Impact of Your Donation
Your donation to Understanding Our Differences is a vital way to demonstrate that inclusion and respect matter. Our donors are united by a passionate belief in our mission to create inclusive and respectful schools and communities for people of all abilities.
The Understanding Our Differences program has a significant positive impact on students, schools and communities. As a result of participating, students exhibit inclusive behavior, increased empathy, and improved social skills, leading to a better school climate for all.
In the last year, UOD has accomplished
After School Programs – 6 programs:
- 2 programs of Assistive Technology at Angier After School Program and the Boys and Girls Club Curiosity Club
- Autism at the Peirce Extended Day Program
- Blindness/Low Vision at Kids Take Action Club at Mason Rice Elementary
- Braille at Rec Place After School
- Inclusive Communication at Williams After School Program
In strong community partnerships with Newton organizations including the Newton Commission On Disability and the Newton Free Library.
- 2024 Disability Pride Event with panel and nonprofit participation (click here for online recording)
- 2025 Disability Pride Event – Demystifying Disability with author and activist Emily Ladau (click here for NewTV news story)
- Film screening of The Ride Ahead.
- Hosted parent/caregiver and educator webinars: Mindful Resilience and Collaborative Problem Solving
- Restarted monthly Disability Dialogues Book Group.
- Partnered with 12 districts (4 district-wide), 26 schools, and delivered ~74 programs.
- Delivered Assistive Technology and Adaptive Equipment library program in Needham
- Supported new and existing districts with training, presentations, speaker coordination, and Canvas platform management.
This Year (2025-26) UOD’s Plans Include
- including some opportunities within Newton Public Schools, such as November Professional Development Day, Thrive 25 – presenting 4 workshop sessions to educators
- working with after school and other community programs
- collaborating with our partners within Newton to host disability awareness and inclusion events, such as library programming and events like the Fall Family Book Event
- hosting parent/caregiver and educator webinar
- serving as a resource to the Newton community
- maintaining our excellent partnerships with the existing 12 districts (4 district-wide), 26 schools
- reaching more schools and districts to expand our reach and meet the mission
For more information about the long term impact of Understanding Our Differences, please explore our Impact page: https://understandingourdifferences.org/our-impact/
Donate by Credit Card
Monthly Giving
Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Gift
Your gift will ensure that even more children feel understood and included.
Many Ways to Give
Several families have generously come together to offer a $40,000 matching gift to Understanding Our Differences. Please help match that gift by making a donation to raise $80,000 for UOD!
Write your check to Understanding Our Differences and mail to us at PO Box 600671, Newton, MA 02460.
Monthly giving is an easy, convenient way for you to budget your donations, and for us to have the peace of mind that we have sustained, year-round support. Monthly gifts of all sizes – $5, $10 or more per month – are welcome. Click here to start your monthly giving today.
A DAF (Donor Advised Fund) is a centralized vehicle for charitable giving that makes it easy for you to dedicate funds to support your favorite nonprofit organization. With a few clicks, DAF donors with Fidelity, Schwab, and BNY Mellon can recommend grants from their DAF to Understanding Our Differences using our DAF Direct widget.
Our Founder’s Circle is a group of generous donors who pledge multi-year major support for the work of Understanding Our Differences. If you are interested in learning more about joining our Founder’s Circle with your sustaining gift, please contact Jenni Acosta, Executive Director.
Your donation may be eligible for a matching gift from your employer. For example, over 65% of Fortune 500 companies offer this benefit to their employees. Please check with your company’s Human Resources department to find out if your employer will match your gift and double the value of your donation.
We encourage and appreciate the support of businesses, organizations and institutions in our community. Scroll down to see a list of our current partners. Also, we always welcome suggestions for new potential partners. Please email Executive Director, Jenni Acosta if your business is interested in learning more about becoming a UOD Community Partner.
Understanding Our Differences hosts a yearly Spring Benefit, which brings our community of supporters together and raises much-needed funds. Sources of funds include ticket sales, bids for auction items, donations to fund-a-need, and sponsorships from businesses.
Understanding Our Differences is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your tax-deductible contribution is critical to ensuring that we can continue this vital work.
Tax ID: 04-2738924
We’ve earned our Gold Seal of Transparency with Candid.Org!
Check out our nonprofit profile to keep up to date on our impact by clicking on the seal or by using this link:
UOD Guidestar Profile Link
Supporter Stories
Thank you to our Community Partners
We are grateful for the support of these local businesses.
