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COMMUNITY NURSERY OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS INC
ITHACA, NY · EIN 160995420 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · cnsithaca.org
revenue
$290K
expenses
$272K
net assets
$294K
employees
19
volunteers
38
program ratio
94%
mission · from form 990

COMMUNITY NURSERY OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS OPERATES A TODDLER AND PRESCHOOL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN TWO TO FIVE YEARS OLD.

profile · synthesized from sources

Community Nursery of Cayuga Heights operates a toddler and preschool program for children aged two to five years old in Ithaca, New York. The school provides developmentally appropriate, play-based learning experiences across three classrooms: the Nest (2-year-olds), the Nook (3-year-olds), and the Roost (4-year-olds). Programs emphasize social-emotional growth, sensory exploration, and early literacy and math through creative, process-based activities.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Extended Day Program
Afternoon program from 1–3 p.m. offering continued learning and activities for children enrolled in morning sessions.
Lunch Bunch
Noontime program providing supervised lunch and socialization for children in the Nest, Nook, and Roost programs.
The Nest
Preschool program for 2-year-olds focusing on transition to group settings, sensory development, and early social-emotional skills through play-based learning.
The Nook
Classroom for 3-year-olds promoting growth in early childhood disciplines including art, math, and literacy through exploration and interactive play.
The Roost
UPK program for 4-year-olds preparing children for kindergarten with structured learning, movement, and music integrated into daily activities.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Play-Based Early Childhood Education 2 activities
    • Operate play-based early childhood education program
      Provides a ten-month, play-based nursery school program for children ages 2 to 5 from September to June, aligned with the Ithaca City School District calendar. The program emphasizes child-directed play, exploration, and development in areas such as art, math, literacy, movement, and music, with daily activities including story time, outdoor play, open-ended art, science experiments, and dance.
    • Provide age-grouped classroom programming
      Offers structured early childhood education in three age-specific classrooms for children who turn 2, 3, or 4 before December 1st. Programming includes full-day (9am–noon) options for 3- and 4-year-olds and part-week sessions (Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday or Thursday/Friday) for 2-year-olds, with groupings designed to support developmental transitions.
  • Early Childhood Education Financial Assistance 1 activity
    • Administer income-based scholarships
      Offers a limited number of income-based scholarships for early childhood programs, with eligibility determined using Federal Lunch Program and Child Health Plus NY guidelines.
  • Early Childhood Education & Development Programs 1 activity
    • Deliver Universal Pre-Kindergarten through ICSD partnership
      Provides pre-Kindergarten education for 4-year-olds through a partnership with the Ithaca City School District Universal Pre-K (ICSD UPK) program, admitting students via lottery followed by first-come, first-served enrollment.
  • Children's Play and Motor Development Spaces 1 activity
    • Maintain safe indoor and outdoor learning environments
      Operates an early childhood facility in the lower level of a church in Ithaca, NY, featuring a fenced outdoor playground with a sandbox, climbing structures, swings, mud kitchen, and play tools, as well as an indoor gross motor space ("bike room") equipped with trampolines, mats, bikes, and scooters for use during inclement weather.
  • Before and After School Childcare 1 activity
    • Offer supplemental extended day and enrichment programs
      Provides optional supplemental programming including Early Drop-off (8:30–9am), Lunch Bunch (noon–1pm), and Extended Day (1–3pm) for enrolled families. Also offers enrichment activities in yoga, art, soccer, and Spanish during the school year to support holistic development.
  • Family-School Engagement Programs 1 activity
    • Require family participation in co-op model
      Operates under a cooperative model requiring family involvement in classroom cleaning, co-op committees, fundraising efforts, two school-wide cleaning days per year, and one or two parent meetings annually.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$290K
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$272K94%
Investment income$7K2%
Other revenue$11K
expenses
Total expenses$272K
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$222K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$326K
Cash$294K
Investments$0
Liabilities$32K
Net assets$294K
Liquid reserves13.0 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -23.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
SARA GARNER DIRECTOR 1 $28K
TESSA MASI-PERKINS TEACHER REPRESENTATIVE 1 $23K
EMILY D'ALESSANDRO VICE PRESIDENT NEST 1 $521
board members · 7
  • CANDICE REEVES — SECRETARY
  • JOSH LAMBERT — VICE PRESIDENT ROOST
  • KAILLE GRAY — VICE PRESIDENT NOOK
  • KAKI JOHNSTON — CO-PRESIDENT
  • KATE FORESTER — TREASURER
  • NORMA SCHWAB — COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE
  • TIM WELLS — CO-PRESIDENT
relationships · 9

Who they work with

  • COMMUNITY NURSERY OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS INC Network — Operates as a cooperative nursery school under the name CNS, serving children in Ithaca, NY
  • First Congregational Church Partner — Hosts COMMUNITY NURSERY OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS INC in its building.
  • First Congregational Church Partner — Hosts the organization’s facility in the lower level of its building.
  • Flaming Imagination Partner — Organization founded and directed by Uniit Carruyo to coach educators and caregivers, affiliated with CNS through shared staff and educational philosophy.
  • ICSD UPK Partner — Collaborates to provide pre-Kindergarten services for 4-year-olds.
  • Ithaca City School District Government — Aligns program calendar with the Ithaca City School District for holidays, vacations, and snow days.
  • Ithaca City School District Partner — Partners with ICSD to admit Universal Pre-Kindergarten students through a coordinated enrollment process.
  • New York State Department of Health Government — Uses Child Health Plus NY income eligibility guidelines to determine scholarship eligibility.
  • USDA Government — Uses Federal Lunch Program income eligibility guidelines to determine scholarship eligibility.
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.

  • Integrated Holistic Development Approach
    methodology: holistic_early_childhood_development
    By weaving art, music, movement, mindfulness, and nature into daily routines, we support communication, independence, and community because these elements holistically nurture a child's emotional, physical, and social growth.
  • Parent-Participation Cooperative Model
    methodology: cooperative_model
    By integrating parents as active partners in teaching and program operations, we build a stronger educational community and enhance program quality because shared responsibility fosters engagement, sustainability, and collective ownership.
  • Play-Based Learning Model
    methodology: play_based_learning
    By using guided play as the primary mode of instruction, we foster cognitive, social, and emotional development in children because play naturally supports exploration, interaction, and long-term positive associations with learning.