named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
5-Point Water Quality Initiative
Regional effort to protect water quality through conserving lakeshores, stream buffers, wetlands, and partnering with lake associations
Emerald Necklace Conservation
20-year initiative to conserve land around southern Cayuga Lake, forming a connected greenbelt
Finger Lakes Forever Capital Campaign
$22 million campaign to expand land and water conservation across the Finger Lakes region
Regional Conservation Agenda
Bold conservation strategy highlighting 10 approaches to permanently protect lands and waters in the region
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 2 activities
- Conducting strategic conservation planning and researchProduces conservation plans and mapping resources to guide land protection efforts, including reports on strategic focus areas and maps illustrating interconnected watersheds in the Finger Lakes region to enhance public understanding and inform decision-making.
- Implementing water quality protection initiativesProtects water quality by conserving sensitive lands within watersheds, restoring or creating wetlands, and providing web-based resources about harmful algal blooms and their impacts on public health, water quality, and regional economics in the Finger Lakes region.
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Land Acquisition and Conservation Easements 2 activities
- Facilitating landowner conservation through donations and easementsAccepts outright donations of real estate and negotiates conservation easements that allow landowners to retain ownership while permanently protecting their property. Secured over 1,000 acres of private land via perpetual conservation easements in the Keuka Lake watershed and completed multiple easement projects at Bluff Point.
- Permanently conserving land and waters in the Finger Lakes regionAcquires land and conservation easements to permanently protect natural areas, including forests, wetlands, gorges, farms, and lakeshore properties across the 11 Finger Lakes watersheds. The organization has conserved over 35,000 acres of land, with approximately 1,000 acres protected annually.
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Environmental Conservation Grantmaking 1 activity
- Conducting capital and fundraising campaigns for land acquisition and stewardshipExecutes major fundraising initiatives to support land protection and long-term management, including a $22 million capital campaign and a $500,000 campaign to acquire land on Irish Hill, remove abandoned structures, develop public access, and contribute to a permanent Stewardship Fund.
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Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Establishing and managing public nature preservesCreates and manages over 45 public nature preserves featuring hiking trails and public access. Recent projects include opening the Waldershare Acres Preserve (2025), establishing the Great Hill Nature Preserve with a 1.75-mile trail loop, and developing plans for public access at Irish Hill following acquisition.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Hosting educational and community engagement eventsEngages members, landowners, and volunteers through guided hikes, nature photography workshops, and other outdoor education programs at preserves such as Roy H. Park Preserve to promote stewardship and public connection with conserved lands.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Producing and distributing conservation outreach materialsPublishes and distributes educational resources including the quarterly print and digital newsletter The Land Steward (4 issues in 2025, 3 in 2026), brochures on land conservation options, and Afoot in the Field, a publication for conservation landowners.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$10.03M
Contributions & grants$7.57M75%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$2.47M25%
Other revenue$-7K
expenses
Total expenses$4.16M
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$1.72M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$46.10M
Cash$6.74M
Investments$14.97M
Liabilities$287K
Net assets$45.82M
Liquid reserves62.6 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +45.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Zepp | President | 40 | $207K |
board members · 20
- Adam Boyko — Secretary
- Beth Dann — Director
- Charles Driscoll — Director
- Dan Fisher — Director
- David Fernandez — Director
- Ed McGraw — Director
- Fred Van Sickle — Chairman
- James Walsh — Director
- Jan Suwinski — Director
- Karen Meriwether — Vice-chair
- Kevin Parker — Director
- Kristin Swain — Director
- Lindsay Ruth — Director At Large
- Lynn Eusden — Director
- Maria Fernandez-Gaige — Director
- Marjory Rinaldo-Lee — Director
- Sean O'Keefe — Director
- Suan Hsi Yong — Director
- Suzanne Hunt — Director
- Wade Sarkis — Treasurer
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- Botsford Nature Preserve Partner — Nature preserve established by the Finger Lakes Land Trust at Big Gully in the Keuka Lake watershed.
- Charles Spencer Nature Preserve Partner — Finger Lakes Land Trust-owned preserve located one parcel away from the Irish Hill property, intended for future connectivity.
- Cornell’s Arnot Forest Partner — Adjacent conservation area bordering the Irish Hill property, contributing to a contiguous block of protected woodlands.
- Go Finger Lakes Partner — Collaborates on outdoor recreation promotion through the Go Finger Lakes platform.
- Greensprings Natural Cemetery Partner — Adjacent property with existing trails that will connect to the planned nature preserve on Irish Hill.
- Ithaca Partner — Collaborates on conservation initiatives around Southern Cayuga Lake, including the Emerald Necklace project.
- Land Trust Alliance Government — Accredited by the Land Trust Alliance, indicating adherence to national standards in land conservation.
- Members, Landowners & Volunteers Partner — Collaborates with members, landowners, and volunteers in conservation work
- Newfield State Forest Partner — Adjacent state forest bordering the Irish Hill property, part of a larger conserved landscape.
- Roy H. Park Preserve Partner — Co-hosts a nature photography and guided hike event at the preserve.
- Seneca Nation Partner — Recognizes Nundawao/Great Hill as the birthplace of their people, indicating cultural partnership and shared stewardship values.
- Skaneateles Lake Association Partner — Collaborates with Skaneateles Lake Association and The Nature Conservancy in a coalition to combat harmful algal blooms and safeguard the Skaneateles watershed.
- The Nature Conservancy Partner — Collaborates with The Nature Conservancy and Skaneateles Lake Association in a coalition to combat harmful algal blooms and safeguard the Skaneateles watershed.
- WCNY Partner — Collaborated with WCNY to produce educational content on toxic algae in the Finger Lakes.
- Waldershare Acres Preserve Partner — Preserve established by the Finger Lakes Land Trust on land acquired in 2024.
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-Powered Conservation Modelmethodology: community-powered conservationBy engaging members, volunteers, landowners, and donors in conservation efforts, the organization amplifies its impact because community ownership increases participation, trust, and sustained support for land protection initiatives.
- Permanent Conservation via Legal Tools and Land Acquisitionmethodology: permanent_conservationBy using conservation easements, land acquisition, and legacy donations, the organization achieves permanent protection of ecologically significant lands and waters because legal and financial mechanisms ensure long-term enforceability and ecological integrity.
- Strategic Regional Conservation Planningmethodology: regional_conservation_agendaBy implementing a regional conservation agenda and targeted planning—such as the 5-point water protection plan—the organization prioritizes high-impact areas for intervention because data-informed strategies increase efficiency and ecological outcomes.