irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $14KThe Young Adult Loneliness Project is the newest initiative within our Social Innovation Lab, focused on the age group reporting the highest levels of loneliness in the U.S. - young adults aged 18-25. Grounded in community-based research, the project combines literature reviews, surveys, and focus groups with young adults from diverse racial, socioeconomic, and geographic backgrounds who have personally experienced loneliness and isolation. Insights from this process inform a structured participatory design phase in which young adults collaborate directly with researchers, clinicians, and program developers to prototype and refine practical, evidence-informed solutions that strengthen connection, belonging, and well-being among their peers.
- #2 $11KSitGrit is a free, seated community fitness program co-designed with wheelchair users and people with physical disabilities to make mainstream fitness accessible and inclusive. Led by expert trainers, including Olympic coaches and Paralympic athletes, SitGrit offers live group cardio, strength, yoga, dance, and Zumba classes over Zoom, removing barriers such as cost, transportation, and inaccessibility. More than a workout, SitGrit fosters belonging and inclusion: participants report increased physical activity, improved mood, and stronger social connection.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
NABU Learning Labs
Collaborative research initiative with NABU to study the science of learning and social connection in relation to literacy development, producing equitable and actionable research.
SitGrit
Free, seated, adaptive fitness program delivered via Zoom for individuals with physical disabilities, combining exercise with social engagement to improve physical health and social belonging.
Social Prescribing Integration Initiative
Advocacy and education effort to integrate social health screenings and social prescribing into U.S. healthcare, equipping providers with tools to refer patients to community-based connection programs.
Young Adult Loneliness Project
Community-based research and participatory design initiative engaging young adults aged 18–25 to co-create evidence-informed solutions for loneliness and social connection.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Youth and Community Research Initiatives 2 activities
- Co-found NABU Learning Labs for global literacy and connection researchCo-founded NABU Learning Labs, a collaborative research initiative generating data-driven, equitable research on literacy development, social connection, and belonging among children globally, with findings shared with institutions like NYU and Mount Sinai.
- Conduct community-based research on loneliness with young adultsConducts participatory, community-based research with young adults aged 18–25 to develop evidence-informed solutions addressing loneliness and social isolation.
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Community Health Equity Initiatives 1 activity
- Advocate for integration of social health into healthcare systemsAdvocates for systemic change by promoting the integration of social health screenings and social prescribing into clinical practice, advancing policy reforms, reimbursement pathways, and standards adoption to institutionalize social health within healthcare, public health, and community systems.
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Youth One-on-One Mentoring 1 activity
- Deliver Generational Youth Mentors (GYM) virtual mentoring programRuns GYM, a virtual mentoring program pairing K–8 students with high school and college mentors to provide academic and social support, particularly during the pandemic.
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Digital Literacy Training and Technology Access 1 activity
- Distribute digital devices to reduce digital exclusionDistributed 953 digital devices to low-income individuals during the pandemic to support access to care, education, and social networks, reducing digital exclusion and enhancing social connection.
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Perinatal Support Services 1 activity
- Operate Bonded by Baby postpartum social health programDelivers Bonded by Baby, a postpartum health program that integrates social health care into routine healthcare to strengthen social connection and well-being for new parents. The program is offered in multiple languages and covered by Medicaid and private insurance.
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Community Wellness Movement Classes 1 activity
- Run SitGrit adaptive fitness program for people with disabilitiesProvides free, seated group fitness classes via Zoom co-designed with wheelchair users and led by Paralympic athletes and performance coaches to improve social connection, belonging, and well-being for individuals with physical disabilities.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Produce The Creature Times science communication publicationProduces The Creature Times, a publication that translates research on social health science into accessible insights for the public, practitioners, and communities.
- Study intentional social media use among young adultsConducted a study showing that teaching young adults to use social media more intentionally leads to reduced loneliness over six weeks compared to a control group.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$478K
Contributions & grants$475K99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$4K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$434K
Program expenses70%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$164K
Grants paid out$150K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$792K
Cash$341K
Investments$0
Liabilities$534K
Net assets$257K
Liquid reserves9.4 mo
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +9.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosemarie Perry | Executive Dir. | 40 | $75K |
board members · 9
- Dan McClure — Director
- David Putrino — Treasurer
- Kuhuk Shroff — Director
- Lara O'Brien — Director
- Mariam Zakhary — Secretary
- Natalie Brito — Chairman
- Phil Payad — Treasurer
- Sarah Sisco — Director
- Tina Jeon — Director
relationships · 28
Who they work with
- Annual Impact Reports Network — Source document title; likely refers to internal reporting, not a true partnership
- BetterHelp Partner — Refers individuals to BetterHelp for professional mental health support.
- Charles Lazarus Children’s Abilities Center at Mount Sinai Partner — Launched the Generational Youth Mentors program in partnership with this center to support K-8 students during the pandemic.
- Crisis Text Line Partner — Provides contact information and collaborates by directing individuals to text-based crisis counseling.
- Laura B. Vogler Foundation Funder — Early supporter of Social Creatures' initiatives
- Logitech Funder — Early supporter of Social Creatures' initiatives
- Mount Sinai Network — Research findings from the NABU partnership were shared with Mount Sinai to support child health and well-being programs.
- My3 App Partner — Recommends the My3 App as a tool for suicide prevention and safety planning.
- NABU Partner — Collaborative research partner in the NABU Learning Labs initiative focused on learning, social connection, and literacy development.
- NABU Partner — Research partner on a project exploring how literacy programs strengthen social connection and empathy among children globally.
- NYU Network — Research findings from the NABU partnership were shared with NYU to inform child well-being initiatives.
- National Eating Disorders Association Partner — Provides contact information and collaborates by directing individuals to eating disorder support services.
- National Science Foundation Funder — Early supporter of Social Creatures' initiatives
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Partner — Provides contact information and collaborates by directing individuals to crisis support services.
- New York University Partner — Collaborates with researcher Katelyn Fletcher, a Ph.D. candidate at NYU, on topics related to infant play and language development.
- Pew Research Center Partner — Cited as a source for data on U.S. adult and youth social media use and teens' perceived benefits of social media.
- Pinterest Impact Lab Funder — Seed funder of the Young Adult Loneliness Project, a community-based research and design initiative co-led by young adults.
- RAINN Partner — Provides contact information and collaborates by directing survivors of sexual assault to support services.
- STEAMPark Partner — Co-launched the Generational Youth Mentors program to provide academic and social support to K-8 students during school closures.
- Schmidt Futures Forum on Learning Tools Competition Funder — Funded the NABU Learning Labs research partnership on literacy and social connection in children.
- Seize the Awkward Partner — Collaborates by sharing conversation starters for discussing mental health.
- Social Prescribing USA Partner — Collaborates with or references Social Prescribing USA as an organization advocating for national implementation of social prescribing in the U.S.
- Talkspace Partner — Refers individuals to Talkspace for professional mental health support.
- The Trevor Project Partner — Provides contact information and collaborates by directing LGBTQ+ youth to crisis and counseling services.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Government — Referenced as a source of resources for social connection
- decision-makers Partner — Maintains ongoing relationships with decision-makers positioned to adopt and sustain social health solutions
- health systems Partner — Collaborates with health systems to adopt and sustain social health models
- payers Partner — Provides guidance and collaborates with payers on integrating social health into coverage and reimbursement
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.
- Protective Buffer Model of Social Connectionmethodology: social_connection_as_bufferBy strengthening sustained social relationships, we protect individuals from adverse mental health outcomes during periods of stress, because social connection acts as a biological and psychological buffer against the impacts of adversity.
- Science-Community Integration for Social Healthmethodology: science_community_integrationBy integrating scientific research with community wisdom and lived experience through participatory design, we create evidence-based programs that improve social connection and health outcomes, because solutions co-developed with affected communities are more effective, equitable, and sustainable.
- Social Connection as a Foundational Health Determinantmethodology: social_connection_as_health_foundationBy treating social connection as a core determinant of mental and physical health—on par with diet or exercise—we enable systemic interventions like screening and social prescribing in clinical settings, because addressing relational health produces better individual and population-level outcomes.
- Universal Design for Social Inclusionmethodology: universal_design_for_social_inclusionBy applying universal design principles to social programming from inception, we remove structural barriers to participation—especially for people with disabilities—because inclusive design enables belonging and engagement across diverse needs and abilities.