irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $31KWATERSHED EDUCATION & STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS:OUR EDUCATION & STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDED ORGANIZING AND HOSTING TWO FREE, PUBLIC COMMUNITY CONFERENCES FEATURING EXPERT PRESENTATIONS ON ISSUES RELEVANT TO THE HEALTH OF CAYUGA LAKE AND ITS WATERSHED (NORTH AND SOUTH END); MONTHLY E-NEWS AND PRINTED EDITIONS OF NETWORK NEWS SHARED ONLINE FOR FREE AND IN PRINT FOR OUR MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNITIES; SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT WATERSHED RESILIENCY IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND OUR "WATERSHED/LAKESIDE LIVING IN A CHANGING CLIMATE" HANDBOOK AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS; WORKING WITH 13 VOLUNTEER GROUPS TO ORGANIZE AND SUPPORT LITTER CLEANUPS; AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES (AIS) IN OUR WATERSHED AND WHAT INDIVIDUALS CAN DO TO STOP THE SPREAD OF AIS INCLUDING HYDRILLA.
- #2 $28KCOMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS:OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE TABLING AND PRESENTATIONS AT COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED TO SHARE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ABOUT WATERSHED PROTECTION; WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CAYUGA LAKE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH COMMITTEES ON JOINT EFFORTS; WORK AS A LIAISON TO THE WATER QUALITY COORDINATING COMMITTEES FOR CAYUGA, SENECA, AND TOMPKINS COUNTY; SERVICE AS THE CAYUGA LAKE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE FINGER LAKES REGIONAL WATERSHED ALLIANCE; AND HOSTING OUR SPECIAL 25TH ANNIVERSARY ANNUAL MEETING & CELEBRATION FOR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS AS WE LOOK TOWARDS OUR NEXT 25 YEARS FOR CAYUGA LAKE STEWARDSHIP.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Engagement Programs
Hosts events, tablings, and presentations across the watershed, participates in regional committees, and serves as the Cayuga Lake representative to the Finger Lakes Regional Watershed Alliance.
Cooperative Cayuga Lake HABs Monitoring Program
Partners with other organizations to coordinate volunteer sampling of harmful algal blooms (HABs), produces a weekly summer HABs newsletter, and conducts public outreach on HABs risks and reporting.
Lake Friendly Living Champion Program
Encourages watershed residents to adopt lake-friendly practices through education, a public pledge, workshops, and a speaker series, supported by informational booklets on sustainable living in the watershed.
Northern Tributaries Water Quality Monitoring
Coordinates trained volunteers and a certified lab to monitor nutrient levels and runoff pollution in northern tributaries of Cayuga Lake, using data to inform water quality protection strategies at local and state levels.
Watershed Education & Stewardship Program
Organizes community conferences, publishes the Network News e-newsletter and print edition, shares climate resilience resources, supports volunteer litter cleanups, and conducts outreach on aquatic invasive species including hydrilla.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
-
Lake Stewardship Education & Outreach 2 activities
- Host community conferences and public education events on watershed healthHosts two annual free public conferences on water issues at the north and south ends of Cayuga Lake, serves as a platform for stakeholder engagement, and includes events such as a 25th anniversary celebration. Also hosts workshops, speaker series, and tabling at watershed events to promote public awareness.
- Produce and distribute educational materials on lake-friendly living and climate resilienceDevelops and disseminates educational resources including the "Lakeside Living in a Changing Climate Handbook," "A Homeowner’s Guide to Lake Friendly Living," and three Lake Friendly Living booklets. These guide residents on environmentally responsible practices and climate adaptation.
-
-
Lake and River Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocate for watershed protection policies and regulatory actionsSubmits formal comments and testimony on environmental permits and policies affecting Cayuga Lake, including SPDES permits for power plants, Cargill’s salt mine reclamation, data center moratoriums, and phosphorus TMDL plans. Advocates for public hearings, environmental reviews, and stronger state oversight of harmful algal blooms.
-
-
Lake and Watershed Monitoring & Assessment 1 activity
- Conduct water quality monitoring and environmental researchLeads year-round nutrient sampling and microbial source tracking in northern tributaries of Cayuga Lake through trained volunteers and certified labs, contributing data to NYS DEC and local counties. Also conducted a wetlands mapping project and produced updated maps of Tompkins County wetlands to support conservation planning.
-
-
Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Operate as a communications hub for watershed information and outreachMaintains a public website, distributes print and electronic newsletters (Network News) to over 1,000 subscribers via listserv, and shares updates on water levels, harmful algal blooms (HABs), and watershed events. Publishes a weekly summer HABs newsletter and conducts outreach to prevent the spread of invasive species like Hydrilla.
-
-
Beach and Waterway Cleanup Initiatives 1 activity
- Organize volunteer cleanups in the Cayuga Lake watershedCoordinates seasonal litter cleanups along roadsides and waterways to prevent pollution from entering Cayuga Lake, engaging 13 volunteer groups annually. Includes organizing an annual cleanup event at the Route 89 rest area near Taughannock Falls State Park.
-
-
Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 1 activity
- Produce and publish watershed maps and geographic resourcesCreates and distributes full-color watershed maps of Cayuga Lake and surrounding areas, including tributary creeks and neighboring Finger Lakes, to support education, planning, and stewardship efforts.
-
-
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Promote collective action through coalition-building and organizational capacity developmentCo-founded the Lake Friendly Living Coalition, established a steering committee and Board of Directors, drafted bylaws and mission statements, secured incorporation, and built a membership-driven governance model with voting rights. Strengthens regional collaboration through representation in the Finger Lakes Regional Watershed Alliance.
-
financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$199K
Contributions & grants$167K84%
Program service revenue——
Investment income$3K1%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$161K
Program expenses43%
Admin / overhead57%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$119K
Grants paid out—
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$223K
Cash$174K
Investments$0
Liabilities$14K
Net assets$219K
Liquid reserves12.9 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +21.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 9
- CHARLIE CAPPELLINO — DIRECTOR
- DAVID FITZGERALD — DIRECTOR
- DAVID O BROWN — DIRECTOR
- DAVID WEINSTEIN — DIRECTOR
- DAVID WOLFE — DIRECTOR
- DOLLY DONNELLY — DIRECTOR
- ERIC DEVIN — DIRECTOR
- HEIDI LOTT — DIRECTOR
- TIM MARTINSON — DIRECTOR
relationships · 38
Who they work with
- Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization Partner — Collaborated on a joint letter to the NYS DEC requesting completion of the Cayuga Lake Total Phosphorus TMDL plan.
- Cayuga Lake Watershed Network Network — Individuals and organizations join as members of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network to support watershed protection.
- Cayuga Lake Watershed Network Network — Membership-based organization focused on protecting the Cayuga Lake Watershed.
- Cayuga Nation Partner — Maintains a formal liaison to the Cayuga Nation to support engagement and collaboration.
- Cayuga Nature Center Partner — Provided administrative support during the formation of the Network.
- Community Science Institute Partner — Collaborated on written testimony regarding Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) submitted to the NYS Senate Committee.
- Community Science Institute Partner — Collaborates on water quality monitoring, with CLWN board members actively involved in CSI’s sampling and governance.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension Partner — Collaborates on watershed protection initiatives, including development of sustainable agricultural practices.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County Partner — Provided administrative support during the formation of the Network.
- Facebook Partner — Uses Facebook to highlight member support to an audience of 3000+ followers.
- Finger Lakes Institute Partner — Collaborates to share current information about Hydrilla and its effects on the watershed.
- Finger Lakes PRISM Partner — Works with to disseminate information about Hydrilla and coordinate invasive species response.
- Finger Lakes Regional Watershed Alliance Coalition — Member organization that co-signed a statement supporting restrictions on neonicotinoid pesticides via the Birds and Bees Protection Act.
- Finger Lakes Regional Watershed Alliance Network — Serves as the Cayuga Lake representative within the regional alliance.
- Finger Lakes-Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance Partner — Hosted a conference that helped shape the vision for the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network.
- First Baptist Church of Ithaca Partner — Co-organizes a park and neighborhood cleanup event with the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network.
- Friends of Stewart Park Partner — Co-hosts an annual waterfront cleanup event with the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network.
- Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund Funder — Provided startup funding for the organization.
- GreenStar Co-op Partner — Collaborates with the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network on annual Earth Day cleanup events at the co-op and along the Cayuga Lake Waterfront Trail.
- Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram to highlight member support to an audience of 1600+ followers.
- Ithaca Rotarians Partner — Collaborates with the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network on biannual Route 13 highway cleanup events.
- James C. White Partner — Founding Chair of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network in 1997-98.
- Lake Friendly Living Coalition of the Finger Lakes Coalition — Founding member of the coalition promoting watershed-friendly residential practices.
- NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Collaborates by using water quality data collected by the organization to develop state-level water quality protection strategies.
- NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Regularly submits formal comments and testimony to the NYS DEC on permitting, water quality regulations, and environmental plans.
- New York State Legislature Government — Provided funding support through the Clean Water, Clean Air Bond Act, facilitated by the Honorable Marty Luster.
- Open Space Institute Funder — Provided startup funding for the organization.
- Park Foundation Funder — Funded the two-year research project that produced the updated Wetlands Map of Tompkins County, coordinated by CLWN.
- Regional and national organizations Coalition — Actively participates in regional and national organizations focused on watershed science, policy, education, and collaboration.
- SUNY-ESF Partner — Contracted to conduct a microbial source tracking study for water quality monitoring in northern tributaries of Cayuga Lake.
+ 8 more
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.
- Inclusive Collaborative Governancemethodology: collaborative_governanceBy convening diverse stakeholders—including residents, governments, industries, and conservation groups—and ensuring equitable representation in governance, the organization fosters collaboration that reflects the full watershed community, because inclusive decision-making builds legitimacy, reduces conflict, and leads to more sustainable and widely supported outcomes.
- Network-Based Collective Actionmethodology: network_based_collective_actionBy building a broad, inclusive network of individuals, organizations, businesses, and governments, the organization amplifies advocacy impact and drives watershed protection, because collective engagement creates shared ownership, increases resilience, and enables coordinated responses to environmental threats.
- Science-Based Stewardship and Advocacymethodology: science_based_stewardshipBy grounding education, outreach, and policy advocacy in scientific evidence, the organization ensures that conservation actions are effective and credible, because science-based approaches increase public trust, inform sound policy, and lead to measurable improvements in water quality and ecosystem health.
- Watershed-Wide Systems Approachmethodology: watershed_wide_approachBy focusing on the entire watershed ecosystem rather than isolated segments, the organization addresses root causes of degradation and promotes holistic solutions, because upstream-downstream interdependencies mean that long-term protection requires integrated planning across geographic and jurisdictional boundaries.