irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $3.35MPUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS:THE CONSERVANCY PRODUCES HUNDREDS OF ANNUAL PROGRAMS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BOTH FREE AND FEE-BASED. FREE EVENTS INCLUDE CONCERTS, FITNESS CLASSES, OUTDOOR MOVIES, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, GUIDED TOURS, CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING, AND LARGE FESTIVALS SUCH AS THE WESTSIDE COUNTY FAIR, THE LITTLE RED LIGHTHOUSE FESTIVAL, AND THE HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING. FEE-BASED PROGRAMS INCLUDE TENNIS INSTRUCTION AND THE SUMMER SPORTS CAMP, BOTH OF WHICH ALSO OFFER NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID.
- #2 $1.63MDESIGN AND CONSTRUCTIONTHIS REFERS TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PARK. FOR 2024, THESE PROJECTS INCLUDED RECONSTRUCTION OF THE 106TH STREET STAIRS, THE INSTALLATION OF NEW FITNESS EQUIPMENT AT 151ST STREET, THE INSTALLATION OF NEW MULTISPORT COURT SURFACES AT 105TH STREET, THE INSTALLATION OF NEW WROUGHT IRON FENCING AT 135TH STREET, THE INSTALLATION OF 21 NEW SOLAR POWERED TRASH RECEPTACLES IN NORTH PARK, THE PLANTING OF NEW STREET TREES ALONG RIVERSIDE DRIVE, AND THE PURCHASE OF NEW VEHICLES FOR USE BY CONSERVANCY OPERATIONS STAFF. GENERALLY, THESE EXPENSES ARE PAYMENTS TO OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS BUT MAY ALSO INCLUDE ASSOCIATED COSTS SUCH AS PRINTING AND COPYING, DESIGN DRAWINGS, SIGNAGE, PERMIT FEES, AND RELATED POSTAGE.
named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Compost Compound
Operates the first in-park facility for processing horticultural waste at scale in New York City, turning green waste into compost to improve soil quality and reduce landfill use.
Design and Construction
Manages capital improvement projects in the park including stair and ramp reconstructions, playground upgrades, installation of fitness equipment, solar-powered trash receptacles, and green infrastructure like bioswales and compost facilities.
Goat Weeding Program
Uses a herd of goats as a sustainable, chemical-free method to remove invasive plants from hard-to-reach slopes, promoting ecological health and public awareness.
North Park Initiative
Focuses on addressing historical disinvestment in the northern section of Riverside Park (120th to 181st Streets), improving access, amenities, and environmental conditions in predominantly Black and Latinx communities.
Public Programs and Events
Offers hundreds of annual free and fee-based events including concerts, fitness classes, outdoor movies, educational workshops, guided tours, children's programming, and festivals such as the Westside County Fair and the Little Red Lighthouse Festival.
Summer Sports Camp
Weekly all-day camp for children ages 4 to 16 featuring baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and multi-sport options; includes scholarships and partnerships with organizations like NYCFC.
Zone Gardener Program
Employs a team of nearly two dozen full-time professional gardeners who provide year-round horticultural care across the park’s six-mile stretch, ensuring consistent landscape maintenance and ecological stewardship.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 2 activities
- Park Capital Improvements and Sustainable Land ManagementCompletes annual capital improvement projects including reconstruction of stairs and ramps, installation of fitness equipment, multisport and pickleball courts, fencing, solar-powered trash receptacles, bioswales, paving, landscape restoration, and safety surface replacements. Employs sustainable methods such as using a seasonal herd of goats for invasive plant removal and operating the first large-scale horticultural waste composting facility in an NYC public park at 96th Street to create a closed-loop organic material reuse system.
- Park Stewardship and Equity InitiativesCares for six miles of Riverside Park along Manhattan’s West Side from 59th to 181st Street in partnership with the NYC Parks Department. Leads the North Park Initiative, launched in 2009, to address historical disinvestment and inequities in park conditions north of 120th Street through targeted improvements and inclusive programming.
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Community Space Provision 1 activity
- Facility Operations and Community SpacesManages multiple facilities including a 1,600 square foot all-season indoor activity space at the 102nd Street Field House, the Peter Jay Sharp Volunteer House as a hub for staff and volunteers, and the Hippo Parkhouse as a children’s event space. These spaces support year-round public programming and operational coordination.
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Free Outdoor Music Concerts 1 activity
- Free Public Programming and Cultural EventsHosts over 300 free public programs annually from May to October, including concerts (such as Friday Night Jams and free Saturday night summer concerts), outdoor movies, dance parties, fitness classes, festivals (including the Westside County Fair, Little Red Lighthouse Festival, and Holiday Tree Lighting), educational workshops, guided tours, children’s programming, and theatrical performances in partnership with arts organizations. Provides seating logistics and cushions for performances and uses the Hippo Parkhouse as a dedicated event space for children.
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Community Event Fundraising 1 activity
- Fundraising Events and Revenue UseHosts signature fundraising events such as the Hudson Beach Party, which features food, drinks, games, and live music, with proceeds from ticket sales directly supporting ongoing park maintenance, care, and programming.
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Student and Camp Transportation Services 1 activity
- Summer Camp Transportation ServicesProvides transportation for summer sports camp participants via climate-controlled school buses with designated stops across Manhattan neighborhoods to ensure accessibility.
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Racquet Sports Facility and Programming 1 activity
- Tennis and Sports ProgrammingOperates 10 outdoor red-clay tennis courts and Fort Washington hard courts, offering fee-based group and private lessons, competitions, and summer camps for all ages. Also runs a summer sports camp program featuring baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, tennis, and volleyball, with certified athletic trainers on-site for medical support and need-based scholarships available to ensure access regardless of financial situation.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Volunteer Program ManagementOperates a Grassroots Volunteer Program that engages individuals, schools, community groups, and corporate teams in park stewardship activities such as weeding, mulching, pruning, shoreline cleanups, painting infrastructure, and horticultural maintenance. Offers both short-term volunteer events and ongoing roles in long-term care of gardens and landscapes.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$10.92M
Contributions & grants$5.84M54%
Program service revenue$4.88M45%
Investment income$218K2%
Other revenue$-30K
expenses
Total expenses$12.19M
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$6.31M
Grants paid out$262K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$7.51M
Cash$2.42M
Investments$4.20M
Liabilities$1.38M
Net assets$6.13M
Liquid reserves6.5 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +10.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MERRITT BIRNBAUM | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $303K |
| ROXANNE ROTH | VP OPERATIONS | 40 | $170K |
| ETHAN MILLER | CFO | 40 | $114K |
board members · 22
- ANDREW EHRLICH — DIRECTOR
- BLAKE MIDDLETON — DIRECTOR
- CATHERINE MORRISON GOLDEN — DIRECTOR
- DAVID GOLDSTICK — DIRECTOR
- DEBORAH BROWN — DIRECTOR
- ERIC LIAW — VICE-CHAIR
- FREYA AZAD — DIRECTOR
- JANE MCINTOSH — DIRECTOR
- JOHN MASCIALINO — CHAIR
- JOSEPH TANSEY — DIRECTOR
- JOSH LEHRER — DIRECTOR
- LARA SHALOV MEHRABAN — SECRETARY
- LAUREN SLOAN — DIRECTOR
- LESLIE BAZOS — DIRECTOR
- LORI BASSMAN — DIRECTOR
- MARGARET HOLEN — VICE-CHAIR
- MARIA LIZARDO — VICE-CHAIR
- MARY FRANCES SHAUGHNESSY — DIRECTOR
- MIA POPPE — DIRECTOR
- NEIL HORNER — TREASURER
- NNAJI CAMPBELL — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT EPSTEIN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- 119th Street Tennis Association (119TA) Partner — Conservancy User Group that raises funds for supplemental materials and maintenance of the 119th Street tennis courts through membership and tournaments.
- Grassroots Volunteer Portal Partner — Platform used for volunteer sign-up and management.
- Hudson Classical Theater Company Partner — Collaborates to present public performances, including "The Dancing Men," in Riverside Park.
- Hudson Classical Theater Company Partner — Partner organization presenting theatrical performances in Riverside Park.
- NYC Parks Government — Co-presents Summer on the Hudson events, including Friday Night Jams, in partnership with the Conservancy
- NYC Parks Partner — Partnership to co-present Summer on the Hudson programming across Riverside Park.
- NYC Parks Department Government — Operates and maintains the 119th Street tennis courts in partnership with the Conservancy’s programming providers.
- New York City Football Club Partner — Partnership provides matchday ticket discounts, stadium access, coaching education, and talent ID events for campers.
- New York City Parks Department Partner — Longstanding operational and capital improvement partner in the care and management of Riverside Park.
- New Yorkers for Parks Coalition — Member of the Play Fair Coalition advocating for equitable park funding and resources across NYC.
- Park User Groups Partner — Collaborate with the Conservancy to steward and advocate for specific anchor locations in Riverside Park, including fundraising and public communications.
- Riverside Tennis Association Partner — Co-hosts the annual Hudson Beach Party with the Riverside Park Conservancy.
- Riverside Tennis Association Partner — Conservancy affiliate that manages tennis courts and delivers programming at multiple locations including 96th Street and Fort Washington.
- Summer on the Hudson Network — Program name under which Riverside Park Conservancy delivers public events in collaboration with NYC Parks.
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.
- Adaptive Sustainable Land Managementmethodology: sustainable_land_managementBy using chemical-free, innovative practices like goat grazing and on-site composting, the organization improves urban ecology and responds to environmental challenges, because regenerative land care builds ecosystem resilience while modeling sustainable urban park management.
- Community-Driven Stewardship Modelmethodology: community_driven_stewardshipBy partnering directly with local residents and volunteer groups to co-manage park care and programming, the organization increases community ownership and long-term park sustainability, because shared responsibility fosters deeper engagement and accountability.
- Holistic Youth Development Through Sportsmethodology: holistic_youth_developmentBy integrating sportsmanship, leadership, and healthy living into youth sports programs and grouping campers by ability rather than age, the organization promotes equitable skill development and personal growth, because peer-appropriate challenges and values-based coaching improve engagement and outcomes.
- Inclusive Public Programming for Community Activationmethodology: inclusive_public_programmingBy offering free, accessible, and culturally diverse public programming such as music, theater, and social events in park spaces, the organization activates underused areas and strengthens community ties, because inclusive, arts-based experiences draw diverse populations and foster belonging.