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FINGER LAKES REUSE INC
ITHACA, NY · EIN 262093547 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE C27 · Environment · Medium ($1M-$10M) · ithacareuse.org
revenue
$3.7M
expenses
$3.8M
net assets
$-1.3M
employees
122
volunteers
648
program ratio
83%
mission · from form 990

TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY, ECONOMY, AND ENVIRONMENT THROUGH REUSE.

profile · synthesized from sources

Finger Lakes ReUse Inc. enhances community, economy, and environment through the reuse of materials. The organization operates retail and warehouse centers in Ithaca, NY, selling reclaimed building materials, electronics, and household goods. It runs job training programs for underemployed and low-income individuals, provides refurbished technology to low-income families and nonprofits, and promotes waste reduction through deconstruction and repair education.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $95K
    COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: THE RESET (REUSE SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TRAINING) PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE JOB SKILLS TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS SEVERAL PAIDAPPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES EACH YEAR FOR LOCAL PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDER-EMPLOYED, LOW-INCOME OR ARE EXPERIENCING BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. IN 2024 TRAININGS WERE OFFERED IN RETAIL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GREEN JOB SKILLS, WITH 26 PARTICIPANTS.
  2. #2 $59K
    ECENTER COMPUTER REPAIR AND REFURBISHMENT:THIS PROGRAM REDUCES THE VOLUME OF WASTE CAUSED BY COMPUTER AND ELECTRONICS RECYCLING AND DISPOSAL AND HELPS SUPPLY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, LOCAL NONPROFITS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITH LOW-COST COMPUTERS AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT. IN 2024, 2,079 REFURBISHED DESKTOPS, LAPTOPS, TABLETS AND CELLPHONES WERE MADE AVAILABLE LOCALLY THROUGH FINGER LAKES REUSE CENTERS.
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Deconstruction Services
Salvages and sells reclaimed building materials from local deconstruction projects to divert waste from landfills and supply affordable materials.
ReSET (Reuse Skills and Employment Training)
Free job skills training and paid apprenticeships in retail customer service and green job skills for underemployed, low-income, or barrier-affected individuals in the Finger Lakes region.
ReUse Materials Access Program
Provides affordable access to reclaimed materials through retail centers and direct sales, supporting reuse and circular economy principles.
eCenter Computer Repair and Refurbishment
Refurbishes and distributes low-cost computers and electronics to low-income families and local nonprofits while reducing e-waste.
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Community-Engaged Public Art Projects 1 activity
    • Art installations using reclaimed materials
      Completed five unique art installations at the Ithaca ReUse Center in 2021 using reclaimed materials, integrating creative reuse into public engagement and education efforts.
  • Digital Literacy Training and Technology Access 1 activity
    • Distribution of refurbished electronics to low-income households and nonprofits
      Refurbishes and distributes computers, tablets, and cellphones to low-income families, local nonprofits, and the general public. Distributed 2,079 devices in 2024, 1,652 in 2023, and 442 in 2022.
  • Community Recycling & Reuse Education 1 activity
    • Fixers Collective for repair and reuse of items
      Operates a Fixers Collective to repair and extend the life of goods, promoting reuse and reducing waste through hands-on repair events and community participation.
  • Digital Donation Processing Platforms 1 activity
    • Online wish-list system for targeted donation collection
      Operates an online wish-list form to collect specific donated items, enabling more efficient sourcing of high-demand materials for reuse and resale.
  • Discount Retail for Reuse 1 activity
    • Operation of reuse centers for building materials and community engagement
      Operates physical reuse centers, including the Cayuga ReUse Center opened in June 2026, offering reclaimed building materials for sale sourced from local salvage and deconstruction. Accepts donations of building materials at two locations in Ithaca, NY, and facilitates on-site pickup and delivery services for donated and salvaged items.
  • Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
    • ReSET job training program in green and retail skills
      Offers free job skills training through the ReSET program focused on retail customer service, green jobs, and information technology for local participants facing employment barriers. Trained 26 individuals in 2024, 34 in 2023, 16 in 2022, 13 in 2021, and 17 in 2020, with a pilot launched in September 2020 in partnership with local government and nonprofits.
  • Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
    • Volunteer programs supporting reuse operations
      Engages volunteers in deconstruction, sorting, organizing, merchandising, cleaning, and other activities that support material reuse and center operations. Volunteer efforts are integral to daily functions across multiple program areas.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Deconstruction services for material recovery
      Provides professional deconstruction services for buildings to recover reusable materials, supporting landfill waste reduction and supplying materials for resale. These operations are integrated with reuse center supply chains.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.67M
Contributions & grants$1.08M29%
Program service revenue$120K3%
Investment income$500%
Other revenue$2.47M
expenses
Total expenses$3.85M
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead17%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$2.88M
Grants paid out$12K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.89M
Cash$141K
Investments$0
Liabilities$3.14M
Net assets$-1.25M
Liquid reserves0.4 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +14.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
DIANE COHEN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 40 $106K
board members · 13
  • ELIZABETH BODNER — DIRECTOR
  • GIDEON STONE — PRESIDENT
  • JAN RHODES NORMAN — DIRECTOR
  • JODIE HERBERT — DIRECTOR
  • JOHN LEMLEY — DIRECTOR
  • MARIA THOMADAKI — DIRECTOR
  • MARSHALL MCCORMICK — DIRECTOR
  • MEGAN MCDONALD — DIRECTOR
  • PATRICIA BROWN — TREASURER & SECRETARY
  • PAUL MAZZERELLA — DIRECTOR
  • RAYMOND SCHLATHER — DIRECTOR
  • VICKI TAYLOR BROUS — DIRECTOR
  • YAYOI KOIZUMI — DIRECTOR
relationships · 13

Who they work with

  • Cayuga Reuse Center Partner — Collaborative initiative to expand reuse infrastructure in the region.
  • Facebook Partner — Uses Facebook for outreach and engagement.
  • Google Forms Partner — Uses Google Forms for online inquiry and contact forms.
  • Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram for outreach and engagement.
  • Ithaca Murals Partner — Collaborated on the ReUse Mural Project to create art installations at the Ithaca ReUse Center.
  • Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County Funder — Provided additional funding for the ReUse Mural Project.
  • Local Government Partner — Collaborated on a pilot training project launched in September 2020 to address high unemployment among people with employment barriers.
  • NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Administered the Environmental Justice Community Impact Grant that supported the ReUse Mural Project.
  • Other Non-Profits Partner — Collaborated on a pilot training project launched in September 2020 to address high unemployment among people with employment barriers.
  • Park Foundation Funder — Provided additional funding for the ReUse Mural Project.
  • Rotary Club of Ithaca Partner — Co-beneficiary of the Mystery Pallet Auction and Sale Fundraiser.
  • Words Into Deeds Partner — Collaborated on the ReUse Mural Project to create art installations at the Ithaca ReUse Center.
  • X Partner — Uses X (formerly Twitter) for outreach and engagement.
strategies · 4

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.

  • Circular Economy Integration with Social Equity
    methodology: circular_economy
    By advancing a circular economy model that integrates social equity and environmental resilience, we increase resource reuse because systemic change requires aligning ecological sustainability with inclusive economic opportunity.
  • Education in Repair and Reuse as Community Engagement
    methodology: education-in-repair-and-reuse
    By offering education in repair and reuse skills, we promote sustainable practices and community engagement because hands-on learning fosters behavioral change and strengthens local resilience.
  • Material Reuse for Economic and Environmental Benefit
    methodology: material-reuse-for-economic-and-environmental-benefit
    By redirecting used materials from the waste stream into productive new uses, we strengthen the local economy, build community, and protect the environment because reuse creates economic value while reducing environmental harm.
  • Workforce Development Through Reuse Activities
    methodology: workforce-development-through-reuse
    By integrating job skills training and paid apprenticeships into reuse operations, we improve workforce participation among under-employed and low-income individuals because meaningful work experience within a mission-driven context builds employability and dignity.