Center for Employment Opportunities Inc
Center for Employment Opportunities Inc. (CEO) is a public charity based in New York, NY. It provides employment services to people recently released from incarceration, including immediate paid work, skills training, job placement, and ongoing career support.
Center for Employment Opportunities Inc at a glance
In short: Center for Employment Opportunities Inc gave $2.4M across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $203K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,438,242
- +377.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $203,187
- +258.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $139,685
- Total assets
- $85,749,180
- +3.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (91% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Center for Employment Opportunities Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 50 Broadway 1604, New York, NY 10004
Phone: (212) 422-4430
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Center for Employment Opportunities Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Starting Over Inc ($528K). Together the top 10 received $2.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 8 grants of 21 (38%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CEO’s website says it operates in 30 cities across 12 states. In its 2025 grantmaking, 91% of grant dollars went to California recipients, 5% to Oklahoma recipients, and 3% to Colorado recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Center for Employment Opportunities Inc gives
- 58% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $511K (2024) to $2.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Over Inc Corona, CA | Funds are subawarded to this agency to expand our case population. The focus of this project is to provide employment services to justice-involved individuals by providing services such as: intensive case management, stipends for hard skills trianing and pre-apprenticeship, housing support, and mental health services. | $528,394 |
| Anti-Recidivism Coalition Los Angeles, CA | Funds are subawarded to this agency to expand our case population. The focus of this project is to provide employment services to justice-involved individuals by providing services such as: intensive case management, stipends for hard skills trianing and pre-apprenticeship, housing support, and mental health services. | $394,217 |
| Whole Systems Learning Inc Downey, CA | To provide employment services to justice-involved individuals by providing services such as: intensive case management, stipends for hard skills training and pre-apprenticeship, housing support, and mental health services. | $358,766 |
| Turning Point Alcohol & Drug Education Program Inc Los Angeles, CA | Funds are subawarded to this agency to expand our case population. The focus of this project is to provide employment services to justice-involved individuals by providing services such as: intensive case management, stipends for hard skills trianing and pre-apprenticeship, housing support, and mental health services. | $283,885 |
| PWT United Inc Sacramento, CA | Funds are subawarded to this agency to expand our case population. The focus of this project is to provide employment services to justice-involved individuals by providing services such as: intensive case management, stipends for hard skills trianing and pre-apprenticeship, housing support, and mental health services. | $259,318 |
| A New Way of Life Reentry Project Los Angeles, CA | Funds are subawarded to this agency to expand our case population. The focus of this project is to provide employment services to justice-involved individuals by providing services such as: intensive case management, stipends for hard skills training and pre-apprenticeship, housing support, and mental health services. | $140,421 |
| Rubicon Programs Inc Richmond, CA | Funds are subawarded to this agency to expand our case population. The focus of this project is to provide employment services to justice-involved individuals by providing services such as: intensive case management, stipends for hard skills training and pre-apprenticeship, housing support, and mental health services. | $138,948 |
| Root & Rebound Oakland, CA | Funds are subawarded to this agency to expand our case population. The focus of this project is to provide employment services to justice-involved individuals by providing services such as: intensive case management, stipends for hard skills training and pre-apprenticeship, housing support, and mental health services. | $121,037 |
| Dry Bones Denver (DBA Purple Door Coffee) Denver, CO | Responsible for delivering snap e&t services and completing the required administrative activities. Ceo will support the subawardee with administrative responsibilities of the snap e&t provider role. Through this partnership and agreement, ceo expands and reaches more justice impacted inviduals and provides more support for community-based service providers. | $83,935 |
| Resonance Center for Women Tulsa, OK | Responsible for delivering snap e&t services and completing the required administrative activities. Ceo will support the subawardee with administrative responsibilities of the snap e&t provider role. Through this partnership and agreement, ceo expands and reaches more justice impacted inviduals and provides more support for community-based service providers. | $76,549 |
Ready to take the next step with Center for Employment Opportunities Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $85,749,180 | $116,324,121 | $124,376,461 | $2,438,242 | 12 | $101,867 |
| 2024 | $82,742,682 | $134,000,017 | $110,322,103 | $510,753 | 9 | $1,338,085 |
| 2023 | $53,113,212 | $101,892,940 | $100,359,172 | — | — | $601,416 |
| 2022 | $41,857,908 | $87,797,672 | $83,605,945 | — | — | $9,477 |
| 2021 | $37,696,391 | $90,496,907 | $96,437,463 | — | — | $16,767 |
| 2020 | $40,760,830 | $86,659,800 | $75,255,180 | — | — | $328,194 |
| 2019 | $28,386,910 | $58,742,560 | $53,368,319 | — | — | $119,037 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CEO states that it provides immediate, effective, and comprehensive employment services to people recently released from incarceration. Its website describes a program model that includes daily-pay transitional employment, skills training, job placement, and continuing career support.
Its 2025 grants supported employment services for justice-impacted people, including case management, stipends for hard-skills training and pre-apprenticeships, housing support, and mental health services. Other grants supported delivery of SNAP Employment & Training services and related administrative work. Among the grantees, Starting Over Inc. describes its work as providing housing models, employment readiness training, job placement, case management, and other reentry services; Resonance Center for Women says it supports the well-being and self-sufficiency of women and families involved with the criminal justice system.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, CEO reported 12 grants totaling $2,438,242. Grant amounts ranged from $16,878 to $528,394, with a median of $139,684.
The largest awards included $528,394 to Starting Over Inc., $394,217 to Anti-Recidivism Coalition, $358,766 to Whole Systems Learning Inc., $283,885 to Turning Point Alcohol & Drug Education Program Inc., and $259,318 to PWT United Inc. The grants to Starting Over, Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Turning Point, and PWT United were described as supporting expanded employment services for justice-involved people. Whole Systems Learning’s award supported employment services, including case management, training stipends, housing support, and mental health services.
Other reported awards were $140,421 to A New Way of Life Reentry Project, $138,948 to Rubicon Programs Inc., $121,037 to Root & Rebound, $83,935 to Dry Bones Denver (DBA Purple Door Coffee), $76,549 to Resonance Center for Women, $35,894 to 1st Step Male Diversion Program Inc., and $16,878 to Just the Beginning Inc. The last four awards listed above for Dry Bones Denver, Resonance Center for Women, 1st Step Male Diversion Program, and Just the Beginning supported SNAP Employment & Training services and related administrative activities.
Among these grantees, PWT United describes its work as partnering to provide career opportunities and meet the holistic needs of people it serves. A New Way of Life Reentry Project says it advances multidimensional solutions to the effects of incarceration, while Rubicon Programs describes its mission as helping people move out of poverty and improve their quality of life. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Emary Aronson as secretary. Trustees listed include Travis Baird, Elizabeth Balfour, Brandon Belford, Melanca Clark, Joli Cooper, Khalil Cumberbatch, Bruce Evans, Cristine Soto DeBerry, and Katie Beirne Fallon. The filing notes that DeBerry and Fallon served through January 2025.
Center for Employment Opportunities Inc is led by Samuel Schaeffer, CEO & Executive Director since 2021 (on filings since 2019); 11 of 27 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Samuel Schaeffer
CEO & Executive Director
CEO Executive Director → CEO & Executive Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
35 hrs/week
$240K (2019) → $446K (2025)
Samra Haider
President
Executive Director & National → Chief Strategy Officer, 2020
Chief Strategy Officer → President, 2022
On filings since 2019
35 hrs/week
$186K (2019) → $321K (2025)
David I. Moskovitz
Chairman
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Johanna King Aulisa
Director III & Program Svcs
New on the 2025 filing
35 hrs/week
$181K (2025)
Bruce Evans
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cristine Soto Deberry
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Balfour
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ellen V. Holloman
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn Jo Mannes
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katie Beirne Fallon
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melanca Clark
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Abd'allah Lateef
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brandon Belford
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Mendoza
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joli Cooper
Trustee
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Khalil Cumberbatch
Trustee
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Travis Baird
Trustee
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Watler
Executive Vice President
Executive Director of CEO Ny → Chief External Affairs, 2021
Chief External Affairs → Executive Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2019
35 hrs/week
$178K (2019) → $287K (2025)
Jessica Alicea
Vice President Vocational Programs
Deputy Executive Director & Upstate Ny → Vice President Vocational Programs, 2025
On filings since 2019
35 hrs/week
$127K (2019) → $180K (2025)
Yuri Okumura
Chief Legal Officer
General Counsel → Chief Legal Officer, 2022
On filings since 2019
35 hrs/week
$149K (2019) → $280K (2025)
Eric Walker
Chief Information Officer
On filings since 2021
35 hrs/week
$185K (2021) → $253K (2025)
Mary Bedeau
Vice President Nyc Program
Deputy Executive Director & Nyc → Vice President Nyc Program, 2025
On filings since 2021
35 hrs/week
$139K (2021) → $179K (2025)
Shih-Chang Lu
Cfao
Chief Financial & Administrator Officer → Cfao, 2025
On filings since 2023
35 hrs/week
$251K (2024) → $251K (2025)
Julia Burns
CFO
New on the 2025 filing
35 hrs/week
$5K (2025)
Pamela Lachman
Chief Strategy Officer
New on the 2025 filing
35 hrs/week
$172K (2025)
Andrew Van Der Vord
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emary Aronson
Secretary
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Robert Garcia (2022–2024) — Controller
- Former: Amber Greenleaf (2023–2024) — Senior Director
- Former: Adam Luck (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Emily Hackworth (2020–2023) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Sarah Glenn - Leistikow (2022–2023) — Deputy Executive Director
- Former: Danielle C. Gray (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Panagiota Mahendru (2019–2022) — CFO
- Former: William Heiser (2019–2021) — Senior Director & Bus. Development
- Former: William Snipes (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: bradley l dudding (2019–2020) — Chief Impact Officer
- Former: Timothy Williams (2019–2020) — Sen. Director of Op.
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $446K, to Samuel Schaeffer (CEO & Executive Director). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Center for Employment Opportunities Inc
How much does Center for Employment Opportunities Inc give each year?
Center for Employment Opportunities Inc gave $2.4M across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $511K across 9 grants.
What is Center for Employment Opportunities Inc's typical grant size?
Center for Employment Opportunities Inc's median grant in 2025 was $139,685, and its average grant was $203,187, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Center for Employment Opportunities Inc give grants?
Center for Employment Opportunities Inc gives mostly in California: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Oklahoma (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (3 grants) and Tulsa, OK (3 grants).
Does Center for Employment Opportunities Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Center for Employment Opportunities Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Center for Employment Opportunities Inc's largest grantees?
Center for Employment Opportunities Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Starting Over Inc ($528,394), Anti-Recidivism Coalition ($394,217) and Whole Systems Learning Inc ($358,766), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Center for Employment Opportunities Inc?
Center for Employment Opportunities Inc reported $85.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $116.3M.
What does Center for Employment Opportunities Inc fund?
CEO states that it provides immediate, effective, and comprehensive employment services to people recently released from incarceration. Its website describes a program model that includes daily-pay transitional employment, skills training, job placement, and continuing career support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Center for Employment Opportunities Inc?
Center for Employment Opportunities Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Center for Employment Opportunities Inc's EIN?
Center for Employment Opportunities Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3843322. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 21, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 27, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Center for Employment Opportunities Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/center-for-employment-opportunities-inc-morg_30cfb8125b054c5c888cdc066961af37
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133843322_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Center for Employment Opportunities Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/center-for-employment-opportunities-inc-morg_30cfb8125b054c5c888cdc066961af37},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Center for Employment Opportunities Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Center for Employment Opportunities Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?