named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Earth Day 5K Race and Walk
Annual fundraising race and walk event supporting scholarships for local high school students pursuing environmental studies
Howard Meinke Scholarship Program
Provides scholarships to local high school students planning to study environmental science in college
International Coastal Cleanup Day
Community beach cleanup initiative at Reeves Park Beach and Breakwater Beach to protect marine life and prevent pollution
Nature-Based Solutions Workshop Series
Free workshops on topics including Miyawaki mini-forests, slow-the-flow techniques, and ecoliteracy
Water Conservation and Protection Education
Educational initiative focused on protecting aquifers, conserving water, and regenerating local waterways through public outreach
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
- Administer environmental scholarship programOperates the Howard Meinke Scholarship program, which awards financial support to local high school seniors pursuing college studies in environmental fields. The program is funded in part by events such as the annual Earth Day 5K.
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Community Composting & Organic Waste Diversion 1 activity
- Advance food scraps-to-compost initiatives through collaborationCollaborates with Climate Smart Community green teams, municipal officials, the Town of Riverhead, Long Island Organics Council, Southold residents, and Drawdown East End leaders to implement regional food scraps-to-compost operations, including securing grant approvals and establishing composting at three local farms.
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Local Land Conservation Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocate for land preservation and environmental protection policiesEngages in long-term advocacy to protect natural resources on the North Fork, including successful campaigns for the Community Preservation Fund (resulting in over $1 billion for open space), opposition to development at Kroemer Ponds and Jamesport nuclear plants, and work with Southold Town on 2-acre zoning and Farmland Preservation. Also led efforts to stop the Levon Corp. dredging project and the widening of Sound Avenue.
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Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 1 activity
- Conduct public education programs on environmental protectionHosts educational programs on topics including organic landscaping, native plantings, energy cost reduction, and nature-based solutions. During the pandemic, these programs transitioned to Zoom webinars to maintain community engagement.
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Community Recycling & Reuse Education 1 activity
- Host Repair Café events to promote reuse and reduce wasteOrganizes and hosts Repair Café events in Greenport, Riverhead, and in partnership with the Southold Town Conservation Advisory Council, where community members bring broken items for repair with the help of skilled volunteers. These events promote environmental sustainability, reduce landfill waste, and help residents save money by extending the life of their belongings.
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Sustainable Fashion & Textile Circularity 1 activity
- Host annual Earth Day 5K and clothing swap eventsOrganizes an annual Earth Day 5K race and walk to raise funds for environmental scholarships and hosts an annual clothing swap event where community members exchange gently used clothing and accessories to promote sustainable fashion and reduce textile waste.
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Ocean and Plastic Pollution Research and Reduction 1 activity
- Implement Plastic Reduction and Elimination Program (PREP)Runs the Plastic Reduction and Elimination Program (PREP) using community educators to reduce single-use plastics in the North Fork region through outreach and behavior change initiatives.
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Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
- Implement zero waste and sustainable infrastructure projectsPromotes zero waste through waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting initiatives. Installed a rain garden with native plants at the Roy Latham Nature Center in Greenport to purify stormwater and create wildlife habitat, and installed the public art piece "The Big Bee" in Downtown Riverhead to raise environmental awareness.
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Beach and Waterway Cleanup Initiatives 1 activity
- Organize beach and community cleanupsConducts regular beach cleanups at local coastal areas, including participation in International Coastal Cleanup Day and Riverhead Townwide Litter Clean Up Day, to prevent pollution from entering waterways and protect natural habitats. Events include organized efforts at Moore’s Woods Trailhead and two local beaches.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$81K
Contributions & grants$29K36%
Program service revenue——
Investment income$10%
Other revenue$40K
expenses
Total expenses$80K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$123K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$113K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +26.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 3
- JOHN ROONEY — BOARD MEMEBER
- KELLY J FOGARTY — BOARD MEMEBER
- LISA GAVALES — BOARD MEMEBER
relationships · 60
Who they work with
- Anne Murray Partner — Land Use Coordinator for Southold, involved in environmental planning and advocacy.
- Borghese Vineyard Partner — Host venue for the NFEC Clothing Swap event
- CJs/East End Events Catering Partner — Provided wait staff for an event
- Climate Smart Community Partner — Collaborated with green teams from five East End towns to implement regional food scraps-to-compost programs.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension Suffolk County Partner — Partner organization collaborating with NFEC on environmental initiatives.
- Dawn Carroll Partner — Office Administrator, supporting organizational operations.
- Defend H2O Partner — Partner organization collaborating with NFEC on water protection efforts.
- Drawdown East End Partner — Partner organization collaborating with NFEC on climate and environmental projects.
- Drawdown East End Partner — Worked with leaders to establish food scraps-to-compost operations on three farms.
- Green Inside and Out Partner — Collaborator organization partnering with NFEC on sustainability initiatives.
- Group for the East End Partner — Co-founded the North Fork Clean Water Action Group with community leaders.
- Group for the East End Partner — Recognized as both a sponsor and a journal advertiser for an event
- Lazy Point Farms Partner — Supports local regenerative farming efforts that contribute to water quality improvement.
- Lisa Gavales Partner — Vice President for Riverhead, involved in land use and organizational leadership.
- Long Island Invasive Species Management Partner — Partnership for managing invasive species to protect water and ecosystem health.
- Long Island Invasive Species Management Area Partner — Partner organization working with NFEC on invasive species management.
- Long Island Native Plant Initiative Partner — Collaborates on native plant use for rain gardens and habitat restoration.
- Long Island Native Plant Initiative Partner — Partner organization collaborating with NFEC on native plant conservation.
- Long Island Organics Council Partner — Collaborated with Riverhead agencies to secure state environmental grants.
- Long Island Organics Council Partner — Collaborator organization partnering with NFEC on organics management and composting.
- Long Island Pine Barrens Society Partner — Collaborator organization working with NFEC on pine barrens conservation.
- Margaret Rose de Cruz Partner — Vice President for Southold, involved in land use and organizational leadership.
- Mark Haubner Partner — Co-hosted a free workshop series on nature-based solutions.
- New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund Partner — Collaborator organization working with NFEC on environmental education and advocacy.
- North Fork Audubon Society Partner — Partner organization working with NFEC on bird and environmental conservation.
- North Fork Audubon Society Partner — Partnered to install a rain garden at the Roy Latham Nature Center in Greenport.
- North Fork Dark Sky Coalition Partner — Partner organization working with NFEC on dark sky and light pollution issues.
- Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York Partner — Collaborator organization partnering with NFEC on organic farming and land stewardship.
- Peconic Estuary Partnership Partner — Collaborator organization working with NFEC on estuary protection.
- Peconic Estuary Program Partner — Collaborates on rainwater management initiatives, including rain barrel rebates.
+ 30 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Circular Economy Through Repair, Reuse, and Public Engagementmethodology: circular economyBy promoting repair, reuse, and creative public engagement (e.g., clothing swaps, art-integrated recycling), we reduce waste and build local resilience, because shifting cultural norms around consumption is essential to achieving zero waste at scale.
- Community-Driven Environmental Stewardshipmethodology: community-driven governanceBy involving board members and community partners in governance and implementation, we strengthen local ownership and effectiveness of conservation efforts, because programs rooted in community leadership are more sustainable and equitable.
- Education for Community Action and Policy Changemethodology: education-for-actionBy providing environmental education grounded in science, we inform and mobilize both communities and policymakers to take action that protects land and sea, because informed stakeholders are more likely to adopt and advocate for sustainable practices.
- Nature-Based Solutions for Biodiversity and Urban Resiliencemethodology: miyawaki-miniforest restorationBy applying ecological restoration techniques like Miyawaki miniforests and regenerative aquaculture, we enhance biodiversity and urban resilience, because dense native ecosystems restore ecological function faster and more effectively than conventional landscaping or passive conservation.
- Systems Change Through Integrated Environmental Prioritiesmethodology: systems-change-environmentalismBy focusing on systemic change across interconnected areas—zero waste, clean water, clean air, and living soil—we create long-term community health and equity, because durable environmental outcomes require transforming underlying systems rather than addressing symptoms.