irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $205KChristodora's Community of Rising Environmentalists and other weekend/out-of-school time programs enable students to stay active and connected year-round and to become agents of renewal within their communities and in natural areas throughout the city. Ongoing weekend programs are based at Bronx River Park in the Bronx. With expert peer leadership, they perform community service, conservation and citizen science projects and continue Christodora's traditions of environmental stewardship, community engagement and leadership. Students gain exposure to career pathways and develop job readiness skills.
- #2 $137KChristodora's Winter Ecology Program (WEP) brings teams of Christodora environmental educators to over 70 middle and high school classrooms in under-resourced neighborhoods for an engaging and hands-on 7-week Introduction to Ecology course. The curriculum is customized to meet the needs of each classroom and teacher and is aligned with NY State and Next Generation Science Standards. This hands-on course inspires many students to become involved in our afterschool and Summer Ecology and Leadership programs. In a usual year, 22 school groups take transformative 3-day field trips to the MEC.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Community of Rising Environmentalists
Year-round weekend and out-of-school programs based at Bronx River Park where students engage in conservation, community service, and citizen science projects.
GORP (Goes Outdoors and Reconnects with People)
Outdoor nature exploration program for middle schoolers offered in week-long sessions with rotating themes such as "Plants" and "Animals," launched as a response to pandemic-related disruptions.
Summer Ecology and Leadership Programs
Summer programs at the Manice Education Center in Massachusetts offering outdoor experiences including field trips, night hikes, and stewardship activities.
Winter Ecology Program
Seven-week hands-on ecology course delivered in over 70 middle and high school classrooms in under-resourced NYC neighborhoods, aligned with state and Next Generation Science Standards.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
-
Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 3 activities
- Deliver 7-week in-classroom environmental science curriculumProvides a hands-on, 7-week Introduction to Ecology course to over 70 middle and high school classrooms in under-resourced neighborhoods, aligned with academic standards and designed to increase awareness of local ecology through experiential learning.
- Operate weekend and out-of-school time urban ecology programsRuns weekend and out-of-school time programs at Bronx River Park and other NYC green spaces where students engage in conservation, citizen science, and community service projects, developing leadership and job readiness skills; includes the New Youth Conservationists (NYC) program and GORP re-launched as an all-outdoor nature exploration program for middle school students.
- Run youth leadership and science research Saturday program (CoRE)Operates the Community of Rising Environmentalists (CoRE) Saturday Program during spring and fall semesters, engaging youth in science research, park stewardship, and leadership development, including a free annual weekend trip to the Manice Education Center and stipends ranging from $25 to $125 based on attendance.
-
-
Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Engage students in campus stewardship and conservation projectsOrganizes student and community participation in stewardship activities such as planting a new apple orchard, establishing a wildflower garden, and hosting public volunteer days to support local parks and improve facilities at the Manice Education Center.
-
-
Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
- Host field trips and multi-day outdoor education experiences at Manice Education CenterOrganizes 3-day field trips for 22 school groups annually to the 85-acre Manice Education Center in the Berkshire Mountains, where all students participate in night hikes, low ropes courses, local hikes, and ecology lessons; operates summer camp programs including wilderness trips and transportation for students.
-
-
Project-Based Learning Programs 1 activity
- Integrate art with environmental and science educationProvides structured opportunities for students to engage in art in nature through dedicated campus spaces and creative activities such as building constellations with spaghetti and marshmallows, “Build a Tree” ecological design, communication-focused drawing exercises, and organized visits to The Clark Institute art museum.
-
-
Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 1 activity
- Provide paid internships and apprenticeships for high school studentsLaunches a hybrid paid internship program for high school students in partnership with the Bronx River Alliance, combining online learning with in-field apprenticeships alongside NYC Parks personnel to build job readiness and conservation skills.
-
-
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Deliver specialized environmental education curricula tracksOffers five standards-aligned curriculum tracks within its Winter Ecology Program, including a Water Track with five core lessons on the hydrologic cycle, pollution, and water conservation, allowing middle school partners to select focused areas of study.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.29M
Contributions & grants$677K53%
Program service revenue$310K24%
Investment income$30K2%
Other revenue$273K
expenses
Total expenses$2.61M
Program expenses63%
Admin / overhead24%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$1.32M
Grants paid out$147K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$10.90M
Cash$197K
Investments$8.82M
Liabilities$440K
Net assets$10.46M
Liquid reserves41.5 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -21.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salma S Choudhury-Muro | Executive Director | 40 | $170K |
board members · 22
- Cecilia Artacho Oh — Director
- Christine Carty — Director
- Christopher McKenzie — Director
- Danielle Wiedmann — Director
- Dilip Advani — Vice President
- Edward H Elliman — Director
- Elizabeth Kuhlenkamp — Director
- Emilie Mittiga — Director
- Eva Pomice — Director
- Genevieve Goelet — Director
- J Christopher Walsh — Director
- James SR Rose — Director
- Katrina Cary — Director
- Matthew Koven — Director
- Pamela Manice — President
- Raymond DiPrinzio — Director
- Robert Michelin — Director
- Shyamli Milam — Director
- Sin Senh — Director
- Tatiana Pouschine — Chair & Treasurer
- William Ambler — Secretary
- William Washburn — Director
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- Bronx River Alliance Partner — Collaborated to launch a hybrid paid internship program for high school students combining online learning and in-field apprenticeships with NYC Parks personnel.
- Expanded Schools Funder — Supports the Community of Rising Environmentalists (CoRE) Saturday Program.
- GoFundMe Partner — Platform used for fundraising campaigns supporting Christodora's programs.
- Lily Auchincloss Foundation Funder — Provides financial support for the Winter Ecology Program.
- Manice Education Center Partner — Christodora operates its 85-acre outdoor education campus at the Manice Education Center in the Berkshire Mountains.
- Manice Education Center Partner — Christodora operates programs at the Manice Education Center, where students participate in night hikes and outdoor education activities.
- Manice Education Center Partner — Christodora owns and operates the Manice Education Center as a residential environmental education and wilderness adventure facility.
- Mianus River Gorge Preserve Partner — Hosted Christodora’s CORE students for an educational and stewardship visit.
- NYC Government — Operates youth and environmental education programs in New York City.
- Perkins Coie, LLP Partner — Provides pro bono legal support to Christodora.
- Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation Funder — Supported the development of new art activities and a dedicated art space at the Manice Education Center.
- Savoy Mountain State Forest Partner — Location of the Manice Education Center and surrounding natural environment for outdoor programming.
- TD 5 Boro Bike Tour Partner — Christodora participants raised resources through involvement in this event.
- The Clark Institute Partner — Hosts annual field trips for Christodora’s Leadership Training Course participants, providing personalized tours of the museum and its outdoor sculpture area.
- The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation Funder — Supports the Community of Rising Environmentalists (CoRE) Saturday Program.
- Yale Great Mountain Forest Camp Partner — Hosted Christodora campers for programming and workshops.
strategies · 4
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.
- Art-Integrated Nature Educationmethodology: art-in-natureBy integrating artistic expression with natural experiences, the organization promotes creative and flexible thinking, because combining art with environmental immersion supports cognitive innovation and emotional connection to nature.
- Nature-Based Experiential Learningmethodology: experiential_and_inquiry_based_learningBy immersing youth in nature through adventurous and sensory-rich outdoor experiences, the organization fosters personal growth, environmental awareness, and lifelong learning, because direct, hands-on engagement with the natural world builds confidence, curiosity, and agency in ways traditional settings cannot.
- Peer-Led Engagement and Leadership Developmentmethodology: peer_to_peer_engagementBy using peer-to-peer storytelling and peer-led programming, the organization strengthens program engagement and nurtures youth leadership, because relatable peer models increase trust, motivation, and identification with environmental stewardship and personal development pathways.
- Place-Based and Community-Integrated Environmental Educationmethodology: place_based_learningBy grounding science education in local environments and community-based stewardship projects, the organization makes learning relevant and actionable for underserved students, because connecting academic content to real-world contexts increases engagement and cultivates future leadership in environmental careers.