named programs · 1 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Center Programs
Offers educational and social activities for community members, including events and programs held at the center on Genung Road
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Volunteer Mobilization for Community Improvement 1 activity
- Conduct community service and improvement projectsCompletes community service initiatives such as building outdoor preschool spaces, restoring community pavilions, making masks for public health efforts, and constructing recreational equipment for local organizations.
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Free Outdoor Music Concerts 1 activity
- Host free summer music eventsOrganizes free live music events featuring local bands every Tuesday evening during July and August at the main pavilion, part of the "Music in the Hollow" series.
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Play-Based Early Childhood Education 1 activity
- Operate nature-based preschool programRuns a full-time outdoor-focused preschool program for children ages 3 to 6, with classes held Monday through Friday mornings at the Ellis Hollow Community Center, transitioning from a traditional nursery school model in 2020.
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Seasonal Swimming Pool Operations 1 activity
- Operate seasonal community swimming poolManages a community swimming pool open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, offering public swimming access, seasonal memberships, and swim lessons (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) for a fee; also provides free access on select days such as Juneteenth.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Organize annual community fairHosts the annual Ellis Hollow Fair on the Saturday after Labor Day, featuring food (including the Country Kitchen), games, raffles, auctions, music, and family activities.
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Free Public Access Nature Sites 1 activity
- Provide free public access to recreational facilitiesMaintains and provides free public access to community grounds including nature trails, a fenced playground, ball fields, and courts for tennis, pickleball, and basketball on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
- Rent community spaces for private eventsOffers rental of the community center building, pavilion, and ball fields for private events and gatherings.
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Community Space Provision 1 activity
- Support youth and community groupsProvides space and support for youth organizations including boys' and girls' scout groups and the Ellis Hollow Nature School during inclement weather.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$218K
Contributions & grants$8K4%
Program service revenue$193K89%
Investment income$7K3%
Other revenue$10K
expenses
Total expenses$187K
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$95K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$593K
Cash$147K
Investments$244K
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$592K
Liquid reserves25.1 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -52.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 11
- BETH DEWALT — DIRECTOR
- ERIC WIESSINGER — DIRECTOR
- GRACE LIU — DIRECTOR
- MARTIN BERGREN — DIRECTOR
- NELSON BURDICK — DIRECTOR
- NICK AQUADRO — DIRECTOR/TREASURER
- OWEN RAYMOND — DIRECTOR
- PAUL RHUDY — PRESIDENT
- RYAN THOMAS — SECRETARY
- SARAH FIORELLO — TREASURER (PART YEAR)
- WES NEWMAN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 22
Who they work with
- 14850.com Partner — Media sponsor for the Music in the Hollow event series.
- Boy Scout Troop 55 Partner — Hosts weekly Boy Scout troop meetings for youth ages 11-18 at the community center.
- Boy Scouts Partner — Collaborates with the Boy Scouts through a designated representative on the board.
- Boy Scouts Partner — Hosts Boy Scout troop meetings at the community center.
- Collegetown Bagels Partner — Supporter of the Music in the Hollow 2026 event series.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension Partner — Partner organization hosting Primitive Pursuits summer camp program
- Cub Pack 55 Partner — Hosts weekly Cub Scout pack meetings for children ages 5-11 at the community center.
- East Hill Car Wash Partner — Supporter of the Music in the Hollow 2026 event series.
- Ellis Hollow Community Center Partner — Hosts the Ellis Hollow Nature School on its grounds, providing space and natural environment for the outdoor-focused preschool program.
- Ellis Hollow Community Center Partner — Scouts supported fundraising efforts at the Ellis Hollow Community Center.
- Ellis Hollow Community Center Board of Directors Government — Oversees pool operations, including policy enforcement and approval of refunds after pool opening.
- Ellis Hollow Nature School Partner — Hosts the nature school at the community center during inclement weather.
- Foundation of Light Partner — Shared use of the former Hibbard's Corners School building, which served as the community center before being used by the Foundation of Light.
- Girl Scout Troop Partner — Hosts weekly Girl Scout troop meetings at the community center.
- Girl Scouts Partner — Collaborates with the Girl Scouts through a designated representative on the board.
- Girl Scouts Partner — Hosts Girl Scout troop meetings at the community center.
- Howard Hanna Real Estate Services Partner — Supporter of the Music in the Hollow 2026 event series through Reba The Realtor.
- TeamReach Partner — Uses the TeamReach app for court scheduling and event sign-ups.
- The Antlers Restaurant Partner — Supporter of the Music in the Hollow 2026 event series.
- Tompkins County Health Department Partner — Scouts produced masks for the health department as part of a community service project.
- Town of Dryden Recreation Department Partner — Sponsor of the Music in the Hollow event series.
- YMCA Partner — Scouts constructed archery targets for the YMCA as part of community service projects.
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-Driven Financial and Operational Sustainabilitymethodology: community-supported operationsBy combining community fundraising, volunteer labor, and revenue from community-run programs, the organization sustains operations because local ownership and participation increase commitment, reduce costs, and ensure programming remains aligned with community needs.
- Cooperative Preschool Modelmethodology: cooperative_preschool_modelBy involving families directly in the operation and governance of the preschool, the organization fosters deeper community engagement and shared responsibility, which strengthens program sustainability and family investment in children's learning.
- Outdoor Experiential Programming for Youth Developmentmethodology: outdoor-education-youth-developmentBy integrating outdoor activities, merit badges, and hands-on learning with adult mentorship, the organization builds youth confidence, leadership, and teamwork skills because real-world challenges in a supportive context foster personal growth and skill acquisition.
- Play-Based, Student-Led Learningmethodology: play-based_learningBy centering education on play, outdoor exploration, and individual interests—inspired by Reggio Emilia and Piaget—the organization promotes developmental growth and engagement because children learn most effectively through self-directed, experiential interaction with their environment.