irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $262KProgram for Leaders Advancing their Communitys Environment PLACE hires young people from Bronx neighborhoods to lead volunteer groups in environmental restoration projects. In addition to seasonal employment, PLACE participants receive leadership training, gain green vocational and project management skills, and are exposed to higher education.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Birding at Soundview Park
Educational birdwatching event that also collects ecological data with participants using the Merlin app.
Crotona Gardener’s Club
Engages volunteers in revitalizing Crotona Park through gardening, mulching, tree protection, and invasive species removal.
For the Love of Trees
Tree stewardship program that involves weeding, mulching, and soil aeration around young trees in parks such as Macombs Dam, Franz Sigel, and Joyce Kilmer Park.
Program for Leaders Advancing their Community's Environment (PLACE)
Hires young people from the Bronx to lead volunteer groups in environmental restoration, providing leadership training and green vocational skills.
Saturdays on the Sound
Weekly volunteer event focused on ecological restoration in Soundview Park, including planting and habitat maintenance.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 2 activities
- Community-led horticulture and gardening initiativesOrganizes community gardening events in parks such as St. Mary’s Park and Crotona Park, focusing on planting native species, mulching, and ecological restoration. Offers training through the GREEN program and engages volunteers in public land revitalization, fostering local ownership of green spaces.
- Volunteer engagement and service coordinationEngages over 24,000 volunteers who have contributed more than 175,000 hours of service to environmental projects across the Bronx. Coordinates volunteer groups from schools, businesses, and community organizations in park revitalization, tree care, and ecological restoration activities.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Annual Summer on the Sound FestivalHosts an annual community festival at Soundview Park to celebrate watershed revitalization, featuring free food, refreshments, and family-friendly nature activities. The event highlights environmental restoration achievements and strengthens community engagement in stewardship.
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Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 1 activity
- Environmental education and volunteer trainingProvides education and hands-on training to youth, volunteers, and students on tree care, native and invasive plant species, and the ecological value of urban parks. Training equips participants to teach others and contribute effectively to stewardship efforts within a short timeframe.
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Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 1 activity
- Urban tree and park stewardship across the BronxConducts hands-on conservation and horticultural operations including planting, mulching, landscape maintenance, invasive species removal, and protection of young trees in over 20 parks and green spaces. Stewards 1,200 trees annually with volunteer support and maintains ecological features such as rain gardens and urban canopies in parks including Crotona, Shoelace, Macombs Dam, and Claremont Park.
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Youth Workforce Development in Food & Environment 1 activity
- Youth employment and leadership development in environmental stewardshipHires and trains teenagers and young people from Bronx neighborhoods to lead environmental restoration projects, providing green vocational skills, project management experience, and exposure to higher education through college mentors and tours. Since 2013, has provided over 250 to 480 jobs for Bronx youth, organizing them into crews that lead volunteer groups in flagship parks each summer.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$884K
Contributions & grants$736K83%
Program service revenue$148K17%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$617K
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$414K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$560K
Cash$61K
Investments$0
Liabilities$25K
Net assets$534K
Liquid reserves1.2 mo
3 years on record · 2021–2023 · YoY revenue +61.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JENNIFER BEAUGRAND | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 35 | $83K |
board members · 6
- AILEEN REYNOLDS — BOARD MEMBER
- CHRISTINE WHELAN — BOARD MEMBER
- DART WESTPHAL — BOARD MEMBER
- JOHN SPILLANE — BOARD MEMBER
- MICHAEL KOZOL — BOARD MEMBER
- ROBERTA TODRAS — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- Bronx Council for Environmental Quality Partner — Invites guest speakers from the organization to educate youth leaders on environmental issues in the field.
- Manhattan College Partner — Invites guest speakers from the institution to educate youth leaders on environmental issues in the field.
- NYC Parks Government — References NYC Parks' description of Crotona Park's ecological features in event materials.
- NYC Service Government — Ava Chow began her role through the Civic Corps program administered by NYC Service.
- New York Environmental Report Government — Cited as a source for asthma rate data in the Bronx, indicating alignment with public health reporting.
- PLACE Partner — Youth leadership program referenced through participant and mentor testimonials.
- PWC Partner — Collaborated with PWC on a large volunteer project at Claremont Park.
- St. Mary’s Park Partner — Site for community gardening and environmental revitalization events.
- TCS Partner — Official Charity Partner of the 2026 TCS NYC Marathon
- Trees NY Partner — Invites guest speakers from the organization to educate youth leaders on environmental issues in the field.
- Trees New York Partner — Facilitates Citizen Pruner courses for Team BiB runners
- USFWS Government — Conner Casey previously worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in conservation roles.
strategies · 3
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.
- Community-Led Park Revitalization for Local Environmental Engagementmethodology: community_led_stewardshipBy focusing on small, under-resourced neighborhood parks and training local residents to lead their care, the organization increases access to green space and sustains environmental engagement because localized ownership fosters long-term stewardship and community pride in underserved areas.
- Experiential Environmental Education Through Servicemethodology: experiential_environmental_educationBy integrating hands-on gardening and ecological restoration with education, the organization deepens learning and engagement because direct experience makes environmental knowledge personally relevant and actionable for youth and volunteers.
- Youth-Led Environmental Stewardship as Leadership Developmentmethodology: youth_leadership_through_environmental_actionBy placing youth in leadership roles for environmental restoration and stewardship projects, the organization fosters personal growth, civic engagement, and skill development because real responsibility builds self-efficacy, reverses deficit narratives, and strengthens community ties through peer and intergenerational influence.