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UPROSE INC

BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 112490531 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE O200 · Youth Development · Medium ($1M-$10M) · uprose.org
revenue
$3.2M
expenses
$2.7M
net assets
$5.8M
employees
17
volunteers
8
program ratio
81%
mission · from form 990

TO EDUCATE COMMUNITY REGARDING ENVIRONMENT AND TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.

profile · synthesized from sources

UPROSE is a community-based organization in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park neighborhood advancing environmental justice, climate resilience, and youth leadership. Founded in 1966, it promotes a just transition from extractive industries to a regenerative economy through community organizing, participatory planning, and cultural initiatives. The organization centers frontline, intergenerational, and multicultural leadership in shaping sustainable urban policy.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Climate Justice Lives Here! Festival
Cultural event combining art, music, and storytelling to celebrate community resilience and mobilize action for climate justice.
Climate Justice Youth Summit
Annual summit engaging over 3,000 NYC youth in climate justice education, leadership development, and activism.
Community Owned Solar
Initiative promoting local solar energy projects to increase energy democracy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels in Sunset Park.
Green Resilient Industrial District (GRID) Plan 2.0
Community-led planning initiative to redevelop Sunset Park’s industrial waterfront with green infrastructure, clean energy, and climate resilience.
Just Transition Worker Resource Initiative
Training and job placement program connecting Sunset Park residents to careers in offshore wind, solar installation, maritime, and food sovereignty.
Learning Circles
Community education forums for adults and elders on topics including climate justice, resilience, and just transition.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 2 activities
    • Youth and community leadership development in environmental and climate justice
      Trains youth and adults in climate and environmental justice advocacy through fellowship programs, youth summits, and intergenerational learning circles. Over the past five years, trained an average of 50 young people annually and engaged over 200 adults and elders in community education on Just Transition and resilience.
    • Youth development with environmental education
      Runs programs focused on youth development through environmental education and leadership training, including annual youth summits and fellowship programs that have engaged over 3,000 young people.
  • Environmental Policy Advocacy & Litigation 1 activity
    • Advocacy for climate justice and equitable urban policy
      Leads citywide and local advocacy efforts to advance climate justice, including transportation equity, open space expansion, and elimination of polluting infrastructure. Participates in coalitions such as the PEAK Coalition and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway Environmental Justice Coalition, and conducts campaigns against rezoning and peaker plants.
  • Neighborhood Civic Engagement 1 activity
    • Community organizing and education for sustainability and resilience
      Conducts community organizing, participatory education, and cultural programming in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, to advance environmental health, climate resilience, and intergenerational leadership. Includes facilitating learning circles, organizing cultural events, and mobilizing community power around a just energy transition.
  • Local Clean Energy Adoption & Education 1 activity
    • Development of community-owned renewable energy projects
      Implements and expands solar energy infrastructure in Sunset Park, including installations at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, to advance energy democracy and local climate resilience.
  • Clean Energy Workforce Training 1 activity
    • Job training and green workforce development
      Creates career pathways for Sunset Park residents in offshore wind, solar installation, maritime, and food sovereignty through training, resources, and industry connections. Supported development of an offshore wind hub projected to create 1,200 clean energy jobs.
  • Energy Policy Advocacy & Research 1 activity
    • Research and implementation of sustainable community development
      Conducts research and implements community-driven solutions for environmental health, climate resiliency, and equitable economic development, including the GRID Plan and site reuse planning for decommissioned power plants.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.25M
Contributions & grants$3.09M95%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$33K1%
Other revenue$125K
expenses
Total expenses$2.74M
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$1.20M
Grants paid out$420K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$7.76M
Cash$4.75M
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.91M
Net assets$5.85M
Liquid reserves20.8 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +20.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ELIZABETH YEAMPIERRE EXECUTIVE DI 35 $196K
board members · 8
  • BRIAN GONZALEZ — DIRECTOR
  • ESMERALDA SIMMONS — DIRECTOR
  • ETHEL BREGLIA — DIRECTOR
  • JEANINE RAMIREZ — DIRECTOR
  • JOAQUIN BRITO JR — TREASURER
  • KEISHA CRAIG — DIRECTOR
  • MERCEDES NARCISO — SECRETARY
  • NEYDA MARTINEZ — CHAIRPERSON
relationships · 19

Who they work with

  • Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso Partner — Collaborating on the development of alternative reuse plans for the Gowanus and Narrows peaker power plants.
  • Brooklyn Paper Network — Media outlet covering UPROSE activities
  • Brooklyn-Queens Expressway Environmental Justice Coalition Coalition — Member organization participating in joint advocacy efforts related to transportation and environmental justice.
  • Climate Justice Alliance Coalition — UPROSE is a member of the Climate Justice Alliance, collaborating on environmental justice initiatives.
  • Department of Energy Government — Government agency providing funding support to UPROSE.
  • Energy Foundation Funder — Foundation providing financial support for UPROSE initiatives.
  • Grassroots Global Justice Alliance Coalition — UPROSE is a member of the Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, working on national and global justice movements.
  • In The Thick Partner — Collaborated with the In The Thick podcast to discuss environmental justice and political implications.
  • Kresge Foundation Funder — Foundation providing financial support for UPROSE initiatives.
  • NY Renews Partner — UPROSE collaborates with NY Renews on state-level climate and environmental justice campaigns.
  • NYC Climate Justice Youth Summit Partner — UPROSE organizes the NYC Climate Justice Youth Summits to engage youth in climate justice education and leadership.
  • Nathan Cummings Foundation Funder — Foundation providing financial support for UPROSE initiatives.
  • New York City Environmental Justice Alliance Partner — UPROSE partners with the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance on local environmental justice efforts.
  • New York City mayoral candidates Partner — Target audience for the Mayoral Briefing on Climate Justice, indicating engagement with political leadership to advance climate justice policies.
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Government — Providing funding and technical support through the Just Transition Site Reuse Planning Program for community-led site reuse planning.
  • New York Women’s Foundation Funder — Foundation providing financial support for UPROSE initiatives.
  • PEAK Coalition Coalition — Member organization working collectively to end the use of peaker plants in New York City.
  • Ramboll Partner — Partnering with UPROSE to develop alternative reuse plans for the Gowanus and Narrows peaker power plants.
  • The Solutions Project Funder — Organization providing financial support for UPROSE initiatives.
strategies · 5

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-Driven Climate Justice
    methodology: frontline_community_resilience
    By centering frontline communities in climate resilience and policy design, we achieve more equitable and effective outcomes because those most impacted are best positioned to lead sustainable solutions. This approach integrates local knowledge, cultural traditions, and intergenerational leadership to build collective power and transform systems.
  • Equity-Centered Participatory Planning
    methodology: equity-centered_decision-making
    By applying an equity lens and participatory decision-making to urban planning and policy, we correct historical injustices and build community ownership because inclusive processes produce more just and resilient outcomes.
  • Interconnected Liberation Through Solidarity and Love
    methodology: interconnected_liberation_framework
    By grounding organizing in love and active solidarity across marginalized identities, we build transformative movements because collective liberation depends on dismantling all interlocking systems of oppression through unified, compassionate action.
  • Just Transition as Regenerative Community Development
    methodology: just_transition
    By shifting from extractive economies to community-rooted regenerative systems—through green infrastructure, local job creation, and democratic planning—we produce lasting equity and environmental sustainability because economic transformation must be led by and benefit frontline communities.
  • Youth Leadership as Movement Continuity
    methodology: youth_led_movement_building
    By developing youth leaders within environmental and social justice work, we ensure long-term movement sustainability because intergenerational leadership strengthens cultural continuity, innovation, and resilience in frontline communities.