named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Events
Organizes free public events including festivals, workshops, and cultural activities at the Historic Heines Homestead.
Economic & Community Development
Supports local economic growth by attracting businesses and institutions to Central Islip and participating in regional planning efforts.
Emergency Food Pantry
Partners with the Christian Cultural Center to distribute emergency food to over 4,000 low-income adults and children monthly, supplemented by produce from an on-site organic garden.
Financial Literacy
Offers counseling on credit management, budgeting, debt reduction, and financial planning by certified counselors.
First-Time Homebuyer Program
Offers education, certification, and access to affordable housing for first-time homebuyers through an 8-hour course and one-on-one counseling with HUD-certified counselors.
Foreclosure Intervention Services
Provides free counseling to homeowners in Suffolk and Nassau Counties to prevent foreclosure through loan modifications, repayment plans, and financial counseling.
Rental Housing Program
Provides affordable rental housing options for individuals and families, with properties located near major transportation and shopping areas.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Regional Economic Development Initiatives 2 activities
- Advocate for economic development and institutional investmentPlayed a key role in attracting major institutions and businesses—including New York Institute of Technology, Touro Law College, Federal and County Court Complexes, Cintas, College Woods, Marriott Residence Inn, and Foxgate Condo Development—to Central Islip, contributing to over one billion dollars in local investment.
- Found and support civic and business alliancesFounded the Central Islip Historic Preservation Society, the Central Islip Islandia Chamber of Commerce, and the Central Islip Main Street Alliance to strengthen local civic engagement and economic coordination.
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First-Time Homebuyer Support Services 2 activities
- Deliver first-time homebuyer education and certificationProvides comprehensive first-time homebuyer education covering affordability, down payments, mortgage processes, and post-purchase responsibilities, culminating in certification after completion of an 8-hour course and individual counseling session.
- Provide housing counseling and foreclosure interventionOffers free housing counseling services to tenants and homeowners, including financial sustainability planning, mortgage delinquency resolution, and foreclosure prevention through loss mitigation strategies such as loan modification, short sale, and repayment plan negotiations; serves residents across Suffolk and Nassau Counties.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Host community events and festivalsOrganizes and sponsors free public recreational, cultural, and holiday events including festivals, expos, workshops, and family activities; hosts an annual festival at The Historic Heines Homestead attended by over 200 adults and children featuring games, tours, and educational demonstrations.
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Neighborhood Revitalization Initiatives 1 activity
- Lead downtown improvement and code enforcement initiativesCoordinates downtown revitalization efforts and addresses community concerns related to code violations and crime control in Central Islip.
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Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
- Manage historic preservation and community spaceMaintains and restores The Historic Heines Homestead, including 5 acres in downtown Central Islip, for community use; operates educational programs such as “A Step Back in Time” schoolhouse experiences and workshops on site.
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Affordable Housing Development and Management 1 activity
- Operate affordable housing for families and seniorsProvides affordable housing through the rehabilitation and construction of homes for lower-income households, including over 19 rehabbed homes and 10 new homes built for first-time buyers, with ongoing management at The Historic Heines Homestead.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Run emergency food pantry and organic gardenOperates an emergency food pantry in partnership with Christian Cultural Center, open multiple days per week, serving over 4,000 food-insecure individuals annually and supplementing distributions with fresh produce from an on-site organic vegetable garden; serves approximately 600 families per month.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$655K
Contributions & grants$395K60%
Program service revenue$201K31%
Investment income$1650%
Other revenue$58K
expenses
Total expenses$626K
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$363K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.24M
Cash$182K
Investments$0
Liabilities$752K
Net assets$493K
Liquid reserves3.5 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -1.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOAN MINNITI | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UNTIL 3/2025 | 35 | $75K |
board members · 10
- ANNETTE BERNARD — SECRETARY
- CARLA SIMPSON — EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AS OF 3/2025
- CAROL MEYERS — BOARD MEMBER
- CORNELLA BREWINGTON-JOHSON — VICE PRESIDENT
- DEREK STEIN — BOARD MEMBER
- ISABELLE MITCHELL — BOARD MEMBER
- JOSEPH FRITZ — BOARD MEMBER
- NANCY VARGAS JOHNSON — PRESIDENT
- RENEE GIORGINI — BOARD MEMBER
- WILLIAM KUHLMAN — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 30
Who they work with
- American Legion Post 1039 Partner — Partner organization listed in the community directory.
- Central Islip Legislator District Office 10 Government — Local legislative office listed in the community directory for constituent services.
- Central Islip Legislator District Office 9 Government — Local legislative office listed in the community directory for constituent services.
- Central Islip Little League Partner — Partner organization listed in the community directory.
- Central Islip Recreation Center Partner — Partner organization listed in the community directory.
- Central Islip Soccer Club Partner — Partner organization listed in the community directory.
- Christian Cultural Center Partner — Partner organization collaborating on the operation of the food pantry.
- Christian Cultural Center Partner — Partner organization in operating the emergency food pantry.
- Christian Cultural Center Partner — Partners with the Central Islip Civic Council to operate an emergency food pantry for needy individuals and families.
- Continental Home Loan Partner — Established in Central Islip with support from the Council in 2014.
- Foxgate Condo Development Partner — Developed in Central Islip with Council support in 2014.
- Girl Scouts of Suffolk County Partner — Partner organization listed in the community directory.
- ITB NAACP Partner — Partner organization listed in the community directory.
- Instagram Partner — Platform used for public outreach and engagement
- Islandia/Central Islip Rotary Club Partner — Partner organization listed in the community directory.
- Marriott Residence Inn Partner — Established in Central Islip with support from the Council in 2014.
- New York Institute of Technology Partner — Collaborated with the Council in its establishment in Central Islip.
- The Coalition of Good Neighbors Partner — Partner organization listed in the community directory.
- Touro Law College Partner — Supported by the Council in its development in Central Islip.
- Town of Islip Government — Government entity listed in the community directory for public services and constituent support.
- Town of Islip Government — Government partner with which the Council collaborates to promote Central Islip and market homes built and rehabbed by the Town.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Government — Housing counselors are HUD certified, indicating affiliation with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Government — Housing counselors are HUD Certified, indicating affiliation with and oversight by HUD standards.
- Youth Enrichment Services (YES) Partner — Partner organization listed in the community directory.
- church Partner — Partner in organizing food drives.
- eHomeAmerica.org Partner — Partnership to deliver the 8-hour first-time homebuyer course online.
- local government officials Partner — Collaborates with local government officials through monthly community initiatives.
- local school Partner — Partner in organizing food drives and school supply drives.
- school district Partner — Works with the local school district through monthly collaborative community initiatives.
- town council members Partner — Engages town council members in monthly community-based initiatives to address local needs.
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.
- Certification-Linked Education to Expand Access to Housing Grantsmethodology: certification-linked financial educationBy tying financial education and counseling to formal certification, the organization increases eligibility for housing grants because structured, accredited programs meet funder requirements and validate participant readiness.
- Community-Collaborative Planning to Improve Program Relevancemethodology: community-collaborative planningBy engaging diverse stakeholders in regular planning initiatives, the organization improves program effectiveness and community buy-in because inclusive processes surface local needs and build collective ownership of solutions.
- Personalized Financial Intervention to Sustain Homeownershipmethodology: loss_mitigationBy providing tailored financial counseling and lender negotiation, the organization prevents foreclosure and promotes sustainable homeownership because individualized support addresses root causes of financial distress and aligns residents with appropriate loan programs.