irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $436KEducation for Action: The Lake George Association's education programming translates basic science and research advances in fields related to freshwater protection into compelling digital and experiential learning programs that connect across three broad constituent groups: professionals and legislators; residential and commercial property owners; and the public (i.e., schoolchildren, teachers, and visitors). The programs provide knowledge and skills that drive actionable outcomes to protect the water quality of Lake George, establishing a model for education designed to inform and engage the diverse constituency required for measurable results and sustaining progress.
named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Education for Action
Translates freshwater science into educational programs for professionals, property owners, and the public to drive actionable water protection behaviors.
Lake Science
Scientific monitoring and data modeling initiative in partnership with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Jefferson Project to study nutrient loading, invasive species, road salt, and climate change impacts on Lake George.
Low Impact Development (LID) Certification
Recognition program encouraging property owners to implement stormwater and shoreline management best practices to reduce environmental impact.
Reduce Salt Initiative
Science-guided program working with municipalities to reduce road salt use through training, technology (e.g., brine systems, GPS tracking, Live-Edge plows), and certification in Sustainable Winter Management (SWiM®); has achieved up to 50% salt reduction in partner towns.
Reduce Stormwater Runoff Program
Public education and technical assistance initiative promoting low-impact development practices such as rain gardens, permeable surfaces, shoreline buffers, and storm drain adoption to reduce nutrient pollution entering Lake George.
Salt Summit
Annual educational event co-hosted by the LGA that brings together experts, vendors, and practitioners to share strategies for reducing winter road salt use.
Stop Wastewater Pollution Program
Outreach and technical support program helping septic system owners maintain or upgrade systems to prevent nutrient and pathogen pollution; includes advocacy for wastewater districts and promotion of enhanced treatment units (ETUs).
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 3 activities
- Engages communities in localized lake protection through neighborhood-level programsImplements the Bay by Bay Initiative and the watershed-wide "Lake Protectors" program to engage property owners, businesses, and organizations in taking direct actions to reduce stormwater runoff, wastewater pollution, invasive species spread, and road salt use at the local level.
- Operates basin-wide invasive species, stormwater, and septic protection programsManages multiple large-scale protection initiatives including the Mandatory Boat Inspection Program, West Brook Conservation Initiative (achieving 85% phosphorus and 92% total suspended solids removal), and the Lake George Septic Initiative to address key pollution sources across the watershed.
- Supports lake protection through business engagement and membership programsEngages local and regional businesses through a membership program and the Business Compact on the Economic Imperative of Protecting Lake George, which over 100 businesses have signed, committing to protective actions and advocacy for water quality.
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Workplace and Affiliate Giving Programs 1 activity
- Administers matching grant programs to amplify private contributionsProvides a $200,000 matching grant to double the impact of first-year payments for new or renewed LG100 pledges and has recognized over $1 million in watershed investments through its grant and fundraising initiatives.
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Lake and Watershed Monitoring & Assessment 1 activity
- Conducts long-term water quality and environmental monitoringOperates lake-wide water quality monitoring programs, stream sampling, and data modeling to study environmental conditions and threats such as nutrient loading, invasive species, road salt use, and climate change. Deploys sensors on plow trucks and collaborates with science partners like the Jefferson Project to collect and analyze data.
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Lake Stewardship Education & Outreach 1 activity
- Delivers science-based education and technical assistance to stakeholdersProvides digital and experiential education programs for professionals, property owners, and the public; publishes resources like the Do It Yourself Water Quality guide; and offers curated recommendations and technical advising to help property owners develop focused lake protection plans.
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Community Environmental Monitoring and Research 1 activity
- Engages volunteers and community scientists in environmental monitoringRuns a Community Science program that trains and involves volunteer community scientists in monitoring lake water quality and environmental concerns, expanding data collection capacity and public engagement in lake protection.
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Uncategorized 3 activities
- Advocates for policy and infrastructure improvements to protect water qualityProvides scientific testimony and technical assistance to support public funding and policy changes, including advocating for the $24 million replacement of the Village of Lake George’s wastewater treatment plant and supporting the development of local laws requiring septic inspections during property transfers.
- Funds and implements septic system improvement and wastewater management initiativesFunds and supports the replacement of failing septic systems, provides grants for advanced wastewater treatment infrastructure (e.g., woodchip bioreactors), and finances training programs for certified septic inspectors. Supported the creation of the first wastewater management district in the basin and continues to fund outreach and monitoring efforts.
- Reduces road salt pollution through technology, education, and partnershipsLeads the Lake George Road Salt Reduction Initiative, co-hosts the annual Salt Summit, monitors state road salt pilot programs, and funds brine plant installations to enable anti-icing practices. Acts as a certified distributor of Live-Edge plows to help municipalities access advanced snow-removal equipment at reduced cost.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.41M
Contributions & grants$3.73M85%
Program service revenue$24K1%
Investment income$695K16%
Other revenue$-37K
expenses
Total expenses$3.41M
Program expenses69%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising12%
Salaries & benefits$1.17M
Grants paid out$657K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$22.45M
Cash$373K
Investments$19.09M
Liabilities$314K
Net assets$22.14M
Liquid reserves68.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +16.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Siy | Former President | 0 | $200K |
| Christopher Navitsky | LG Waterkeeper | 41 | $183K |
| Tyra MacGuffie | Dir of Development | 40 | $163K |
| Monika LaPlante | Managing Prgm Dir | 40 | $119K |
| Diane Potter | Dir of Fin & Admin | 40 | $108K |
| Brendan Wiltse PhD | Executive Dir. | 40 | $24K |
board members · 19
- Blair L Keller — Director
- Bob Bailey — Director
- Charles Crew — Director
- Dennis J O'Connor Esq — Director
- Geoff W Cook — Director
- George R Hearst — Director
- George S Morris — Director
- Ginger Henry Kuenzel — Director
- I Robert Wolgin — Director
- James N Casaccio — Director
- James Siplon — Director
- Jeffrey Lape — Director
- John E Kelly III — Chair
- Keith E Ferguson — Director
- Kenneth B Parlin — Director
- Linda Schadler Feist — Director
- Lucinda H Bhavsar — Director
- Mary Caravella — Director
- Peter Menzies — Director
relationships · 30
Who they work with
- Charles R. Wood Foundation Partner — Member of the LG100, indicating a major donor relationship supporting the LGA's protection initiatives.
- Council of Business Advisors Partner — Business advisory group supporting the development and promotion of the Business Compact for lake protection.
- Council of Science Advisors Partner — Advisory body providing scientific input to guide protection strategies.
- Ginny Rowan-Smith Partner — Provides a $200,000 matching grant to support LG100 fundraising efforts.
- Henry M. Rowan Family Foundation Partner — Member of the LG100, indicating a major donor relationship supporting the LGA's protection initiatives.
- IBM Partner — Collaborates with the Lake George Association through the Jefferson Project to advance freshwater science.
- IBM Research Partner — Collaborates with the LGA on the Jefferson Project, an environmental research initiative.
- Jefferson Project Partner — Scientific research partner collaborating with the Lake George Association on lake monitoring and environmental analysis.
- Lake George Park Commission Partner — Worked together to design a basin-wide septic system management program.
- Lake George Waterkeeper Partner — Collaborates on research, advocacy, and technical programs to reduce wastewater pollution in the Lake George Basin.
- Lake George Waterkeeper Partner — Partner organization contributing to lake protection efforts.
- Manning Smith Partner — Provides a $200,000 matching grant to support LG100 fundraising efforts.
- Neil Jane William Estelle Golub Family Foundation, Inc. Partner — Member of the LG100, indicating a major donor relationship supporting the LGA's protection initiatives.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Funder — Provided funding for the septic system analysis in the Town of Lake George.
- New York State Department of Transportation Government — Implements a salt-reduction pilot program in the Lake George Basin that is monitored by the LGA's Lake George Waterkeeper program.
- Norman and Marian Wolgin* Family Foundation Partner — Member of the LG100, indicating a major donor relationship supporting the LGA's protection initiatives.
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Partner — Collaborates with the Lake George Association through the Jefferson Project to conduct freshwater research.
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Partner — Conducts long-term water quality monitoring of Lake George, providing scientific data used by the LGA to assess salt concentration trends.
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Partner — Partners with the LGA on the Jefferson Project and conducts data modeling and simulations at the Darrin Fresh Water Institute.
- The FUND for Lake George Partner — Merged with in 2021 to combine expertise and resources for lake protection.
- The Jefferson Project Partner — Research partner providing world-class freshwater science for lake protection initiatives.
- The Sagamore Partner — Hosts the LGA's annual Gala event in partnership with the Lake George Association.
- The Wright Family Foundation Partner — Member of the LG100, indicating a major donor relationship supporting the LGA's protection initiatives.
- Town of Bolton Government — Provided technical assistance, training funding, and grants for septic inspection programs and a woodchip bioreactor project.
- Town of Lake George Government — Conducted septic system analysis and developed a GIS-based model to guide wastewater management planning.
- Town of Queensbury Government — Provided technical assistance for establishing the North Queensbury Wastewater Disposal District #1.
- Viaesys, Inc. Partner — Partners with the LGA to develop and implement specialized technology solutions for sustainable winter management in the Lake George basin.
- WIT Advisers, LLC Partner — Collaborates with the LGA to provide winter management consulting and training for municipal plow crews as part of the Road Salt Reduction Initiative.
- West Brook Conservation Initiative Partner — Collaborated on a stormwater treatment project that uses man-made ponds to treat millions of gallons of runoff annually.
- White Family Foundation Partner — Member of the LG100, indicating a major donor relationship supporting the LGA's protection initiatives.
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-Engaged Stewardship Modelmethodology: community_engaged_stewardshipBy engaging local residents and property owners as active stewards through place-based organizing, citizen science, and identity-driven participation (e.g., "Lake Protectors"), the organization fosters sustained behavioral change and collective action, because local ownership increases compliance, reduces pollution, and strengthens long-term conservation capacity.
- Member-Supported Conservation Sustainability Modelmethodology: member_supported_modelBy relying on a member-supported community model, the organization ensures long-term funding and civic buy-in for lake protection, because sustained individual contributions create financial resilience and foster replicable, community-owned conservation frameworks.
- Science to Solutions Translationmethodology: science_to_solutionsBy translating scientific research into actionable programs and public engagement initiatives, the organization drives effective freshwater protection, because accessible science increases public understanding, behavioral change, and policy responsiveness.