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CYPRESS HILLS CEMETERY

BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 110662180 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Large ($10M-$50M) · cypresshillscemetery.org
revenue
$23.8M
expenses
$16.3M
net assets
$82.0M
employees
59
mission · from form 990

THE PURPOSE OF CYPRESS HILLS CEMETERY IS TO PROVIDE A NON-SECTARIAN CEMETERY FOR BURIAL OF HUMAN REMAINS OF AN INDIVIDUAL BY THEIR LOVED ONES. THE CEMETERY ALSO PROVIDES PERPETUAL CARE OF THE GRAVES, ON REQUEST.

profile · synthesized from sources

Cypress Hills Cemetery is a non-sectarian, nonprofit cemetery established in 1848 in Brooklyn, New York. It provides burial services and perpetual care for gravesites, serving families across the New York City metropolitan area. The cemetery maintains over 200 acres of landscaped grounds and continues to offer interment space for future generations.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Burial and Interment Services
Offers full burial services, including grave opening and closing, disinterment, and coordination with funeral processions, managed by cemetery staff
Notable Burials Tour Program
Provides visitors with maps and publications highlighting historically significant individuals buried at the cemetery, encouraging public engagement and education
Perpetual Care Program
Provides ongoing maintenance and upkeep of gravesites, including lawn care, debris removal, and repair coordination, ensuring long-term preservation of burial areas
activities · 3 groups

What they do

  • Cemetery and Cremation Services 5 activities
    • Conducting historic preservation and site restoration
      Preserves historically significant areas of the cemetery while conducting ongoing internments. Completed a major restoration of the front entrance replicating the original 1893 design and maintains original architectural features in mausoleums.
    • Managing mausoleums and entombment services
      Operates two historic three-story mausoleums with original architectural features, including stained glass and a chapel. Provides entombment services in crypts and niches, manages inscriptions through the cemetery office, and maintains approved silk flower arrangements in bronze vases, with access to crypts and niches granted only after fee payment and by authorized personnel.
    • Offering pre-arrangement and payment plan services
      Provides pre-arrangement services for burial to reduce emotional and logistical burdens on families, including interest-free and tax-free payment plans for pre-arranged services.
    • Operating a non-sectarian cemetery for burial services
      Provides burial and interment services for human remains in a non-sectarian cemetery serving families across the New York City metropolitan area. Offers various burial options including graves, mausoleum crypts, niches, urn gardens, and Feng Shui Pagodas, with pricing and services standardized through the cemetery office.
    • Providing perpetual care and grounds maintenance
      Conducts ongoing maintenance of cemetery grounds, including grass and weed removal, debris cleanup, seasonal removal of flowers and vases, and correction or removal of damaged headstones and monuments. Enforces site appearance standards by removing non-compliant decorations and restricting plantings to designated areas.
  • Cemetery Operations and Public Access 1 activity
    • Providing public access and visitor resources
      Keeps cemetery grounds open daily, including weekends and holidays, and provides public transit access information for nearby bus lines (B13, Q56) and the J train. Offers complimentary walking tour maps, produces and distributes listings of notable burials, and published a comprehensive book detailing the cemetery’s history, artwork, and burial records.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Hosting community events and public programs
      Hosts recurring community events such as Halloween, All Soul’s Day, Veteran’s Day, and holiday observances, as well as monument unveilings and chapel services. Organizes an annual 5K run in June to honor fallen NYPD Detective Peter Figoski and raise funds for charitable organizations, closing the cemetery to vehicle traffic during the event.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$23.84M
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$17.93M75%
Investment income$5.79M24%
Other revenue$113K
expenses
Total expenses$16.33M
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits$9.07M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$88.65M
Cash$2.24M
Investments$71.03M
Liabilities$6.66M
Net assets$81.99M
Liquid reserves53.8 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +36.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 17
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ANTHONY RUSSO BOARD OF DIR/PRES/CEO 40 $488K
ANTHONY DESMOND VP-OPERATIONS 40 $384K
PATRICK RUSSO VP-ADMIN/SALES 40 $310K
SIMRY MEDINA BOOKKEEPER 40 $293K
ANTHONY MANERO DIR-ADMIN/LAND 40 $278K
HAROLD LUPOLA OFFICE MANAGER 40 $276K
THOMAS MEDICI SUPERINTENDENT 40 $268K
FRANCISCO APONTE FOREMAN 40 $266K
JOHN J DESMOND BOARD OF DIR 5 $54K
FRANK SEDDIO BOARD OF DIR 1 $39K
MARCY DESTEFANO BOARD OF DIR 1 $30K
REV THOMAS F BROSNAN BOARD OF DIR 1 $30K
SAMUEL ROMANZO BOARD OF DIR 1 $30K
DEBORAH J CVIRKO BOARD OF DIR 1 $24K
HELDER GIL BOARD OF DIR 1 $24K
MSGR DAVID CASSATO BOARD OF DIR 1 $24K
HENRY BOLUS BOARD OF DIR 1 $8K
board members · 1
  • JOSEPH ESPOSITO — BOARD OF DIR THRU 1/24
relationships · 10

Who they work with

  • Canarsie Cemetery Partner — Linked as a related cemetery site, suggesting an operational or organizational relationship.
  • Idea Stream Marketing Government — Named as the marketing agency powering the cemetery's website.
  • NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Government — Follows regulations from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, including article 151.03 of the New York City Health Code, to manage public health risks.
  • NYS Division of Cemeteries Government — Regulatory body referenced for cemetery disclosures and compliance.
  • New York State Government — Chartered Cypress Hills Cemetery as a non-profit, non-sectarian, membership corporation.
  • New York Transit Authority Government — Partner agency referenced for public transportation inquiries related to cemetery access.
  • PBA Widow’s and Children’s Fund Partner — Recipient of funds raised through the annual 5K run.
  • Rural Cemetery Association Government — Chartered under an Act by the Legislature authorizing the incorporation of the Rural Cemetery Association.
  • St. Marys Partner — Partner organization involved in the 5k event, as indicated by a check presentation.
  • St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children Partner — Recipient of funds raised through the annual 5K run.
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.

  • Feng Shui Integration for Spiritual Harmony
    methodology: feng_shui_design
    By positioning burial structures according to Feng Shui principles, the organization enhances the flow of chi to promote spiritual harmony and protection for the deceased, because intentional spatial alignment supports metaphysical well-being and cultural reverence.
  • Nonprofit Reinvestment to Sustain Mission and Community Offerings
    methodology: nonprofit_reinvestment_model
    By operating as a nonprofit and reinvesting resources, the organization sustains long-term preservation of historic grounds and develops innovative public programs because financial reinvestment strengthens community engagement and ensures alignment with founding values across generations.
  • Rural Cemetery Design for Tranquility and Seclusion
    methodology: rural_cemetery_design
    By designing the cemetery landscape with natural features such as wooded hills, dells, and ponds, the organization provides seclusion, privacy, and tranquility, enhancing the visitor experience and honoring the deceased in a serene environment because the founders believed natural beauty supports spiritual and emotional well-being.