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Non-profit

The Center for Discovery

Website:

thecenterfordiscovery.org/
Location:

Harris, NY
Tax ID:

14-1395426
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2023):

Revenue: $141,719,626
Expenses: $139,822,590
Assets: $172,436,783
Type:

Advocacy group
Formation:

1950
CEO:

Patrick H. Dollard

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The Center for Discovery is an advocacy group that provides health care, educational, and residential services for people with autism and other complex disabilities. 1 The center, based in Harris, New York, claims to be the largest employer in Sullivan County and to have generated over $3 billion in “economic impact” in the state from 2010 to 2025, or almost $250 million annually. 2

Background

The Center for Discovery is an advocacy group that provides health care, educational, and residential services for people with autism and other complex disabilities. 1 It reports a full-time staff of 1,800 and claims to serve 1,700 people annually. 2

The group claims to be the largest Children’s Residential Project (CRP) in the state of New York and touts its research that has influenced tools and interventions for caring for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s, in addition to autism and “rare syndromes.” 3

Activities

The Center for Discovery has several programs: a children’s specialty hospital, pediatric and adult programs, medical and clinical services, and training and consultation services. 4

The Children’s Specialty Hospital has 18 beds, 12 of which are designated for children with both severe autism and medical needs, such as self-harm or aggression. The other six beds are for children with medical frailties who need intensive care. The hospital also has classrooms onsite to prepare students for a traditional school setting by fostering communication and social interaction skills. As of February 2025, the center planned to create a 40-bed unit “for adults with severe medical and deli-mental needs.” 5

The pediatric program has 256 day students and 164 residential students between the ages of five and 21. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) certifies this program and the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) certifies the residences. Some students remain in the program until they reach the age of 21 or graduate, while others are downgraded to a lower level of care after a shorter stay. 6

The adult program serves 182 people from 21 to seniors and includes residential options. There is also a Day Habilitation Program which offers adult residents vocational opportunities, particularly in the arts. 7

Medical and clinical services are provided through the Discovery Health Center, a multispecialty clinic with all sorts of healthcare professionals, including dentists, occupational therapists, nutritionists and medical specialists. 8

The center also boasts an Animal Assisted Intervention and Education program, which involves well-trained animals in lessons and therapy sessions. In addition to an equine program offering therapeutic horsemanship, the center also has a variety of farm animals, miniature horses, dogs, rabbits and reptiles and amphibians, among others. 8

Financials

In 2024, the Center for Discovery reported a total revenue of $171,035,671 and total expenses of $152,633,620. 9 The Center allocated $1,156,870 to the Center for Discovery Magnet Services Corporation. 10

The group received $14,412 from the New York-based Community Foundation of Orange County in the fiscal year ending in June 2025. 11 In 2024, the Dolber Family Foundation gave $41,000, 12 the Kittay Foundation gave $10,000 in research funding 13 and Greenbean Ventures, which supports people with autism, gave $125,000 to the Center for Discovery in 2024. 14 In 2013, the center received $60,000 from George Soros’s Open Society Foundations. 15

Leadership

Dr. Theresa Hamlin is President and CEO, Matthew Brescia is Chief Financial Officer and Amy Davidoff is General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. 16

References

  1. “About Us – the Center for Discovery.” The Center for Discovery, https://www.thecenterfordiscovery.org/about-us/.
  2. “Our Impact – the Center for Discovery.” The Center for Discovery, https://www.thecenterfordiscovery.org/about-us/our-impact/.
  3. “Strategic Outreach & Partnerships – the Center for Discovery.” Thecenterfordiscovery.org, 2024, https://www.thecenterfordiscovery.org/about-us/strategic-outreach-partnerships/.
  4. “Our Services – the Center for Discovery.” Thecenterfordiscovery.org, 2024, https://www.thecenterfordiscovery.org/our-services/.
  5. Robayo, Patricio. “A Look inside the Center for Discovery’s Children’s Specialty Hospital.” Sullivan County Democrat, 11 Feb. 2025, www.scdemocratonline.com/stories/a-look-inside-the-center-for-discoverys-childrens-specialty-hospital,165493.
  6. “Pediatric Program – the Center for Discovery.” The Center for Discovery, https://www.thecenterfordiscovery.org/our-services/pediatric-programs/
  7. “Adult Program – the Center for Discovery.” Thecenterfordiscovery.org, 2024, https://www.thecenterfordiscovery.org/our-services/adult-program/.
  8. “Medical & Clinical Services – the Center for Discovery.” Thecenterfordiscovery.org, 2024, https://www.thecenterfordiscovery.org/our-services/medical-clinical-services/.
  9. The Center for Discovery, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2024, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/141395426/202512979349302201/full, Lines 12 and 18.
  10. The Center for Discovery, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2024, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/141395426/202512979349302201/full, Schedule I.
  11. Community Foundation of Orange County, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2024, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/61551843/202523149349301702/IRS990ScheduleI, Schedule I.
  12. Dolber Family Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990PF), 2024, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/884019272/202503229349100725/IRS990PF
  13. Kittay Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990PF), 2024, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/136161657/202523169349102502/IRS990PF
  14. Greenbean Ventures, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2024, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/815069653/202503189349310355/IRS990ScheduleI, Schedule I
  15. Open Society Foundations, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990PF), 2013, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/137029285/201423189349101912/IRS990PF
  16. “Leadership – the Center for Discovery.” Thecenterfordiscovery.org, 2024, https://www.thecenterfordiscovery.org/about-us/leadership/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: October 1, 1956

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2023 Dec Form 990 $141,719,626 $139,822,590 $172,436,783 $161,409,468 N $11,350,390 $130,514,094 $9,051 $1,682,168
    2022 Dec Form 990 $140,577,114 $135,758,607 $164,140,348 $151,621,319 N $19,124,237 $121,424,020 $30,414 $1,763,047 PDF
    2021 Dec Form 990 $121,112,657 $124,880,099 $136,967,391 $128,368,792 N $7,889,043 $113,023,774 $26,092 $1,838,742 PDF
    2020 Dec Form 990 $116,526,640 $120,561,619 $132,387,424 $119,989,887 N $7,046,073 $109,432,417 $33,319 $1,518,570 PDF
    2019 Dec Form 990 $119,728,049 $118,016,985 $139,803,326 $112,997,361 N $11,922,931 $107,734,229 $58,379 $1,307,738
    2018 Dec Form 990 $116,790,024 $115,448,983 $134,304,889 $107,818,340 N $8,653,025 $108,034,629 $96,402 $1,274,595 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $110,118,601 $107,820,200 $132,131,253 $107,350,066 N $7,789,344 $102,305,239 $46,226 $1,240,303 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $102,625,900 $100,696,442 $119,178,840 $97,218,149 N $6,623,566 $96,537,756 $33,319 $1,331,656 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $99,400,035 $96,540,301 $125,408,514 $105,796,852 N $10,266,139 $89,068,304 $65,442 $1,224,626 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $96,021,448 $95,148,220 $117,716,038 $101,392,486 N $4,516,947 $91,428,955 $62,024 $1,154,922 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $97,860,905 $96,517,036 $114,384,193 $96,167,784 N $8,231,182 $89,458,211 $106,089 $1,365,911 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $92,263,073 $91,173,915 $111,732,585 $97,676,938 N $4,293,068 $87,874,569 $78,625 $1,175,499 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $89,872,727 $89,332,758 $111,305,853 $97,085,521 N $3,447,589 $86,283,192 $51,359 $900,762 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    The Center for Discovery

    P.O. Box 840
    Harris, NY 12742