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NEW YORK OPEN WATER INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 811013707 · Form 990 · FY2025 · Small ($100K-$1M) · nyopenwater.org
revenue
$588K
expenses
$557K
net assets
$124K
employees
0
program ratio
87%
mission · from form 990

To provide safety, support and funding for open water swimming and kayaking programs and events in New York States natural bodies of water, in order to promote the growth of open water sports, while advocating for creating better stewardship of NYS's natural water resources, and promoting access to these waters.

profile · synthesized from sources

New York Open Water Inc organizes and sanctions marathon open water swimming events in New York State, with a focus on the 20 Bridges Swim Around Manhattan. The organization provides safety, support, and logistics for solo and tandem swims around Manhattan and other long-distance routes, promoting stewardship of natural waterways. It serves experienced swimmers and advocates for access to and sustainability of open water environments.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

20 Bridges Swim Around Manhattan
28.5-mile solo or tandem swim around Manhattan Island, counter-clockwise, passing under 20 bridges; includes safety support, kayaker escort, and official observer.
40 Bridges Swim Around Manhattan
Twice-around Manhattan swim totaling approximately 54 miles; recognized as an extension of the 20 Bridges Swim but no longer actively sanctioned due to tidal challenges.
8 Bridges Swim
Multi-stage swim along the Hudson River, connecting eight bridges; requires endurance and navigation of tidal currents.
Ederle-Burke Swim
Marathon swim from New Jersey to New York, following the route of early channel swimmers; part of NYOW's sanctioned events.
Tandem Swim Program
Supports pairs of swimmers completing marathon swims together, with shared logistics and joint recognition of completion.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Lake and River Advocacy 1 activity
    • Advocate for access to and stewardship of natural water resources
      Advocates for better stewardship of New York State's natural water resources and promotes public access to natural water bodies for recreational open water swimming and kayaking.
  • Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
    • Manage volunteer engagement for swim events
      Organizes volunteer opportunities for individuals to serve as paddlers and official observers during marathon swims; provides kayaks, training sessions, and refresher courses to prepare volunteers for support roles.
  • Organized Running and Triathlon Events 1 activity
    • Organize the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim
      Organizes the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim, a 120-mile staged marathon swim across seven daily stages on the Hudson River, ranging from 13.2 to 19.8 miles each, allowing solo or relay participation.
  • Charity Event Organization 1 activity
    • Support charitable fundraising through swim participation
      Allows swimmers to raise funds for registered charities during participation in its open water swimming events, integrating philanthropy into athletic participation.
  • Uncategorized 7 activities
    • Act as official governing body for Manhattan Island swims
      Serves as the exclusive Marathon Swimmers Federation (MSF)-recognized governing body for swims around Manhattan Island since 2016, sanctioning and overseeing marathon swim attempts and maintaining standards for documentation and safety.
    • Host accessible open water swim events
      Hosts non-competitive, non-timed open water swim events to increase accessibility, including the Little Red Lite Swim (6.4 km on the Hudson River) and the Lake Minnewaska Silver Jubilee Swim (0.75-mile loop), with wave starts, safety monitoring, refreshments, and participant support services.
    • Organize and operate the 20 Bridges Swim Around Manhattan
      Organizes the 28.5-mile 20 Bridges Swim Around Manhattan, a counter-clockwise loop around Manhattan Island with in-water start and finish; offers relay options and provides dedicated support boats, paddlers, observers, GPS tracking, and event logistics. Applications for swim dates are processed annually in January.
    • Organize and support the 40 Bridges Swim Around Manhattan
      Organizes and supports the 40 Bridges Swim Around Manhattan, the longest recognized marathon swim route around Manhattan, providing dedicated support boats, paddlers, observers, and GPS tracking; maintains a public database of swim results including swimmer names, times, and hometowns since 2017.
    • Organize the Ederle-Burke Swim
      Organizes the Ederle-Burke Swim, a 16.1-mile open water swim from Battery Park, NY to Sandy Hook, NJ, providing safety and logistical support including dedicated boats, paddlers, observers, and GPS tracking.
    • Provide post-event amenities for participants
      Provides commemorative items, refreshments, and meals for participants, including event T-shirts, boxed lunches, hydration, BBQ meals, and a complementary drink ticket per swimmer at post-event gatherings.
    • Provide safety and logistical support for marathon swimmers
      Provides comprehensive safety and logistical support for all marathon swim events, including dedicated support boats with captains, experienced paddlers, official observers, GPS tracking, lifeguards, kayakers, coordination with emergency services, and transportation of swimmer belongings from start to finish locations.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$588K
Contributions & grants$2K0%
Program service revenue$582K99%
Investment income$4K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$557K
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$124K
Cash$123K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$124K
Liquid reserves2.6 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +19.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 5
  • ALEX AREVALO — Board member
  • David Barra — President
  • Jozef Koppelman — Board member
  • Paula Croxon — Board Member
  • RONDI DAVIES — VP & Treasurer
relationships · 12

Who they work with

  • 2026 season calendar of marathon swim dates Partner — Coordinates swim assignments through the 2026 season calendar of marathon swim dates.
  • Baylander Partner — Collaborates with the Baylander as the finish location and post-event hospitality venue for swimmers.
  • Coney Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers (CIBBOWS) Partner — Collaborates with and supports volunteers from CIBBOWS; Eileen Burke served on its board and volunteered at its events.
  • Facebook Network — Uses Facebook as a platform for updates and communication.
  • Inwood Canoe Club Partner — Hosts the finish line and post-event activities for the Spuyten Duyvil 10K swim.
  • MSF Government — Recognized by MSF as the exclusive governing body for swims around Manhattan Island.
  • Marathon Swimmers Federation Network — Recognizes swims documented through the Marathon Swimmers Federation as qualifying for marathon status.
  • Marathon Swimmers Federation Partner — Follows MSF rules for marathon swimming with specific modifications under NYOW house rules
  • Marathon Swimmers Federation (MSF) Government — Recognized by MSF as the exclusive governing body for swims around Manhattan Island.
  • Minnewaska Distance Swimmers Association Partner — Co-sponsors the Lake Minnewaska Silver Jubilee Swim with New York Open Water.
  • Riverkeeper Partner — Collaborates with Riverkeeper to promote the health and enjoyment of the Hudson River.
  • Ultraswimming.org Partner — Collaborates with Ultraswimming.org to document and reference historical marathon swims.
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.

  • Commemorative and Educational Event Design
    methodology: commemorative_marathon_swim
    By designing marathon swims that honor historical figures and incorporate natural tidal challenges, the organization connects athletic achievement with cultural memory and environmental awareness, deepening public engagement and meaning.
  • Environmental Stewardship Through Athletic Events
    methodology: environmental_stewardship_through_athletics
    By integrating endurance swimming events with environmental partnerships and zero-waste practices, the organization uses athletic participation as a platform to promote river health, public awareness, and sustainable practices in aquatic environments.
  • Governing Body with Standardized Safety and Integrity Rules
    methodology: governing_body_model
    By acting as the official governing body and enforcing customized rules—including prohibitions on tracking devices and limits on swim duration—the organization ensures the safety, consistency, and traditional integrity of marathon swims, preserving the sport’s legitimacy.
  • Inclusive Access Model
    methodology: inclusive_access_model
    By removing financial barriers, offering non-competitive formats, and adapting participation models (e.g., relay swimming and shorter courses), the organization increases access to marathon swimming, enabling broader and more diverse public engagement with open water environments.
  • Recreation-Based Stewardship
    methodology: recreation_based_stewardship
    By promoting open water swimming and paddling as accessible recreational activities, the organization fosters public engagement with and responsibility for natural waterways, leading to greater stewardship and advocacy for water resource protection.