named programs · 10 · from sources
What they call their work
Art of Aging
Creative programming including photography, pastel painting, and writing classes culminating in public exhibits.
Buddy Network
Support program providing regular visits, phone calls, and cards to isolated LGBTQ+ seniors to reduce loneliness.
GenderBlend
Monthly social and support group for transgender and gender-diverse individuals, held in person and via Zoom.
Meals Out
Monthly group dining events at local restaurants to foster community and social engagement.
Men's Empowerment
Closed men’s group focused on personal growth and peer support, with periodic new member intake.
SAGEVets
Support and social program for LGBTQ+ veterans.
SPARK
Safe-space program for LGBTQ+ individuals of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and allies.
Second Sunday Potluck
Monthly shared dinner and program offering social connection and community engagement for LGBTQ+ elders in Syracuse.
Walking Groups
Weekly walking groups meeting in Onondaga Lake Park and Destiny USA for physical activity and social connection.
Writers Group
Weekly Zoom-based group for LGBTQ+ writers to share work and support each other in the writing process.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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LGBTQ+ Aging Support Programs 2 activities
- Conducts research to inform services for LGBTQ+ older adultsConducted a needs assessment in 2004 and presented findings at the SAGE National Conference, contributing data to improve understanding of and services for LGBTQ+ older adult populations.
- Hosts weekly and monthly social, wellness, and support programs for LGBTQ+ older adultsOperates regular in-person and online programming at the Sage Upstate Center, including weekly Wellness Wednesdays discussions, biweekly and monthly support groups (e.g., Bonding Brothers, GenderBlend, SPARK), walking groups, music and writing groups, and member-led classes on health, aging, and creative arts. These programs aim to reduce social isolation and improve well-being among LGBTQ+ older adults and allies.
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Civil Rights Advocacy & Litigation 1 activity
- Engages in advocacy and community partnerships for equity and inclusionPartners with organizations such as Black Lives Matter to advance transformational change and promote racial and LGBTQ+ equity. Also provides education to service providers across five counties on the needs of GLBT older adults.
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Friendly Visiting & Social Companionship Programs 1 activity
- Offers one-on-one counseling and peer support servicesProvides individual counseling using a holistic approach that addresses mind, body, spirit, and personal experiences, alongside peer-led support through programs like the Buddy Network, which delivers visits, phone calls, and cards to isolated older adults.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Organizes communal meals and food access programsHosts monthly communal meals at local restaurants, runs a monthly food buying co-op offering boxes of 12–15 staple grocery items for $20.50, and organizes potluck events such as the 2nd Sunday Potluck and Syracuse potlucks featuring shared dinners and programming.
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LGBTQ+ Community Support and Resource Centers 1 activity
- Provides access to community resources and facilities at the Sage Upstate CenterOffers computer and internet access, maintains a lending library of over 1,300 LGBTQ-themed books, and hosts communal events at the Sage Upstate Center, recording over 100 monthly visits. The center serves as a safe, affirming space for programming and individual use.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$232K
Contributions & grants$229K99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$2K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$280K
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$186K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$82K
Cash$17K
Investments$0
Liabilities$30K
Net assets$52K
Liquid reserves0.7 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -35.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 10
- BARB GENTON — DIRECTOR
- CLAYTON TERRY — DIRECTOR
- DAN BISHOP-BASLER — DIRECTOR
- GARY FITZGERALD — DIRECTOR
- KEVIN BAILEY — DIRECTOR
- KIM DILL — EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- LES WRIGHT — DIRECTOR
- LIZ STEHLE — DIRECTOR
- NATE SCEIFORD — DIRECTOR
- SUSAN HORN — RECORDING CLERK
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- All Saints Center Partner — Hosts SAGE Upstate's 14th Annual Community Dinner.
- Black Lives Matter Partner — Collaborates with Black Lives Matter in efforts toward long-term transformational change.
- CNY Philanthropy Center Partner — Current host organization providing office and meeting space for SAGE Upstate since 2012.
- CNY Philanthropy Center Partner — Sage Upstate Center is located within the CNY Philanthropy Center, indicating shared space and likely collaboration or affiliation.
- First English Lutheran Church Partner — Hosted SAGE Upstate in office space and served as a long-term home for programs and services.
- Food Bank of Central New York Partner — Operates the Food $en$e monthly food buying co-op program in partnership with SAGEUPSTATE INC.
- Le Moyne Partner — Clinical Mental Health Counselling student from Le Moyne provides counselling services
- Liberty Resources Partner — Partner organization providing space through its AIDS service entity, The Living Room, for SAGE Upstate's early operations.
- NYS LGBT Health and Human Services Network Network — Member organization collaborating on advocacy and grant applications to support services for older GLBT adults.
- Park Central Presbyterian Church Partner — Hosts SAGE Upstate programs including the Second Sunday Potluck and SAGE Strings Acoustic Group.
- Roslyn Rasberry Partner — Facilitates breathwork sessions for SAGE Upstate.
- Utica Unitarian Partner — Venue for the monthly Utica Social gathering for SAGE members.
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.
- Holistic Support Model for LGBTQ+ Older Adultsmethodology: holistic_support_modelBy integrating health and wellness, peer support, social engagement, and provider education, the organization improves well-being and reduces isolation among LGBTQ+ older adults because their needs are multifaceted and deeply shaped by lifelong experiences of stigma and exclusion.
- Solidarity-Based Advocacy Rooted in Lived Experiencemethodology: solidarity-based activismBy grounding anti-racist and equity advocacy in the lived experiences of sexual and gender minority communities, the organization builds more authentic, effective coalitions because shared histories of oppression create a foundation for collective liberation.
- Targeted Safe Spaces for Intersectional Identitiesmethodology: intersectional_equityBy creating safe spaces specifically for LGBTQ+ individuals who are also people of color or older adults, the organization increases engagement and reduces isolation because these groups face compounded marginalization and often lack inclusive support systems.