and self-discovery
Daddy and Me Project
Family wellness program supporting fathers in emotional and social development to strengthen intergenerational well-being
I HEAR U B.R.O. Full-Day Retreat
Transformative full-day experiential retreat for high school-age young men, combining critical consciousness and cognitive behavior therapy
Little BRO Programs
Wellness-centered programs for young boys to build emotional intelligence, social wellness, intellectual curiosity, and a strong sense of self
REDEFINE & RETREAT
Weekend wellness retreat for young men ages 18–25 focused on meditation, group sessions, and personal growth
The Bro Project
12-month holistic wellness journey for young men of color ages 18–24, focusing on emotional, social, occupational, and spiritual wellness through weekly programming
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Mental Health Education and Awareness 3 activities
- Digital mental wellness platform (BeWellBro.org)Provides a digital mental wellness hub, BeWellBro.org, offering tools, stories, articles, videos, therapy resources, youth-led storytelling, and expert insights from BIPOC mental health professionals for young men of color ages 13 and up.
- Media engagement and public awareness campaignsParticipates in media interviews (e.g., The Kelly Clarkson Show, NY1, CBS News New York) and public features to raise awareness about its programs, the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and the importance of mental wellness in the Black community.
- Workshops and community events on emotional wellnessHosts ongoing workshops, live workshops, panel discussions, podcasts, thought-leader interviews, and community events at The BRO Space focused on emotional wellness, masculinity, mental health stigma, and personal growth.
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Youth Health and Wellness Education 2 activities
- 12-month holistic wellness program for young men of colorOperates a year-long program for young men of color ages 18–24, featuring weekly programming focused on emotional, social, occupational, and spiritual wellness. Supported two cohorts (Group A and Group B) through completion of the 2025-2026 BRO Project.
- Youth wellness programs for boys and young menRuns wellness-centered programs for young boys and high school-age young men to develop emotional intelligence, social wellness, intellectual curiosity, and a strong sense of self, including full-day and weekend retreats focused on personal growth and emotional resilience.
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Creative Arts Therapy Programs 1 activity
- Creative wellness programming using music and poetryDelivers a creative wellness program that uses music, lyrics, and poetry to support emotional expression, mental health awareness, and self-discovery among young men.
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Digital Literacy Training and Technology Access 1 activity
- Distribution of technology resources to young fathersDistributes 50 free laptops to young fathers aged 18–30 with children through a partnership with TechFIN to support their personal and professional development.
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Parenting Education and Support Programs 1 activity
- Family and father wellness programmingImplements a family wellness program that supports fathers in their emotional and social development, including mentorship and family gatherings at The BRO Space, and provides parenting advice through public media features.
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Inclusive Social & Recreational Events 1 activity
- Wellness retreats and special eventsOrganizes wellness retreats and special events such as the Men-To-Health event, holiday parties for youth ("Little BROs"), and film screenings including the "Reel to Real" series and discussions on films like "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," to foster community, belonging, and mental health awareness.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$591K
Contributions & grants$591K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$562K
Program expenses89%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$84K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$39K
Cash$27K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$39K
Liquid reserves0.6 mo
3 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +519.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barry Cooper | Director | 40 | $84K |
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- BKO Partner — Key supporting organization that enabled the achievement of the Spark Prize.
- Brooklyn College Partner — Hosts panel discussions on masculinity and mental health.
- Brooklyn ORG Partner — Collaborated on the BKO X BRO Experience Mural Volunteer Day to create a community mural and assemble care kits.
- Brooklyn Paper Partner — Featured the BRO Experience Foundation's Spark Prize win in a news article.
- Center for Brooklyn History Partner — Hosted a panel discussion in partnership with The BRO Experience Foundation on the impact of gun violence.
- Charity Footprints Partner — Partnering to launch the "Walking For My Brothers" interactive fundraising campaign.
- Dude Wipes Funder — Provided a $5,000 donation during a televised appearance to support the organization's programs.
- HuffPost Partner — Engaged with media outlet for coverage on parenting advice and emotional regulation.
- Men-To-Health Event Partner — Collaborates with musicians, poets, and wellness service providers for an annual event focused on Black men's mental health.
- NY1 Partner — Collaborated with NY1 to conduct and broadcast an interview about the BRO Experience.
- NY1 Partner — Participated in media interviews to highlight the impact of the BRO Experience.
- New York-Presbyterian Hospital Partner — Partnering to expand access to mental health resources, wellness education, and clinical support for young men of color across NYC.
- TechFIN Partner — Collaborating to distribute free laptops to young fathers and close the technology gap.
- The David Prize Partner — Collaborated with the David Prize team on discussions about the application process and community impact.
- The Huffington Post Partner — Featured Barry Cooper's parenting advice in a Father's Day article.
- The Kelly Clarkson Show Partner — Featured on national television to share the foundation's mission and impact.
- The Kelly Clarkson Show Partner — Featured representatives from The BRO Experience Foundation to highlight its work in Bed-Stuy.
- not specified Partner — Partnered with 500 schools over the last 5 years
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.
- CBT-Informed Holistic Wellness Modelmethodology: cbt_holistic_wellnessBy integrating cognitive behavioral therapy with the 7 Dimensions of Wellness framework, the organization fosters personal transformation and sustained mental wellness because this dual approach addresses both psychological patterns and comprehensive life domains, enabling holistic growth among young men of color.
- Community-Healing-Centered Preventionmethodology: community_healing_preventionBy situating health and violence prevention within community contexts and fostering mutual support, the organization builds resilience because healing rooted in community relationships—not clinical isolation—addresses root causes of trauma and fosters collective accountability and safety.
- Culturally Grounded Empowerment and Narrative Changemethodology: cultural_narrative_changeBy grounding mental health support in cultural experience and amplifying counter-narratives through media and dialogue, the organization promotes healing and resilience because culturally relevant, empowering stories validate identity, reduce stigma, and reframe masculinity for young men of color.
- Emotional Vulnerability and Redefined Masculinitymethodology: redefining_masculinityBy reframing emotional vulnerability as strength and challenging harmful masculine norms through dialogue, the organization enables healing and personal development because this shift reduces isolation, fosters authentic connection, and replaces silence with courageous expression among men.