named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Stage
Platform for local and emerging artists, organized collaboratively by community members, providing performance opportunities at the festival
Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance
Annual multi-day music festival featuring diverse genres including zydeco, reggae, folk, world music, and dance performances; includes main stages and community-run stages showcasing local and international artists
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Community Festival & Event Production 2 activities
- Distribute festival programs and promote cross-cultural exchangeDistributes 30,000 printed festival programs throughout central New York and surrounding areas prior to the event. Hosts workshops, demonstrations, and performances on the Leslie Puryear Community Stage to support cross-cultural exchange and showcase local talent.
- Organize and operate the annual Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & DanceHosts an annual multi-day music and dance festival in Trumansburg, NY, featuring over 100 performing artists across multiple stages, including dedicated programming such as the recurring GrassRoots Chamber Orchestra and the Leslie Puryear Community Stage for local and emerging artists. The event has been held annually since at least 2022, with future editions scheduled through 2026.
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Event and Production Volunteer Coordination 1 activity
- Facilitate volunteer engagement for festival operationsRelies on more than 1,300 volunteers annually to run the festival, offering structured group volunteering opportunities such as the Green Team, which requires two shifts in exchange for a weekend pass for groups of three or more starting in 2026.
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Benefit Events for Arts and Culture 1 activity
- Fundraise for community-based nonprofit organizations through festival operationsRaises funds for local and global nonprofit organizations supporting arts, education, and HIV/AIDS services through festival proceeds, including benefit concerts such as a sold-out event that raised over $10,000 for AIDS Work of Tompkins County. This fundraising mission has supported community causes for over 25 years.
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Performing Arts Ticket Access Programs 1 activity
- Implement transparent and equitable ticketing practicesUses an all-fees-included ticketing model to improve pricing transparency, maintains fixed ticket prices despite inflation (as in 2026), and operates a face-value ticket exchange in partnership with CashorTrade to enable secure resales for attendees.
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Tai Chi and Mind-Body Wellness Instruction 1 activity
- Offer wellness programming during the festivalProvides morning yoga sessions during the festival on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the Dance Tent as part of attendee wellness offerings.
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Cultural Exchange and Community Integration Events 1 activity
- Organize and operate the annual GrassRoots Culture CampPlans and hosts the annual GrassRoots Culture Camp, a recurring event scheduled for July 12–15, 2026, marking its 9th iteration, focused on cultural exchange and community engagement.
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Managed Campground and Retreat Operations 1 activity
- Provide comprehensive camping infrastructure and services for festival attendeesOperates multiple onsite and offsite camping options including vehicle and tent camping, Woods and Knoll Camping, Quiet Family Camping zones, and generator-accessible RV sites at the Across The Way Campground. Offers amenities such as showers, food vendors, EMS, security, dishwashing stations, community fire pits, and shuttle transportation—including wheelchair-accessible shuttles—between campgrounds and festival entrances.
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Event Medical Standby Services 1 activity
- Provide health, safety, and accessibility services during the festivalEnsures attendee safety by maintaining a fixed 11% Health & Safety Fee that funds emergency medical services, fire, law enforcement, and ambulance coverage. Provides on-site First Aid, Security, accessible shuttles, and water access via spigots and EMS stations across the festival grounds.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$1.92M
Contributions & grants$15K1%
Program service revenue$1.75M91%
Investment income$3K0%
Other revenue$151K
expenses
Total expenses$1.95M
Program expenses97%
Admin / overhead3%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$299K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.54M
Cash$91K
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.16M
Net assets$378K
Liquid reserves0.6 mo
2 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue +440.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
board members · 4
- Clarissa Farrell — SecretaryTreasurer
- James Puryear — President
- Richard Stearns — Trustee
- Thomas Mann — Trustee
relationships · 10
Who they work with
- AIDS Work of Tompkins County Partner — Recipient of funds raised through the 1990 benefit concert organized by Donna the Buffalo and friends.
- Across the Way Campground Partner — Collaborates on parking, shuttle services, and designated camping areas including generator and family zones.
- CashorTrade Partner — Official face value ticket exchange partner for secure resale of festival tickets.
- EMS Partner — Collaborates with EMS to provide water bottle filling and medical support services at the festival.
- GrassRoots Chamber Orchestra Partner — Recurring musical ensemble performing annually at the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival
- Ithaca Organics Canna Partner — Local business sponsor of the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance.
- NYS Health Department Government — Enforces campsite regulations in accordance with NYS Health Department rules.
- WSKG Partner — Local media sponsor of the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance.
- community based non-profit organizations Partner — Receives funds raised through the organization's music festivals and multicultural events.
- volunteers@grassrootsfest.org Partner — Primary contact point for volunteer coordination and team sign-ups.
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.
- Community Amplification via Co-Programmingmethodology: community-amplification-through-co-programmingBy featuring local and emerging artists on dedicated stages alongside headliners, the organization strengthens regional artistic ecosystems, because equitable platform access increases visibility and development opportunities for underrepresented voices.
- Cross-Cultural Exchange Through Immersive Programmingmethodology: cultural-immersion-programmingBy combining music, dance, and participatory workshops in an immersive format, the organization fosters intergenerational learning and expanded worldviews, because direct, embodied cultural exchange deepens understanding across diverse communities.
- Music as Activism and Community Mobilizationmethodology: music-as-activismBy using music and joyful communal gatherings, the organization raises awareness about social crises and mobilizes support for affected communities, because shared emotional and cultural experiences strengthen collective action and engagement.
- Volunteer-Run, Community-Driven Modelmethodology: community-driven operationsBy relying entirely on volunteer labor, the organization reduces participation barriers and fosters a sense of shared ownership, because community-led operations cultivate inclusion, mutual care, and personal responsibility.