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NORTHEASTERN CAVE CONSERVANCY INC
Schoharie, NY · EIN 134043653 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · NTEE C34 · Environment · Micro (<$100K) · necaveconservancy.org
revenue
$41K
expenses
$34K
net assets
$427K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

Management of land preserves for the visiting public

profile · synthesized from sources

The Northeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc. (NCC) is a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation, management, and study of caves and karst landscapes in the northeastern United States. It acquires and stewards cave preserves, focusing on protection, scientific research, and public education. The organization manages access, conducts outreach, and collaborates with landowners and government agencies to preserve fragile underground ecosystems.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Cave Preserve Acquisition and Management
Acquires, protects, and manages cave preserves through donation, purchase, or conservation easement, currently stewarding 11 preserves across New York State.
Public Education and Outreach
Provides educational materials, kiosks, and community presentations on cave and karst conservation, groundwater protection, and responsible caving practices.
Research and Scientific Study
Oversees scientific research in NCC-managed caves through a formal proposal and approval process managed by the Science Coordinator and Board.
Special Use Coordination
Coordinates visits for organized groups such as scouts, schools, and summer camps to ensure safe and conservation-minded access to preserves.
Volunteer Stewardship Program
Engages volunteers in preserve maintenance, trail development, kiosk construction, and behind-the-scenes tasks to support ongoing operations.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Land Acquisition and Conservation Easements 2 activities
    • Acquire cave properties through donation, purchase, and conservation easements
      Acquires significant cave and karst properties via donation (e.g., Bensons Cave Preserve), direct purchase, and conservation easements that allow private landowners to retain ownership while securing permanent protection. Also accepts donations of cave property to provide tax benefits to landowners.
    • Provide technical assistance and management planning for landowners
      Offers cave surveys and develops customized cave management plans for private landowners to support conservation and responsible land use.
  • Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 2 activities
    • Facilitate and coordinate public and group access to cave preserves
      Coordinates visits for special use groups such as summer camps, scouts, school groups, and church groups. Issues parking and access permits via email for certain preserves like Bensons Cave, requiring displayed permits during visits. Provides public access to preserves like Clarksville Cave during designated hours without requiring release forms for regular users.
    • Manage and maintain cave and karst preserves for public access
      Owns, manages, and maintains multiple cave preserves across New York State—including Clarksville Cave Preserve, Alan Traino Preserve, Bentleys Karst Preserve, Jack Packers Cave Preserve, and Bensons Cave Preserve—providing public access with established guidelines, informational kiosks, parking permits, and on-site infrastructure. Activities include trail establishment, trash removal, property marking, and preserve maintenance using volunteer labor.
  • Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
    • Conduct in-cave and surface conservation projects using volunteer labor
      Organizes and conducts volunteer-led conservation activities including in-cave projects, trash removal, trail building, kiosk installation, and property boundary marking. Tracks volunteer hours contributed to preserve management and conservation efforts.
  • Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
    • Deliver education and outreach on cave and karst preservation
      Conducts outreach programs focused on cave and karst conservation, including school and community education, public messaging about groundwater pollution, and support for establishing park spaces on karstlands.
  • Fundraising for Community and Charitable Initiatives 1 activity
    • Support cave and karst conservation through fundraising and community outreach
      Organizes fundraising events to support cave acquisition and conservation, including exhibits at John Boyd Thacher State Park. Supports community recovery efforts, such as fundraising for SALT after Tropical Storm Irene and organizing volunteer flood cleanup in Schoharie. Offers yearly membership levels to support organizational operations.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Conduct scientific research and manage research access in caves
      Conducts ongoing inventory and mapping of caves in John Boyd Thacher State Park under a permit from NYS OPRHP. Reviews and approves external research proposals through a formal process involving the Science Coordinator and Board, requiring a signed Research Letter of Agreement before any project begins.
    • Steward cave resources under formal agreements with government agencies
      Serves as steward of Surprise Cave under a formal agreement with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and facilitated the protection of Salamander Cave through negotiations with prior owners, later assuming management after donation.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$41K
Contributions & grants$37K89%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$1K3%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$34K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$585
balance sheet
Total assets$427K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$427K
3 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +43.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 9
  • Benjamin Brown — Trustee
  • Cara Gentry — Trustee
  • Erik Nieman — Trustee
  • Jacob Morris-Siegel — Trustee
  • Kevin Dumont — Trustee
  • Mitch Berger — Trustee
  • Morgan Ingalls — Trustee
  • Paul Rubin — Trustee
  • R Laurence Davis — Trustee
relationships · 15

Who they work with

  • Committee Chairs Partner — Volunteer committee chairs lead ongoing conservation tasks and coordinate project participation.
  • Crossbones Cave Partner — Co-located cave preserve near Ella Armstrong Cave.
  • Knox Cave Partner — Co-located cave preserve near Ella Armstrong Cave.
  • Land Trust Alliance Network — References Land Trust Alliance as a resource for understanding conservation easements.
  • Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy Partner — Collaborated with NCC in managing Onesquethaw Cave before its donation to NCC in 2011.
  • NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Partnered with NCC through an agreement for NCC to act as steward of Surprise Cave.
  • NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Government — Issued a permit to NCC to inventory and map caves in John Boyd Thacher State Park.
  • National Speleological Society Partner — Collaborates with the National Speleological Society on guidelines for responsible caving.
  • PayPal Partner — Uses PayPal for processing recurring membership payments.
  • Preserve Managers Partner — Volunteer preserve managers oversee site-specific maintenance and organize work days.
  • SALT (Schoharie Area Long-Term Inc) Partner — Recipient of NCC fundraiser following Tropical Storm Irene to support long-term recovery in Schoharie.
  • Shawangunk-Catskill Area Grotto Partner — Local caving group with which NCC member Cara Gentry is affiliated and through which NCC engages with regional caving communities.
  • Special use coordinators Partner — Coordinates scheduled trips for special use groups visiting the Alan Traino Preserve.
  • US Cave Conservancy Partner — Donated the Bensons Cave Preserve to the Northeastern Cave Conservancy.
  • United States Cave Conservancy Partner — Donated Bensons Cave to NCC in 2014.
strategies · 5

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.

  • Conservation-Minded Caving Practices
    methodology: conservation_minded_caving
    By promoting low-impact and conservation-minded caving behaviors, we reduce ecological damage to cave systems, because caver behavior directly influences the preservation of fragile formations and ecosystems.
  • Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration for Conservation
    methodology: multi_stakeholder_collaboration
    By integrating the expertise and resources of cavers, scientists, educators, landowners, and officials, we strengthen conservation outcomes, because diverse stakeholder collaboration enhances knowledge sharing, legitimacy, and operational reach.
  • Permanent Conservation via Landowner Engagement and Easements
    methodology: permanent_conservation_via_easement
    By negotiating conservation easements and addressing landowner concerns around liability and stewardship, we achieve permanent cave protection, because aligning private landowner interests with conservation goals enables legally binding, long-term land preservation.
  • Permit-Based and Seasonal Access Management
    methodology: permit_based_access_management
    By regulating access through permits, guidelines, and seasonal closures, we protect cave ecosystems and visitor safety, because controlled visitation prevents ecological disruption (e.g., bat hibernation) and mitigates physical hazards.
  • Public Access for Conservation
    methodology: public_access_for_conservation
    By enabling public access to cave preserves, we promote caving education and stewardship, because visitation fosters community responsibility and conservation awareness.