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ONONDAGA ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE INC
SYRACUSE, NY · EIN 161374219 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE C023 · Environment · Small ($100K-$1M) · oei2.org
revenue
$529K
expenses
$454K
net assets
$178K
employees
11
volunteers
41
program ratio
65%
mission · from form 990

TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, EDUCATION, PLANNING AND RESTORATION IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

profile · synthesized from sources

Environmental nonprofit based in Syracuse, NY, advancing research, education, planning, and restoration in Central New York. Focuses on watershed health, water quality monitoring, and habitat restoration, particularly around Onondaga Lake. Engages communities in environmental stewardship through science-based programs and public participation in decision-making processes. Works with government agencies, academic institutions, and local stakeholders.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT)
Provides public access to environmental monitoring data to promote transparency and community engagement.
Microbial Trackdown Study
Identifies sources of bacterial contamination in Onondaga Lake and its tributaries to inform pollution control strategies.
Mudboil Remediation - Tully Valley
Monitors and manages mudboil formations in Tully Valley that impact water quality and land stability, in partnership with USGS.
Onondaga Lake Tributary Assessment
Monitors water quality and biological conditions in tributaries flowing into Onondaga Lake to assess pollution sources and ecological health.
Scientific Peer Review of Water Quality Models
Conducts independent scientific review of water quality models for Onondaga Lake and Seneca-Oswego River Basin to ensure accuracy and utility.
Urban Best Management Practices
Implements green infrastructure and stormwater management techniques in urban areas to reduce non-point source pollution.
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 1 activity
    • Development of Environmental Plans and Technical Guidance
      Produces comprehensive environmental plans, revitalization strategies, and technical guidance documents such as the Onondaga Lake Management Plan, Onondaga Creek Conceptual Revitalization Plan, and State of Onondaga Lake Booklet to inform policy, restoration efforts, and public understanding.
  • Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
    • Environmental Education and Outreach Programs
      Develops and delivers formal and non-formal environmental education through school curricula, teacher training, public workshops, field experiences, and multimedia materials. Programs include hands-on learning initiatives such as Testing the Waters and community engagement projects like Onondaga Lake EMPACT and Onondaga Lake Community Education Project.
  • Urban Resilience Planning & Advocacy 1 activity
    • Environmental Planning and Public Participation
      Leads community-based environmental planning initiatives that empower public stakeholders, especially marginalized groups, to participate in resource management and decision-making. Focuses on environmental justice, social equity, and sustainability through public forums, outreach coordination, and stakeholder brokering between institutions and grassroots communities.
  • Wildlife Monitoring and Field Research 1 activity
    • Environmental Research
      Conducts interdisciplinary scientific research to assess environmental conditions, monitor ecosystems, and evaluate the impacts of human activities on water, soil, air, and biota. Uses hypothesis-driven methods, peer-reviewed protocols, and long-term monitoring programs to generate data that informs restoration and policy, with findings published in scientific literature.
  • Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
    • Habitat Restoration and Pollution Control Projects
      Implements habitat enhancement and ecological restoration initiatives including point and non-point source pollution control, stormwater management, wetland development, and reestablishment of native species. Projects include the Permanent Habitat Module, Wetland Connections, Wastebed Stabilization, Littoral Zone Improvement, and Tully Valley mudboil remediation with infrastructure maintenance and diversion channels.
  • Lake and Watershed Monitoring & Assessment 1 activity
    • Scientific Monitoring and Data Collection
      Conducts field-based environmental monitoring including manual and automated water quality testing, biological assessments, contaminant tracking, and geospatial (GIS) analysis. Operates monitoring systems on Onondaga Creek and Nation territory, supporting research, public access to data, and regulatory compliance.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Project Administration and Grant Management
      Administers federal and non-federal environmental grants and manages multidisciplinary projects from concept to completion. Provides operational, financial, and administrative oversight for collaborative initiatives involving academic, government, and nonprofit partners across Central New York.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$529K
Contributions & grants$415K78%
Program service revenue$113K21%
Investment income$20%
Other revenue$1K
expenses
Total expenses$454K
Program expenses65%
Admin / overhead35%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$289K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$254K
Cash$23K
Investments$0
Liabilities$76K
Net assets$178K
Liquid reserves0.6 mo
3 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +17.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
EDWARD M MICHALENKO PHD PRESIDENT 40 $25K
board members · 8
  • CORNELIUS B MURPHY JR PHD — TREASURER
  • HOLLY ROSENTHAL — DIRECTOR
  • JOHN LACEY — DIRECTOR
  • JOSEPH M CALLAHAN ESQ — DIRECTOR
  • JUDITH C MOWER PHD — VICE PRESIDENT
  • LISA A DOLAK — DIRECTOR
  • PATRICK MANNION — DIRECTOR
  • TERRY BROWN — SECRETARY/CHAIR
relationships · 22

Who they work with

  • Army Corps of Engineers Government — Coordinated implementation of the Onondaga Lake restoration plan as part of the OLMC.
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Contracted with OLCC to carry out OLMC projects and programs; served as intermediary for federal funding.
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Follows formal guidance from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on water quality monitoring and assessment.
  • Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District Partner — Collaborates on Agricultural Environmental Management and Rural Non-Point Source Pollution Control programs.
  • Onondaga Lake Government — Facilitated rehabilitation guidance for Onondaga Lake, indicating collaboration with governmental and environmental oversight bodies.
  • Onondaga Lake Partnership Partner — Provides support and operations for the Outreach Committee of the Onondaga Lake Partnership.
  • Onondaga Lake Partnership Partner — Successor collaborative body to the OLMC, continuing restoration and conservation work on the lake and watershed.
  • US Congress Government — Created the Onondaga Lake Management Conference, which the organization administered.
  • USGS Partner — Collaborates with the U.S. Geological Survey on the Tully Valley Mudboil Area Programs and the Onondaga Lake Outlet Project.
  • USGS Partner — Partners on groundwater modeling and non-point source characterization of nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended sediment in the Onondaga Lake Watershed.
  • United States Environmental Protection Agency Government — Received funding and coordinated activities through EPA grants administered via NYSDEC during OLMC operations.
  • academic and scientific communities Partner — Collaborates with academic and scientific communities on interdisciplinary research projects.
  • academic institutions Partner — Collaborates with academic institutions on environmental projects and research.
  • academic institutions Partner — Collaborates with academic institutions on public education and outreach initiatives.
  • academic institutions Partner — Collaborates with academic institutions on research and education initiatives.
  • environmental organizations Partner — Collaborates with environmental organizations on education and outreach efforts.
  • environmental organizations Partner — Collaborates with environmental organizations on outreach, education, and restoration efforts.
  • for-profit organizations Partner — Works with for-profit organizations on multidisciplinary environmental projects.
  • government agencies Partner — Partners with government agencies to implement and manage environmental initiatives.
  • non-profit organizations Partner — Collaborates with nonprofit organizations on environmental research, education, and restoration efforts.
  • public and private schools Partner — Partners with public and private schools to deliver educational programs and curriculum development.
  • public and private schools Partner — Partners with schools to deliver environmental education programs and curriculum support.
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.

  • Adaptive Management with Iterative Learning
    methodology: adaptive_management
    By applying adaptive management, the organization improves environmental programs over time through data and community feedback, because iterative assessment allows for course correction and innovation based on real-world outcomes.
  • Community-Driven Stewardship with Scientific Integration
    methodology: community-driven_stewardship
    By combining local community values and participation with scientific research, environmental stewardship efforts are more grounded, equitable, and effective, because integrating local knowledge and ownership increases long-term sustainability and legitimacy of ecological interventions.
  • Community-Engaged Environmental Planning for Equity
    methodology: community-engaged_planning
    By brokering public input—especially from marginalized communities—into environmental decision-making, planning becomes more equitable and sustainable, because inclusive processes address environmental justice and build trust in institutional outcomes.
  • Integrated Research, Education, Planning, and Restoration Model
    methodology: integrated-environmental-approach
    By treating research, education, planning, and restoration as interconnected components, the organization achieves more holistic and lasting environmental improvements, because synergies across these domains amplify impact and ensure that knowledge informs action and policy.
  • Liaison Role Between Institutions and Grassroots Organizations
    methodology: bridging_institutional_and_grassroots
    By acting as a structured intermediary between institutions of power and grassroots groups, the organization enhances equity and participation in environmental governance, because bridging communication gaps ensures that community concerns inform policy and planning.