PLATINUM2023

Jacob's Chance Inc.

Focusing on Ability not Disability

aka River City Buddy Ball   |   Richmond, VA   |  www.jacobschance.org

Mission

The mission of Jacob's Chance Inc. is to enrich lives by empowering individuals 5-40 years old with intellectual, developmental, and/or physical disabilities through inclusive programs, athletics, socialization, and education; while promoting acceptance, understanding, and inclusion through public awareness. Jacob's Chance promotes unique opportunities for those often isolated to fully participate in activities that may be available through local athletic leagues, schools, and community centers but for which their disability (ies) often excludes them. Jacob's Chance is unique in that participation is open to all at minimal to no cost and regardless of diagnosis. Programs are operated with a focus on inclusion and volunteers play alongside as buddies.

Ruling year info

2013

Executive Director

Kate Mardigian

Main address

1365 Overbrook Rd

Richmond, VA 23220 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

46-2106307

NTEE code info

Public, Society Benefit - Multipurpose and Other N.E.C. (W99)

Other Recreation, Sports, or Leisure Activities N.E.C. (N99)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2020, 2019 and 2015.
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Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Jacob's Chance believes that all children and young adults regardless of their disability should be able to access recreation, fitness, sports, the arts, and social programs. The majority of these types of programs are designed for the neuro and physically typical and are not accessible for so many with developmental, intellectual, and/or physical disabilities and the medically fragile. We believe there is a place for inclusion and when these programs are not comfortable, safe, and welcoming for this population there should be alternative programming for them that brings in the more typical population to participate with them. Many families caring for an individual with a disability face their own isolation and need opportunities to cheer their loved ones on and enjoy interacting with other families and parents without the fear of stigma and judgment.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

River City Buddy Ball

River City Buddy Ball runs through Jacob's Chance and offers basketball, baseball, tennis, flag football, soccer, bowling, and surfing.

Population(s) Served
People with disabilities
Families

Managed by our high school board of Directors, Teen Scene offers monthly social events for teens/young adults ages 11-20. The UHBD seeks donations for events when possible but is also given a budget to manage annually as they learn about nonprofit leadership.

The Young Adult Hang out provides social programming for individuals who have graduated from high school up to age 35. Monthly events are held in the community such as bowling, movies, restaurants, museums, and theater.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents
People with disabilities

Often young adults with differing abilities who have graduated from high school andor homeschooled youth may find themselves isolated. To help with this isolation Jacob's Chance offers multiple enrichment classes five days a week. The classes are in art, music, dance, language, skills for success, culinary, creative writing, STEM, photography and social skills.

Population(s) Served

Adventures with Jacob's Chance is an outdoor adventure program that provides a fishing, white water rafting, rock wall climbing, nature exploration and environmental stewardship, kayaking, boating and surfing. These events teach individuals and their families how they can access opportunities that they have typically steered away from. The program is focused on making outdoor experiences accessible and teaching participants about nature while getting exercise and socializing with friends.

Population(s) Served
People with disabilities
Adults
People with disabilities
Adults

Family festivals are offered 3 times a year and are a full day outdoor event where families of all types are encouraged to come together in an inclusive event that celebrates diversity and inclusion. Special Events for families such as baseball games, theater tickets, halloween party, and dances encourage socialization of the whole family where siblings and parents engage in activities along with their disabled family member.

Population(s) Served
People with disabilities
Families
Children and youth
Young adults
People with disabilities
Families
Children and youth
Young adults

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Average number of service recipients per month

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Covid had and impact during 2020 as we were unable to operate sports. In 2022 our participation increased due to Covid restrictions being lifted and more people feeling comfortable.

Hours of volunteer service

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

2020 was affected by COVID as sports were not offered in full.

Number of youth-led community service projects

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Teen Scene and Young Adult Hang Out

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of families who report that service and support staff/providers are available and capable of meeting family needs

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.


Provide service through established entities to reach more families and individuals who can benefit such as local school systems, YMCA, Parks and Recreation, and other nonprofits. Expand opportunities for youth through afterschool programming and early elementary intervention and socialization.

Help youth and young adults with disabilties focus on overall wellness through activity, fitness, movement, and healthy habits.

Develop a diversified funding strategy that relies on a 20% division of support from fundraising, program fees, contract services, donations, and corporate/grant philanthropy.

Expand the organization from a small grassroots nonprofit to a moderate-sized sustainable nonprofit.

Provide competitive salaries and benefits to staff. Expand our staff from 1.8 FTES to 4.5 FTES.

Expand services to participants in marginalized communities through targeted outreach and offer programming in locations more easily accessible to these communities.

Provide training and workshops for families, physicians, cultural organizations, and businesses about the need for inclusion and how to connect specifically with those who have intellectual and developmental challenges.

Provide services to 400 families in Central Virginia.

Offer year-round outdoor adventure programs such as hiking, fishing, rafting, rock climbing, and kayaking.
Offer seven seasons of athletics in Central Virginia (i.e., flag football, basketball, soccer, martial arts, baseball, surfing, and tennis).

Provide for ten enrichment classes weekly in socialization, recreation, skills development, and wellness with virtual and in-person options.

Offer two inclusive social programs, the Teen Scene for individuals 12-18 and Hang-Out for highs school graduates to age 35.

Engage student volunteers from over 12 high schools in inclusive socialization and advocacy.

Serve as internship and volunteer opportunity provider to area colleges in fields such as exercise science, education, medical practices, business, and hospitality.

Develop relationships with corporate partners interested in our mission and reducing inequalities for persons with disabilties.

Partner with other nonporift serving the disabled and serving at risk youth and young adults to collaborate on services.

Influence public policy by sharing our data and knowleadge with influencers and decision makers.

Continuaully analize our methods of providing services to make sure they are meeting out goals, serving the community and producing sucessful outcomes.

Provide programming to any qualified participant regardless of their ability to pay our minimal registration fee.

Create a board that is diverse and has representatives from the population we serve.

The organization has the expertise and experience from over 15 years in this service area to design and offer programs that are impactful to this vulnerable population. As we continue to expand and hire we will bring in individuals with unique training and certifications in the areas of recreation, music, and art therapy. For areas where we need specific expertise, we will find professionals to guide and support us.

Jacob's Chance has a great reputation as being a specialist in working with this population and a strong network for volunteers in the community and in area schools.

We have a strong working relationship with VCU School of Medicine School of Kinesiology and other area colleges and Universities.

We have a strong working board of directors committed to our strategic plan and our constituents.

We offered the following programming just within the last year:
Outdoor Adventures - Nature exploration end environmental stewardship, hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, boating, rafting, surfing, and fishing
Enrichment Classes - Mindful movement, yoga, social clubs, life skills, culinary, fine art, photography, creative writing, STEM, and more
Full Seasons of Athletics - Baseball, soccer, flag football, basketball, and tennis
Family Festivals
Special Events and family gatherings
Inclusive Health and Fitness with VCU School of Kinesiology.

We are in the process of designing an afterschool program for elementary age children with disablities to be offered at local schools.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.
  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees, Suggestion box/email,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    Families that we had served for years since their child with a disability was young through buddy ball sports expressed their concerns that has the child entered high school they became more isolated and had fewer activities. As a result of these conversations and data collection the United High School Board was formed bringing students both typical and disabled together to organized, develop and implement a social activities program serving youth/young adults with disabilities ages 13-23. Programs are run twice a month and include social nights out, sports activities, outdoor adventures, and friendship activities. In addition last year we added The Arts programs for teens and young adults during the weekdays in music, dance, culinary, theater, and fine arts.

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,

Financials

Jacob's Chance Inc.
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Jacob's Chance Inc.

Board of directors
as of 02/06/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

John White


Board co-chair

Joe Lovell

Mo Feliciano

Veracity

Kristi Rike

Shaheen, Ruth, Martin, Fonville Real Estate

Lyn Dodge

Nurse Educator Powhatan High School

Kira Jenkins

Graphic Designer

Darrell Richard

Henrico County Schools

Brian Farmer

Hirschler Investment Managment Practice Group

George Williams

Pastor

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 2/3/2023

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

No data