COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

DOWNTOWN SCHENECTADY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION
SCHENECTADY, NY · EIN 364465022 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE S31 · Community Improvement · Small ($100K-$1M) · downtownschenectady.org
revenue
$861K
expenses
$924K
net assets
$509K
employees
17
program ratio
83%
mission · from form 990

OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE DOWNTOWN SCHENECTADY AS A PREMIER LOCATION FOR COMMERCE, RECREATION AND RESIDENCE BY ENHANCING, FACILITATING AND SUPPORTING ECONOMIC GROWTH.

profile · synthesized from sources

Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation (DSIC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports economic and cultural growth in downtown Schenectady, NY. The organization enhances the district’s appeal through daily cleaning, seasonal beautification, marketing campaigns, and event promotion. DSIC serves property owners and businesses within the Downtown Special Assessment District by improving public spaces, driving foot traffic, and fostering a vibrant urban environment.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $182K
    BUSINESS PROMOTION MARKETING PROGRAM - TO PROMOTE DOWNTOWN SCHENECTADY AS A DESTINATION FOR SHOPPING, DINING, RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT, AS WELL AS AN IDEAL PLACE TO LOCATE PROFESSIONAL OFFICES RANGING FROM SINGLE PROPRIETORSHIPS TO MAJOR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS.
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Annual Events Coordination
Organizes and promotes events including Schenectady Soup Stroll, Restaurant Week, Tater Trot, ArtsWeek, Wing Walk, and Small Business Saturday to drive engagement and commerce
Community & Business Support
Supports local businesses through event sponsorships, ribbon-cutting coordination, business consultations, and referrals to resources like the NYS Small Business Development Center and IRS Small Business Tax Center
Marketing & Communications
Promotes downtown as a regional destination via a weekly e-newsletter, visitor guides, social media, and wayfinding signage; includes the “Downtown Schenectady This Week” newsletter and online presence
Outdoor Cleaning & Visual Improvements
Daily sidewalk cleaning, snow removal, installation of flower baskets, banners, and holiday decorations to maintain cleanliness and visual appeal in downtown Schenectady
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Small Business Technical Assistance 1 activity
    • Business development and support services
      Provides business consultations, distributes informational materials to existing and prospective businesses, offers referrals to external resources, and supports economic development in the Downtown Special Assessment District through targeted outreach and promotional programs.
  • Supplemental Urban Sanitation Services 1 activity
    • Downtown maintenance and beautification
      Conducts daily sidewalk cleaning, snow removal at crosswalks and intersections, installation and maintenance of flower baskets, planters, and winter holiday decorations, and upkeep of selected landscaped areas in Downtown Schenectady.
  • Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
    • Event organization and promotion
      Organizes and promotes annual events such as the Schenectady Soup Stroll, Restaurant Week, Tater Trot, ArtsWeek, Wing Walk, and Small Business Saturday; provides planning, sponsorship, and staff support for additional downtown events; and hosts grand openings and ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new businesses.
  • Visitor & Business Guide Distribution 1 activity
    • Marketing and promotional communications
      Operates a comprehensive website, publishes the “Downtown Schenectady This Week” e-newsletter, produces a Visitor Guide & Map, maintains social media accounts, installs outdoor wayfinding maps, and creates promotional content including the “Stan and Shen Show” podcast to highlight downtown businesses and personalities.
  • Managed Parking Services 1 activity
    • Public space and transportation access programs
      Supports access to the CDPHP Cycle! bike-share program with 160 bikes across approximately 20 regional stations including Downtown Schenectady, and manages on-street parking in the downtown district.
  • Transparent Governance Meetings 1 activity
    • Stakeholder engagement and governance
      Hosts monthly open-to-the-public Board of Directors meetings to promote transparency and community involvement in organizational operations.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$861K
Contributions & grants$319K37%
Program service revenue$537K62%
Investment income$5K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$924K
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$592K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$609K
Cash$309K
Investments$0
Liabilities$101K
Net assets$509K
Liquid reserves4.0 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -43.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MAUREEN NEUFELD EXECUTIVE DI 40 $82K
board members · 10
  • ANDREA CORTELYOU — TREASURER
  • AUSTIN FISHER — VICE PRESIDE
  • BASHIR CHEDRAWEE — BOARD MEMBER
  • ELLEN MCHALE — BOARD MEMBER
  • HEATHER PETERSON — PRESIDENT
  • MICHAEL BURNS — BOARD MEMBER
  • MITCH RAMSEY — BOARD MEMBER
  • PHIL WAJDA — BOARD MEMBER
  • RAY LEGERE — SECRETARY
  • TATE OTTATI — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 12

Who they work with

  • Adirondack Trailways Partner — Offers daily intercity bus service to New York City and Syracuse, supported through informational promotion by the organization.
  • Amtrak Partner — Supports regional rail access through promotion and information sharing about the Amtrak station in Downtown Schenectady.
  • CDPHP Partner — Co-presents the CDPHP Cycle! bike-share program as part of a public-private partnership to enhance downtown mobility.
  • Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) Partner — Collaborates on transportation initiatives including the CDPHP Cycle! bike-share program and regional transit access.
  • Capital Region Chamber Partner — Co-hosts Schenectady Restaurant Week and Small Business Saturday events in partnership with the DSIC.
  • Greyhound Bus Lines Partner — Provides intercity bus transportation access via promotion and location information for the Greyhound terminal in Downtown Schenectady.
  • Mayor of Schenectady Government — Appoints members to the DSIC Board of Directors.
  • Schenectady City Council Government — Approves appointments to the DSIC Board of Directors.
  • Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority Government — Provides an annual operating grant to DSIC.
  • Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority Government — Provides annual operating grant funding to support the DSIC’s outdoor cleaning and visual improvement programs.
  • Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority Partner — Operates public parking facilities in Downtown Schenectady in collaboration with the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation.
  • The Daily Gazette Partner — Partnership with The Daily Gazette through the co-hosting of The Stan and Shen Show podcast by DSIC’s Promotions Coordinator and the newspaper’s Business Editor.
strategies · 2

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.

  • Beautification as Development Catalyst
    methodology: beautification-as-development-catalyst
    By maintaining cleanliness and visual appeal, we stimulate broader economic and community development because an attractive environment signals safety, pride, and investment potential, encouraging visitation and business growth.
  • Integrated Downtown Revitalization
    methodology: integrated-downtown-revitalization
    By combining cleaning, visual improvements, marketing, and business development into a single initiative, we enhance downtown vitality because integrated services create a multiplier effect on economic and community engagement.