irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2020
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $38KSUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: 2020 ACHIEVEMENTS - IN THE SUMMER OF 2020, THE ORGANIZATION ARRANGED A CARBON-FREE COOLING SIGHT IN RED HOOK, NEW YORK, AS A DESIGN-BUILD EFFORT FOR STREET TEAMS TO CREATE PERMANENT AND MOBILE SEATING FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WHERE THE ORGANIZATION DISTRIBUTED AROUND 1500 FREE MEALS TO THOSE IN NEED, ASSISTED WITH VOTER REGISTRATION AND CENSUS TAKING, PROVIDED FREE BOOKS AND ART SUPPLIES, LIVE MUSIC, ART WALLS, AND NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCACY.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
BlueBlock Floating Gardens
Modular floating wetlands made from reclaimed materials and recycled corks that enhance coastal biodiversity and provide educational opportunities in ecological restoration.
Field Station Education Program
Hands-on STEM learning for students of all ages aboard a floating barge on Gowanus Bay, focusing on sustainable design, water quality monitoring, and green energy through field trips and research groups.
Floating Reef Project
Bio-habitat structure supporting marine life with solar-powered greenhouse, oyster baskets, and kelp gardens to restore aquatic ecosystems and serve as a living laboratory.
Green Industry Workforce Training
Free, paid training program preparing underserved New Yorkers for green jobs in solar installation, energy efficiency, and EV battery storage, including OSHA and GPRO certifications, job placement, and 12 months of wrap-around services.
Local Power Community Solar Program
Enables residents to access 100% clean energy through shared solar installations on commercial rooftops and parking lots, providing guaranteed savings on electric bills without installation costs or contracts.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 2 activities
- Manage experimental learning site for sustainable practicesOperates the RETI Field Station as an experimental learning site focused on water science, waste reduction, sustainable building, and ecosystem restoration; provides a public space for training, community gatherings, and place-based learning on sustainable waterfront practices.
- Provide climate and sustainability education programs for youth and schoolsOffers hands-on climate education and sustainability workshops at the RETI Field Station and within schools, including custom lesson plans and professional development for educators; targets young people from challenging backgrounds and integrates STEM and sustainable construction concepts.
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Lake and Watershed Monitoring & Assessment 1 activity
- Conduct water quality monitoring and harmful algal bloom detectionPerforms weekly water quality testing in Gowanus Bay and other sites, including nutrient analysis and identification of coastal and unicellular species, in partnership with NOAA; expanding to include a sensor network for weather and nutrient data to support early detection of harmful algal blooms.
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Clean Energy Workforce Training 1 activity
- Deliver clean energy workforce training and job placement programsProvides hands-on training in solar installation, energy and building efficiency, EV battery and storage systems, and safety certifications (OSHA, GPRO), along with soft-skills development, individualized coaching, case management, and 12 months of wrap-around services; includes paid internships and job placement support for BIPOC youth, unemployed and underemployed adults, justice-involved individuals, and NYCHA residents.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Engage community through volunteerism and local eventsEngages 750 volunteers annually in community programs; hosted live music, art walls, free meals, books, art supplies, voter registration, census participation, and carbon-free cooling initiatives during summer 2020 in Red Hook, Brooklyn, including neighborhood advocacy and design-build efforts.
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Ocean and Plastic Pollution Research and Reduction 1 activity
- Implement small-scale plastic recycling and algae-based bioplastics researchRuns a small-scale plastic recycling operation using the Filabot reclaimer system to convert landfill-bound plastic into 3D printer filament and pellets; concurrently develops durable algae-based bioplastics for outdoor applications.
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Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
- Operate floating gardens and kelp cultivation for ecological restorationManages 10 floating gardens and cultivates 1,400 feet of sugar kelp in New York Harbor to improve water quality, increase habitat, and support place-based environmental education; launched in March 2021 using salvaged and reclaimed materials including recycled corks.
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Solar Energy Access in Underserved Communities 1 activity
- Run community solar program providing energy access and savingsOperates the LOCAL POWER community solar program that delivers renewable energy to underserved NYC communities, offering subscribers approximately $100 in annual electric bill savings and funding solar system design and construction on qualifying commercial properties.
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Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 1 activity
- Train local leaders and provide paid internships in sustainabilityTrains over 200 graduates through the Local Power program and offers custom paid internships in partnership with high schools, colleges, and the Summer Youth Employment Program, integrating sustainable construction and STEM education to build job readiness.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.31M
Contributions & grants$1.16M89%
Program service revenue$146K11%
Investment income$1440%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$996K
Program expenses76%
Admin / overhead23%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$615K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$422K
Cash$347K
Investments$0
Liabilities$12K
Net assets$410K
Liquid reserves4.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +114.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIMOTHY GILMAN | Prev Exe Director | 40 | $69K |
| CHRISTINE GASPAR | 11231 | 40 | $17K |
board members · 5
- CARTER CRAFT — Board Member
- GUY DORSAINVIL — Board Member
- JULIE STEIN — Board Member
- KATIE DIXON — Board Member
- YOUSUF AFTAB — Board Member
relationships · 37
Who they work with
- Amazon Funder — Donor at the $50,000+ level
- Architectural League Partner — Partner with NYSCA in administering the Architecture and Design Independent Projects Grant which funded RETI Center's Floating Reef project
- Brooklyn Solar Works Partner — Provides expert guidance for hands-on solar training programs.
- Brooklyn Solar Works Partner — Provides expert guidance for hands-on solar training through the Local Power program.
- Brooklyn SolarWorks Funder — Donor at the $10,000+ level
- CIV:LAB Funder — Donor at the $50,000+ level
- Cambio Labs Partner — Develops the interactive training platform for developing green industry leaders.
- Community Power Accelerator Prize (US Dept of Energy) Funder — Donor at the $50,000+ level
- Con Edison Funder — Donor at the $300,000+ level
- Forte-Stein Charitable Foundation Funder — Donor at the $1,000+ level
- GBX Gowanus Bay Terminal Partner — Host and sponsor of the RETI Field Station
- GBX~ Gowanus Bay Terminal Partner — Host organization for the BlueCity living lab initiative.
- GBX~ Gowanus Bay Terminal Partner — Hosts the RETI Field Station on its terminal site
- Governors Office of Storm Recovery Funder — Donor at the $100,000+ level
- HDR Foundation Funder — Donor at the $50,000+ level
- Here Comes Solar Partner — Provides solar technical assistance and community solar enrollment support for the LOCAL POWER program.
- Kaplan Foundation Funder — Donor at the $10,000+ level
- Lily Auchincloss Foundation Funder — Donor at the $1,000+ level
- Moore Good Foundation Funder — Donor at the $1,000+ level
- NOAA Funder — Donor at the $10,000+ level
- NOAA Partner — Collaborates on weekly monitoring of Gowanus Bay for early detection of harmful algal blooms and expansion of a sensor network for environmental data.
- NYC Dept of Youth & Community Development Funder — Donor at the $10,000+ level
- NYC EDC Funder — Donor at the $1,000+ level
- NYPA Funder — Donor at the $300,000+ level
- NYSCA Government — Partner in administering the Architecture and Design Independent Projects Grant which funded RETI Center's Floating Reef project
- NYSERDA Funder — Donor at the $300,000+ level
- National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Funder — Donor at the $1,000+ level
- QBE Foundation Funder — Donor at the $50,000+ level
- Red Hook community Partner — Co-founded and continuously partners with the Red Hook community to lead climate resilience initiatives.
- Schumann Foundation Funder — Donor at the $25,000+ level
+ 7 more
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.
- Community-Led Resilience Through Co-Creationmethodology: community-led_resilienceBy engaging marginalized communities and youth as equal partners in designing and building climate resilience projects, we produce more effective and equitable outcomes because local knowledge and lived experience lead to solutions that are both technically sound and socially just.
- Integrated Workforce Development for the Green Economymethodology: integrated-workforce-trainingBy combining hands-on technical training, mentorship, soft skills, and real-world experience, we prepare underserved individuals for long-term careers in clean energy because integrated support systems increase job retention and economic mobility more effectively than skills training alone.
- Nature-Based Solutions as Educational and Ecological Interventionsmethodology: nature-based-solutionsBy using floating bio-habitats, kelp forests, and shellfish cultivation as living laboratories, we advance both environmental restoration and climate education because immersive, place-based engagement with functional ecosystems deepens learning and drives community stewardship.