irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0Steward Program: East Shore Schroon Lake Association volunteers helped manage a summer watercraft inspection station at a State owned boat launch with the job of inspecting all watercraft entering and exiting the south end of Schroon Lake for invasive species such as eurasian milfoil, curly leaf pond weed, zebra mussels, water chestnut, and asian clams. Boats are cleaned as deemed necessary. The station is one of the busiest AIS inspection stations of all watercraft inspection stations in the Adirondack Park.
- #2 $3KMember Education: A major component of the organization is education provided to property owners and visitors to the Greater Schroon Lake Area. Education comprises an annual newsletter (voted one of the best newsletters by the New York State Federation of Lake Associations), email blasts to members (Minipearls), educational maps of the lake, information booths at trade shows and local events, and volunteer and member attendance at conferences to provide information on current issues and to develop skills to preserve Schroon Lake as a recreational resource.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Boat Stewards Program
Volunteer-run watercraft inspection station at a state-owned boat launch to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species such as Eurasian milfoil, zebra mussels, and Asian clams on Schroon Lake
Loon Conservation Program
Manages a certified loon-friendly lake initiative including installation of floating nesting platforms and response to loon entanglements in fishing line
Member Education
Provides educational resources including the award-winning "Mini Pearl" e-newsletter, annual "Pearl" newsletter, lake maps, information booths, and community events to inform property owners and visitors about lake protection
Schroon Lake Watershed Management
Partnered in creating and updating the Schroon Lake Watershed Management Plan and conducts shoreline scouting for invasive species
Terrestrial Scout Program
Monitors for terrestrial invasive species including Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) in the Schroon Lake watershed and supports regional HWA Coalition efforts
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Lake Invasive Species Management 3 activities
- Conduct and support watershed research and planningCo-developed the Schroon Lake Watershed Management Plan with regional partners (updated in 2020) and conducted investigations for invasive species such as Asian clams. Cofunds annual swim-over surveys to evaluate invasive plant removal efficacy.
- Monitor and manage invasive species in the Schroon Lake watershedConducts surveillance, harvesting, and scouting for aquatic and terrestrial invasive species including Eurasian Water Milfoil, Asian clams, and Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. The organization co-funded swim-over surveys to assess milfoil removal effectiveness and produced an invasive species warning map for boaters.
- Operate watercraft inspection and decontamination program at Schroon Lake boat launchRuns a seasonal watercraft inspection station at a state-owned boat launch on Schroon Lake to inspect and clean boats, preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species such as Eurasian water milfoil, zebra mussels, and Asian clams. The program operated from May 1 to October 10, 2023, and May 24 to October 14, 2024, and is recognized as one of the busiest in the Adirondack Park.
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Lake and River Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocate for improved water quality and environmental protectionsSuccessfully advocated for an AA water quality classification for Schroon Lake, requiring stricter pollution controls, and passed three local resolutions addressing water pollution, community welfare, and traffic safety on East Shore Drive.
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Youth Outdoor & Conservation Education Scholarships 1 activity
- Award scholarships for environmental studiesFunds and awards scholarships to students pursuing studies in environmental and allied fields, supporting future stewardship and professional development in conservation.
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Community Event Fundraising 1 activity
- Host annual community events and fundraising dinnersOrganizes annual events focused on environmental stewardship and community engagement, including an annual dinner event in 2026 to celebrate organizational milestones and sell tickets at $40 each.
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Artificial Nesting Habitat Management 1 activity
- Implement loon conservation and habitat protection initiativesManages a loon-friendly lake program that includes installing floating nesting platforms, resulting in successful loon chick hatchings and rescues, to support the preservation of common loons on Schroon Lake.
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Membership Program Administration 1 activity
- Offer membership programs to support conservation workProvides tiered household memberships at various levels ($25–$500) including Friend, Partner, Patron, Benefactor, and Leadership tiers to engage community support for environmental protection efforts.
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Lake Stewardship Education & Outreach 1 activity
- Provide environmental education and outreach to the communityOffers educational programming for students and the public through floating classrooms, online seminars, field trips, boater safety certifications, children's activity materials, and informational booths at events. Produces educational lake maps and participates in conferences to promote lake preservation.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Publish newsletters and digital communications on conservation effortsDistributes "The Pearl," an annual print newsletter reaching over 2,000 homes, and "The Mini Pearl," an email newsletter with nearly 1,000 subscribers and a 64% open rate, to share updates on conservation, events, and environmental best practices.
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Discount Retail for Reuse 1 activity
- Support reuse and recycling initiatives through donation centers and community programsOperates or supports multiple reuse and donation centers including the Mountainside Share Shop, North Country Ministry’s clothing and furniture programs, Marge’s Nook, the Share Center, and the Chestertown Transfer Station reuse shop. Also facilitates the Schroon Lake Free-Recycle-Reuse Facebook group to promote item reuse and reduce landfill waste.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Promote septic system maintenance and water conservation practicesProvides guidance to property owners on maintaining septic systems, including pumping every 3–5 years, using eco-friendly toilet paper and detergents, landscaping drain fields appropriately, and installing reminder signs. Promotes water conservation through shorter showers, turning off taps during use, and installing water-saving devices.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$39K
Contributions & grants$36K92%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$3K8%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$37K
Program expenses53%
Admin / overhead33%
Fundraising14%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$112K
Cash$112K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$112K
Liquid reserves36.1 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -10.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 9
- Carol Molino — Membership Chairwoman/Director
- Chris DeGiovine — Director
- Everett McNeill — Environmental Committee Chairman/Director
- John Greening — Director
- Laura Gumaer — Director
- Paul Goldworthy — Director
- Stephen Ehler — Director
- Susan Lauricella — Director
- Tad Matley — Director
relationships · 29
Who they work with
- Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation Partner — Collaborated to rescue a loon chick entangled in fishing line.
- Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program Partner — Collaborates with APIPP for information on aquatic and invasive species.
- Adirondack Park organizations Partner — Collaborates with regional organizations to advance conservation efforts in the Adirondacks.
- Adirondack Park organizations Partner — Partners with Adirondack Park organizations on watershed protection efforts.
- Adirondack Watershed Institute at Paul Smiths College Government — Verified the East Shore Schroon Lake Association's watercraft inspection station as one of the busiest in the Adirondack Park.
- Battery Network Partner — Partner organization providing information on where to buy and recycle batteries.
- Bottle & Can Retrieval Center Partner — Lists Bottle & Can Retrieval Center in Warrensburg as a local recycling resource.
- Chestertown Partner — Shares recycling guidelines for Chestertown Transfer Station as part of local resource information.
- Dr. Kurt Stager Partner — Collaborates on educational programming about environmental science and the Anthropocene.
- Earth Day Network Partner — References Earth Day Network as a source for better recycling practices.
- Facebook Network — Platform used for public outreach and communication
- HWA Coalition Partner — Supported coalition efforts focused on Hemlock Woolly Adelgid prevention and monitoring.
- Horicon Partner — Shares recycling guidelines for Horicon Transfer Station as part of local resource information.
- Mountainside Church Partner — Hosts the Mountainside Share Shop for clothing and bedding donations.
- New York State Federation of Lake Associations Government — Recognized ESSLA with the Lake Steward of the Year award.
- North Country Ministry Partner — Operates multiple donation programs for clothing and furniture in Warrensburg and Brant Lake, supported by the organization.
- Recycle Right NY Partner — Directs users to Recycle Right NY for additional recycling tips and guidance.
- Schroon Lake Association Partner — Co-developed watershed management plans, co-funded swim-over surveys, and jointly produced a lake map with invasive species warnings.
- Schroon Lake Park District Partner — Worked together to study riverbed conditions related to lake level fluctuations.
- Town of Chester Partner — Partnered on the Schroon Lake Watershed Management Plan.
- Town of Horicon Partner — Partnered on the Schroon Lake Watershed Management Plan and enacted zoning laws of mutual interest.
- Town of Schroon Partner — Partnered on the Schroon Lake Watershed Management Plan.
- Town of Schroon Partner — Shares recycling guidelines for Town of Schroon Transfer Station as part of local resource information.
- Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District Partner — Collaborated on the Schroon Lake Watershed Management Plan and received recognition from this agency.
- YMCA Adirondack Center Partner — Hosts the Brant Lake Program Center, which includes a food pantry and clothing center.
- agencies Partner — Partners with government and environmental agencies to protect the Schroon Lake watershed.
- local governments Partner — Collaborates with local governments on lake protection and environmental initiatives.
- septicclarity.com Partner — Referred as a resource for additional information on septic systems.
- sister lakes Partner — Works with other lakes in the region on shared environmental protection goals.
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.
- Advocacy-Driven Policy Influencemethodology: advocacy-based protectionBy engaging in advocacy, the organization influences policies and actions that protect Schroon Lake, because systemic change through policy is more sustainable than isolated local interventions.
- Community-Led Environmental Stewardshipmethodology: community_trust_and_privacyBy fostering community engagement and ownership through education, events, and participatory programs, the organization drives sustained environmental protection behaviors, because locally rooted action produces greater compliance and long-term commitment than top-down enforcement.
- Integrated Invasive Species Preventionmethodology: integrated-invasive-species-managementBy combining physical infrastructure (e.g., boat washing stations), surveillance, public education, and targeted access-point controls, the organization prevents the spread of invasive species, because a multi-layered defense is more effective than any single intervention alone.