2024-05-09T17:16:08-07:00 2023-06-30 990EZ 2022-07-01 814176621 DC Peers DCPE 2029960339 5028 Wisconsin Avenue Suite 100 Washington DC 20016 Catherine Robertson Executive Director 2025805622 2024-05-09 Catherine Robertson 999009999 1 0 11 0 AAL2 X 2022 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z X https://www.dcpeers.org X X 40311 X 25330 14981 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40311 0 0 61053 9960 24618 100 16040 111771 -71460 137476 0 66016 137476 66016 0 0 0 0 137476 66016 0 0 137476 66016 DC Peers' mission is to create social growth, connection, and learning opportunities that respect and affirm neurodiversity. In our free and low-cost programs for teens and adults, we bring all neurotypes together to socialize and to learn from each other about our differences, ourselves, and how autism and other neurological differences affect our interactions with each other. In the 2022-23 Fiscal year, we ran three seasons of programming for both teens and adults: Fall, Winter/Spring, and Summer. Teen programming included our free Neurodiversity Workshop groups as well as Social Meetup groups for both Middle School and High School kids. We also ran a Social Strategies Workshop, two new Dungeons and Dragons groups, online gaming meetups, outings around town, and a week of half-day summer camp. All together, we served an estimated average of 70 teens per season, with about 20 participants enrolling in multiple groups. Adult programming included free biweekly Virtual Social Meetups, two Support Groups, a Social Strategies Workshop, and a free monthly Social Meetup, 4 outings around town, and one weekend camping trip, all together serving an average of about 30 adults per season. Although we ended FY 23 at a deficit, it was part of an intentional investment in that growth. With Board approval, we promoted our Program Coordinator to full-time, hired a team of new part-time neurodivergent facilitators, changed our intake system, implemented a new registration portal, and increased our program fees, (while still preserving the pay what you can option). After all of those changes, enrollment decreased for a few months but it has already begun to pay off. Overall, we are proud that we have * developed unique curricula for our workshops * expanded our activities every year in response to our participants' interests and needs * developed a team of autistic advisors and collaborators * developed a solid reputation among autism experts and autistic self-advocates alike * received large, unsolicited donations given to us spontaneously by enthusiastic parents, grandparents, and community members who wanted to see us grow. * hired an all-neurodivergent staff and a program coordinator * developed a collaborative teaching/learning culture * consistently heard about the positive effect on the lives of our participants. We regularly hear that we have been "a lifeline." 25330 82589 82589 Lesley Schaffer Treasurer 2 0 0 0 Monica Martinez Secretary 1 0 0 0 Nancie Thomas Trustee 0.5 0 0 0 Catherine Robertson President 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 CA DC MD NY OH VA Catherine Robertson 5028 Wisconsin Avenue Suite 100 Washington DC 20016 2029960339 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NONE NONE 1 X 19640 17988 16799 138158 25330 217915 19640 17988 16799 138158 25330 217915 5191 10000 109779 7334 132304 5191 10000 0 109779 7334 132304 85611 19640 17988 16799 138158 25330 217915 0.39286 0.49 0 0 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED Form 990-EZ, Part I, Line 16 Income: The only other income we received in FY23 was donations-in-kind of meals, snacks, games, and toys by parents and participants. Additional Expenses: - Marketing/website/email: $767 - Office Expense: $5771, Depreciation/depletion/amortization: $1200, Insurance: $1250, Program Materials and Supplies: $3,032 - Capacity Building $1,027, State Registrations: $1340, Licenses & Permits: $1653. Form 990-EZ, Part I, Line 20 The Board of Trustees approved an investment, using funds from a previous bequest, in a new Program Coordinator at $50k a year, and a number of new part-time staff members, to boost programming before we had the revenue to pay for it.