irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2020
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $226KTECHNICAL SUPPORT AND CUSTOMIZATIONS - PROVIDED TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS TO ENABLE ALS CLIENTS TO UTILIZE THEIR EYE TRACKING DEVICES.
- #2 $90KAAC DEVICES - ASSIST ALS CLIENTS IN OBTAINING AAC DEVICES THROUGH INSURANCE OR NON-PROFIT PARTNER LOANER CLOSETS.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
ElevenLabs Voice Clone Partnership
Provides free Pro voice clone licenses through ElevenLabs to people with ALS in the U.S., enabling them to use AI-generated voice clones on communication devices.
End of Communication Resources
Provides educational materials and planning tools for individuals and families facing the transition to non-verbal connection, including the "End of Communication" overview and "Your Voice, Your Way" planning worksheet.
New York State Initiative
Statewide program offering free, personalized communication support, training, and technology access to all New Yorkers with ALS, with a focus on rural and underserved communities.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Neurological Disorder Research & Rehabilitation 1 activity
- Conducting and publishing clinical research on ALS and communication technologyConducts and publishes clinical research on topics including eye health in ALS patients, reliability of eye-gaze technology, and the concept of "End of Communication" — defined as the phase when expressive ability becomes unreliable. Research informs the development of clinical resources and best practices.
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Disease-Specific Clinical & Patient Education 1 activity
- Creating and distributing educational resources for ALS communication and careDevelops and distributes comprehensive educational materials for patients, families, and clinicians, including guides on voice banking, eye health, scleral lenses, troubleshooting eye trackers, and planning for end-of-communication stages. Includes the 'Your Voice, Your Way' planning worksheet and clinician overviews.
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Peer-Led Mental Health Support Groups 1 activity
- Hosting peer support and open office hours for ALS patients and caregiversHosts weekly open office hours every Tuesday at 4:30pm ET for people with ALS and caregivers to ask questions, share experiences, and learn about communication technology and disease navigation. Supports peer engagement through a volunteer ambassador program composed of ALS clients.
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Adaptive Equipment Provision 1 activity
- Providing remote assistive technology support for people with ALSDelivers free, remote direct support services to individuals with ALS, including comprehensive assessments, personalized training, ongoing technical assistance, and customized technology adaptations to enhance communication and independence. Since 2019, served over 6,000 clients globally across all 50 U.S. states and 55 countries.
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Medical Professional Education & Training 1 activity
- Training healthcare professionals and caregivers on assistive communication technologiesOffers training sessions, roundtables, and public resources to build capacity among healthcare practitioners, caregivers, and clinicians on integrating assistive communication technologies into standard care, including specialized training on eye tracking, voice banking, and end-of-communication planning.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Creating and providing personalized voice cloning servicesCreates and provides personalized AI voice clones for individuals with ALS, including offering free Pro voice clone licenses and supporting integration into communication devices. Has created 2,648 voice clones and helped thousands of clients obtain and use voice cloning technology.
- Developing and distributing specialized assistive communication toolsCreates and distributes custom software and digital tools such as iOS Mirroring, eye-tracking optimized games, downloadable communication boards, and AI voice cloning guides to improve accessibility and communication for people with ALS. Developed iOS Mirroring software compatible with major eye-tracking platforms and provides free licenses to individuals and nonprofit partners.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.50M
Contributions & grants$1.47M98%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$34K
expenses
Total expenses$1.63M
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$1.25M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.56M
Cash$1.03M
Investments$0
Liabilities$20K
Net assets$1.54M
Liquid reserves7.6 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -29.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Lehman | Technical Drctr | 50 | $202K |
| Karina Nagin | Executive Drctr | 50 | $158K |
board members · 6
- Hilda Applbaum — Board Member
- Jeff Chapman — Board Member
- Justin Ginsburgh — Board Member
- Nomi Bergman — Board Member
- Peter Bloom — Chairman
- Yehuda Neuberger — Vice Chair
relationships · 20
Who they work with
- ALS United Greater New York Partner — Collaborates to expand access to communication tools and support for New Yorkers with ALS.
- ALS clinic Partner — Referral partner for connecting people living with ALS to Bridging Voice services
- ALS community Partner — Collaborated with people living with ALS, caregivers, and allied professionals to define End of Communication and develop related resources.
- Angie, SLP Partner — Speech-language pathologist in Nevada who works with Bridging Voice to improve device utilization
- Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Funder — Awarded a $40,000 Quality of Life Grant to support rural ALS care and communication support capacity building.
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center Partner — Collaborates on the New York State Initiative to support communication access for people with ALS.
- Device manufacturers Partner — Collaborates with device manufacturers by providing access to a full list of custom communication boards upon request.
- ElevenLabs Partner — Collaborates to create personalized voice clones for individuals with ALS.
- ElevenLabs Partner — Collaborates with ElevenLabs to provide technology for creating AI voice clones for people with ALS.
- ElevenLabs Partner — Partnership to provide free Pro voice clone licenses to people with ALS in the US and support integration into communication devices.
- Empire State ALS Alliance Partner — Collaborates on the New York State Initiative to ensure communication access for people with ALS.
- Jerusalem Multidisciplinary College Partner — Collaborated with Bridging Voice on research and publication regarding ocular health and communication access in ALS.
- Kristy, Referral Partner Partner — Referral partner in Wisconsin who collaborates with Bridging Voice to support families
- NON-PROFIT PARTNER LOANER CLOSETS Partner — Collaborates with nonprofit partner loaner closets to help ALS clients obtain AAC devices.
- Pulley Family Foundation Funder — Provided a leadership gift to support the expansion of Bridging Voice’s services in New York.
- Sarah, Referral Partner Partner — Referral partner in Pennsylvania who connects clients to Bridging Voice services
- Smartbox Partner — Integration partner enabling iOS Mirroring to work with Grid 3 Computer Control software.
- Tobii Dynavox Partner — Integration partner enabling iOS Mirroring to work with TD Control and Communicator Windows Access software.
- University of Rochester Medical Center Partner — Collaborates on the New York State Initiative to support communication access for people with ALS.
- Wendy, OTR/L, SLP Partner — Occupational and speech-language therapist in Mississippi who collaborates with Bridging Voice in client care
strategies · 3
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.
- Identity-Preserving Communication Technologymethodology: identity_preserving_techBy integrating AI voice cloning and personalized assistive technologies with human-centered support, the organization helps individuals with ALS maintain authentic communication because preserving vocal identity supports psychological continuity and dignity throughout disease progression.
- Peer-Supported Technology Adoptionmethodology: peer_supportBy leveraging peer-led mentorship and ongoing peer support, the organization increases adoption and effective use of assistive communication technologies because lived experience builds trust, reduces isolation, and enhances engagement during difficult transitions in ALS.
- Stage-Adaptive, Personalized Support Modelmethodology: stage_adaptive_supportBy providing tailored, collaborative technology and communication support that evolves with disease progression, the organization sustains meaningful communication because individualized, ongoing adaptation maintains usability and relevance across all stages of ALS.