Prospects Opportunity and Enrichment Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE PROSPECTOR IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT. ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE KNOWN AS PROSPECTS, AND 75% OF US SELF-IDENTIFY WITH A DISABILITY. THAT SELF-IDENTIFICATION IS FROM OUR BOX OFFICE UP TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. EVERY PROSPECT IS PAID COMPETITIVELY, WEARS THE SAME UNIFORM, AND IS HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD.
- Income
- $5.0 million
- Spending
- $6.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 9.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 128
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $214,981, executive director/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 251 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $5.3 million spent. DO GOOD BUSINESS CONFERENCE SINCE OPENING, THE PROSPECTOR HAS RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF REPLICATION INQUIRIES. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE STILL HARD TO FIND FOR MANY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. WE NEED TO MAKE A LARGER IMPACT AT A QUICKER RATE, AND THE DO GOOD BUSINESS CONFERENCE IS A WAY TO GROW A COALITION OF LIKE-MINDED BUSINESSES WHO CAN WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS EVERYDAY OBSTACLES AND CREATE SYSTEMIC CHANGE. WITH THE SUCCESS OF OUR INAUGURAL DO GOOD BUSINESS CONFERENCE IN 2023, WE EXPANDED THE CONFERENCE IN 2024 BOTH IN SIZE AND SCOPE. OUR ENTIRE BUILDING WAS USED FOR THE EVENT, STARTING WITH A KEYNOTE PRESENTATION FROM JOHN & MARK X CRONIN FROM JOHN'S CRAZY SOCKS. THE AGENDA ALSO INCLUDED PRESENTATIONS FROM RICK SEBASTIAN FROM THE KENNEDY COLLECTIVE, MARC SENIA & JULIE OAKLEY FROM WALGREENS, LAURA DEFRANCESCO ROSS FROM PROCURE IMPACT, AND KELLI FISHER FROM SPECTRUM DESIGNS. THE LOBBY OF THE PROSPECTOR WAS UTILIZED TO ALLOW PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS TO SET UP BOOTHS THAT DISPLAYED THEIR MISSION AND PRODUCTS. THREE OF OUR THEATERS WERE USED FOR BREAKOUT SESSIONS, GIVING PARTICIPANTS THE FLEXIBILITY TO ATTEND SPECIFIC PRESENTATIONS THAT BEST SUITED THEIR BUSINESS NEEDS. WITH OVER 120 PARTICIPANTS, THE CONFERENCE WAS AN INVALUABLE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, ASK QUESTIONS, AND NETWORK WITH ENTREPRENEURS AND CHANGEMAKERS. EXPANDING SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAMS IN 2024, THE PROSPECTOR HOSTED OVER 50 SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS, & BUSINESSES WHICH DIRECTLY IMPACTED OVER 3,500 PARTICIPANTS. OUR SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM IS OFFERED IN THREE FORMATS: AT THE PROSPECTOR, VIRTUALLY, OR OFFSITE. PEOPLE WHO PARTAKE IN SERVICE LEARNING ACQUIRE VALUABLE SKILLS THAT THEY CAN READILY APPLY THROUGHOUT THEIR OWN PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL JOURNEYS. OUR EXPANSIVE PROGRAM OFFERINGS ALLOW OUR MISSION TO BE SHARED WITH PARTICIPANTS FROM PRE-K ALL THE WAY TO PHD. SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: JOB SAMPLING - PARTICIPANTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAMPLE A MULTITUDE OF TASKS IN EACH OF THE PROSPECTOR'S DEPARTMENTS: BOX OFFICE, HEAD'S UP CAFE, CONCESSIONS, CLEAN TEAM, FACILITIES, ENGAGEMENT GUIDE, EVENTS, GOURMET POPCORN, PRODUCTION, & USHERING. AD (AUDIO DESCRIPTION) EXPERIENCE - PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROGRAM USE ASSISTIVE MOVIEGOING TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWS BOTH BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PROSPECTS AND PATRONS TO EXPERIENCE A MOVIE. LED BY CAROLYN "CECE" HARRINGTON, PROSPECT, AND GRADUATE, OF THE PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND. ACCESS FOR ALL - BRINGING AWARENESS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION. THIS PROGRAM SHOWS HOW ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS AUGMENTATIVE ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION AND AUDIO DESCRIPTION PROVIDES PROSPECTS WITH ACCESS TO AN AMAZING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE CAN THRIVE AND PURSUE OUR SPARKLE. PARTICIPANTS GO THROUGH A SERIES OF STATIONS AND HAVE ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS WITH PROSPECTS. HIP-HOP WORKSHOP - PROSPECTS TAKE PARTICIPANTS THROUGH A JOURNEY OF RHYTHM AND RHYME, DEMONSTRATING HOW WE USE HIP-HOP TO BUILD EMPATHY, BREAK DOWN BARRIERS, AND CREATE MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT. MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT INCREASES QUALITY OF LIFE, FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE, AND WELL-BEING. WITH MORE PEOPLE ENTERING THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, THESE PROGRAMS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. PROSPECTOR POPCORN PROSPECTOR POPCORN CONTINUES TO EXPONENTIALLY GROW, WITH TOTAL GROSS REVENUE IN 2024 EXCEEDING 2023 BY 45%. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PROCURE IMPACT HAS ALSO ACCELERATED, WITH OUR GOURMET POPCORN NOW BEING SOLD IN OVER 350 HOTELS ACROSS 34 STATES. THIS PRODUCT IS A LITERAL TASTE OF OUR MISSION IN ACTION. FROM POPPING TO PACKAGING, GRAPHIC DESIGN TO MARKETING, EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF OUR GOURMET POPCORN IS A JOB THAT PROSPECTS DO. WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED A WAY FOR PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO EXPERIENCE THE BENEFITS OF OUR MISSION WITHOUT NEEDING TO COME TO RIDGEFIELD, CT - AND PROSPECTOR POPCORN IS THAT ANSWER. IN DECEMBER, SINGER/SONGWRITER KELLY CLARKSON LEARNED ABOUT OUR MISSION AND INVITED PROSPECTS DOWN TO NEW YORK CITY AS GUESTS ON HER TALK SHOW! WITH THREE PROSPECTS ON STAGE WITH HER, AND SEVEN MORE CHEERING IN THE AUDIENCE, CLARKSON SAMPLED OUR POPCORN ON AIR AND ABSOLUTELY FELL IN LOVE. AT THE END OF THE SEGMENT, KELLY SURPRISED PROSPECTS WITH A CHECK OF $20,000 SPONSORED BY KROGER. "BEST.THEATER. ANYWHERE" KELLY CLARKSON WASN'T THE ONLY CELEBRITY IN 2024 TO DISCOVER THE PROSPECTOR. IN JULY, WE HAD THE HONOR OF WELCOMING ACTOR RYAN REYNOLDS FOR A SURPRISE VISIT! AFTER WATCHING A MOVIE AND EXPERIENCING OUR SIGNATURE PINK GLOVE SERVICE, REYNOLDS TOOK TIME TO POSE FOR PHOTOS AND CHAT WITH PROSPECTS. REYNOLDS MADE SURE TO SIGN A DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE POSTER, ADDING A PERSONAL TOUCH TO THE EXCITEMENT AND CREATING A TREASURED KEEPSAKE THAT NOW HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR THEATER. REYNOLDS PRAISED THE THEATER ON SOCIAL MEDIA, CALLING IT THE "BEST. THEATER. ANYWHERE." THE SPARKLE CONTINUED AS WE ENTERED NOVEMBER AND PLAYED WHAT WOULD BE OUR BEST SELLING MOVIE OF 2024 (AND 2ND HIGHEST OF ALL-TIME) - WICKED. STEPHEN SCHWARTZ, THE ACCLAIMED COMPOSER BEHIND THE ORIGINAL BROADWAY SENSATION, JOINED US ON OPENING NIGHT FOR AN EXCLUSIVE EVENT. GUESTS WERE INVITED TO ENJOY WICKED ON THE BIG SCREEN, FOLLOWED BY AN ENGAGING Q&A SESSION WHERE SCHWARTZ SHARED INSIGHTS INTO HIS CREATIVE PROCESS, THE INSPIRATIONS BEHIND HIS ICONIC COMPOSITIONS, AND MEMORABLE ANECDOTES FROM HIS ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER. SCHWARTZ PERSONALLY MET WITH GUESTS, SIGNED POSTERS, POSED FOR PHOTOS, AND EVEN JOINED OUR PROSPECT PRODUCTIONS TEAM AND FILMED A TIKTOK VIDEO! HIS GENUINE WARMTH AND SUPPORT OF OUR MISSION BROUGHT OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER BENEATH THE GLOW OF OUR SILVER SCREEN. CELEBRATING 10 YEARS EXACTLY 10 YEARS TO THE DAY SINCE OUR DOORS FIRST OPENED, WE CELEBRATED OUR DECADE MILESTONE WITH A SPECTACULAR GALA. THE EVENING WAS A SPARKLING SUCCESS, WITH OVER 200 GUESTS IN ATTENDANCE AND MORE THAN $500,000 RAISED IN SUPPORT OF OUR MISSION. WHAT MADE OUR GALA TRULY UNIQUE WAS THE VENUE-OUR GORGEOUS THEATER WHICH PROVIDED A VIBRANT AND INSPIRING BACKDROP FOR THE NIGHT'S FES
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2013.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.