irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $188KSTEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS ENCOMPASS ALL THOSE LAND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH MAINTAINING THE GORGE FOR PUBLIC USE INCLUDING TRAIL CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR, PROTECTION OF THE GORGE'S BOUNDARIES, CONTROL OF INVASIVE SPECIES, AND ON-GOING INVENTORY AND MONITORING OF ALL WILDLIFE POPULATIONS, BEYOND THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM. STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES KEEP THE GORGE VIABLE AND ECOLOGICALLY INTACT DESPITE ITS LOCATION IN SUBURBIA AND PROXIMITY TO NEW YORK CITY AND OTHER LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS.
- #2 $181KLAND ACQUISITION CONSISTS OF ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH LAND PROTECTION WITHIN THE MIANUS RIVER WATERSHED VIA PURCHASE, CONSERVATION EASEMENT OR WORKING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARDS TO FOSTER RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT. ACTIVITIES ARE CONDUCTED PRIMARILY BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND INCLUDE ADDING LAND AND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TO EXPAND THE MIANUS RIVER GORGE AS WELL AS PROTECTING OTHER CRITICAL LAND THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED THAT AFFECT WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY IN THE MIANUS RIVER (A DRINKING WATER SUPPLY FOR 130,000 PEOPLE). THERE WAS ONE NEW PROPERTY ADDED IN 2022.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Hudson to Housatonic (H2H) Regional Conservation Partnership
Interstate collaboration across Connecticut and New York to improve water quality and promote sound stewardship for regional conservation
Land Acquisition and Conservation Easements
Protection of land within the Mianus River Watershed through purchase, donation, or conservation easements to expand protected areas and safeguard water quality
Lower Hudson PRISM
Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management focused on monitoring and controlling invasive species in the Lower Hudson Valley
Research and Education Program
Long-term ecological research initiative comprising the Research Assistantship Program (RAP), Wildlife Technician Program (WTP), and College Intern Program in Suburban Ecology (CISE)
Stewardship Program
Land management activities including trail maintenance, invasive species control, boundary protection, and wildlife monitoring to maintain ecological integrity of the Gorge
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Ecological stewardship and land managementConducts trail construction and maintenance, invasive species control, boundary protection, water quality monitoring, and deer management including controlled hunting, exclosures, and re-planting of native plants to support forest regeneration.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Environmental education and public engagementHosts public events including guided walks, Family Nighttime Exploration events, public lecture series, and educational programs that combine scientific content with actionable conservation steps to engage the community in ecological awareness.
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Environmental Policy Advocacy & Litigation 1 activity
- Expert testimony for environmental protectionSubmits expert testimony on development projects within the Mianus Watershed to mitigate environmental impacts, with over 250 interventions conducted over 30+ years.
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Environmental Conservation Grantmaking 1 activity
- Funding ecological research through graduate fellowshipsFunds graduate-level research in ecology, wildlife biology, and conservation biology via the Research Assistantship Program, providing an $8,000 yearly stipend per recipient for projects supporting ecological management of the Gorge.
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Land Acquisition and Conservation Easements 1 activity
- Land conservation and stewardshipProtects and manages over 1,200 acres within the Mianus River Watershed through land acquisitions, conservation easements, and permanent land protection initiatives. This includes monitoring conservation easements across nearly 200 acres and completing over 200 land protection projects since 1953.
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Wildlife Monitoring and Field Research 1 activity
- Long-term ecological research and monitoringConducts and publishes peer-reviewed, long-term ecological research on topics including deer populations, invasive species, hemlock health, wildlife surveys, and 70-year wildflower monitoring to study climate change impacts, serving as a living laboratory since 1953.
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Local Land Conservation Advocacy 1 activity
- Regional conservation collaboration and advocacyCo-founded and participates in regional partnerships including the Hudson to Housatonic Regional Conservation Partnership, Lower Hudson PRISM, EMMA, and the Gotham Coyote Project to advance conservation, invasive species control, and collaborative research across New York and Connecticut.
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Research and Scholarly Fellowship Support 1 activity
- Student and youth research training programsOperates multi-tiered ecological training programs including high school mentorship, college internships, and graduate fellowships that engage students in long-term research, scientific inquiry, publication, and conference presentations, with intergenerational mentoring by graduate students.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$4.52M
Contributions & grants$4.28M95%
Program service revenue$1K0%
Investment income$248K6%
Other revenue$-12K
expenses
Total expenses$1.26M
Program expenses66%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising18%
Salaries & benefits$765K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$30.77M
Cash$1.16M
Investments$5.29M
Liabilities$94K
Net assets$30.68M
Liquid reserves61.3 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +210.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RODERICK CHRISTIE | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $220K |
| LESLIE ZACHARY | DEV DIRECTOR | 40 | $133K |
| CHRISTOPHER M NAGY | R&E DIRECTOR | 40 | $117K |
board members · 21
- ALEXANDRA KOTUR — TRUSTEE
- ANDRE A HUNTER — VICE CHAIRMA
- ASHLEY W SCHULTEN RESIGNED 2025 — TRUSTEE
- BRIAN CHOI RESIGNED 2025 — TRUSTEE
- CHRISTOPHER DU P ROOSEVELT — VICE CHAIRMA
- DANIEL T RYAN — TRUSTEE
- GERARDO MENDEZ — TRUSTEE
- HAPPY MENOCAL — TRUSTEE
- HEATHER V WOLF — TRUSTEE
- JAYNI CHASE — TRUSTEE
- JOHN S NEEDHAM — PRESIDENT
- KATHERYN HOENIG — TREASURER
- LLOYD GERRY — TRUSTEE
- MARTIN TORRES — TRUSTEE
- NICHOLAS FIRTH — TRUSTEE
- NICKI DUGAN POGUE — TRUSTEE
- ROBERT MORSE — TRUSTEE
- SAM VALLELY — TRUSTEE
- SARAH SCHWARZSCHILD — SECRETARY
- TIMOTHY W EVNIN — CHAIRMAN
- WILLIAM G FOULKE JR RESIGNED 2025 — TRUSTEE
relationships · 71
Who they work with
- A E CHARITABLE TRUST Funder — Provided support enabling the Research Assistantship Program to offer stipends to graduate researchers.
- American Museum of Natural History Partner — Research and education partner.
- Angle Fly Preserve Partner — Land and water protection partner.
- Banksville Residents’ Association Partner — Land and water protection partner.
- Bedford Audubon Partner — Research and education partner.
- Bedford Garden Club Partner — Land and water protection partner.
- Bedford, NY Partner — Collaborates on the Mianus River Greenway initiative starting in Bedford, NY.
- Camp Fire Conservation Fund Partner — Research and education partner.
- City University of New York Partner — Research and education partner.
- Columbia University Partner — Research and education partner.
- Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection Government — National and government connection supporting land and environmental protection.
- Cornell University Partner — Research and education partner.
- Corporate groups Partner — Corporate groups participate in volunteer activities and typically support the mission with monetary donations.
- David Lei Partner — Co-presented with MRG staff on urban wildlife research.
- Donate for Charity Partner — Partners with Donate for Charity to accept vehicle donations
- Earthwatch Institute Partner — Research and education partner.
- Environmental Monitoring and Management Alliance (EMMA) Partner — MRG is a founding member of EMMA, collaborating on ecological monitoring and management.
- Explorer’s Club Partner — Collaborated with MRG to host a presentation on NYC coyote research.
- Fordham University Partner — Research and education partner.
- Gotham Coyote Project Partner — Collaborates on ecological research related to urban coyote populations as part of a nationally recognized project.
- Gotham Coyote Project Partner — Founding partner in a long-term research initiative studying eastern coyote populations in New York City.
- Gotham Coyote Project Partner — MRG is a founding partner of the Gotham Coyote Project, studying urban coyote ecology.
- Greenburgh Nature Center Partner — Research and education partner.
- Greenwich Audubon Partner — Research and education partner.
- Greenwich Land Trust Partner — Land and water protection partner.
- Greenwich, CT Partner — Partners on the Mianus River Greenway, which ends in Greenwich, CT.
- Hofstra University Partner — Research and education partner.
- Hudson to Housatonic (H2H) Regional Conservation Partnership Partner — MRG is a founding partner of the H2H collaboration focused on regional water quality and stewardship.
- Hudson to Housatonic Regional Conservation Partnership Partner — Founding partner in an interstate collaboration focused on water quality, conservation, and stewardship across CT and NY.
- Jacqueline Emery Partner — Co-presented with MRG staff on urban wildlife research.
+ 41 more
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.
- Mentor-Driven Conservation Educationmethodology: mentor_driven_science_educationBy immersing students in sustained, mentored ecological research, the organization builds early scientific capacity and conservation leadership, because long-term, one-on-one mentorship produces deeper learning, higher-quality research, and stronger commitment to environmental stewardship than traditional educational models.
- Permanent Land Protection via Strategic Acquisitionmethodology: conservation-easement-and-land-acquisitionBy combining land acquisition, conservation easements, and collaboration with local governments, the organization ensures long-term ecological integrity, because legally binding protection mechanisms prevent development and promote responsible land use, creating enduring conservation legacies.
- Proving Ground for Conservation Innovationmethodology: proving_ground_for_innovationBy operating protected lands as a living laboratory and regional testbed, the organization develops and validates innovative land management solutions that can be scaled or adapted by other preserves, because real-world demonstration in a suburban ecological context increases the adoption and effectiveness of conservation practices beyond organizational boundaries.
- Science-Based Stewardshipmethodology: science_based_stewardshipBy using ecological research and long-term monitoring to guide land and watershed management, the organization ensures effective, adaptive conservation practices that respond to ecological threats like invasive species, overbrowsing deer, and climate change, because science-informed interventions produce more resilient and sustainable outcomes.
- Volunteer-Enabled Stewardshipmethodology: volunteer_based_stewardshipBy engaging volunteers in hands-on trail maintenance and invasive species management, the organization strengthens community ties while advancing conservation goals, because local participation increases stewardship ownership, reduces operational costs, and enhances long-term site resilience through sustained human investment.