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COUNCIL ON THE ENVIRONMENT INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 132765465 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE C300 · Environment · Large ($10M-$50M)
revenue
$29.8M
expenses
$23.0M
net assets
$50.4M
employees
339
volunteers
5,575
program ratio
80%
mission · from form 990

TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AMONG NEW YORKERS AND SOLUTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Council on the Environment Inc promotes environmental awareness and solutions among New Yorkers, with a focus on food access, sustainable agriculture, and zero-waste initiatives. The organization operates farmers markets, food scrap drop-off sites, and wholesale distribution programs that support regional farmers and improve access to fresh produce. It also provides farmer training and community education on waste reduction and resource conservation.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $5.95M
    FOOD ACCESS & AGRICULTURE, WHICH OPERATES 80 RETAIL FOOD ACCESS LOCATIONS INCLUDING GREENMARKETS, FARMSTANDS, AND FRESH FOOD BOX SITES. THESE LOCATIONS PROVIDE MORE THAN 200 SMALL, REGIONAL PRODUCERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELL THEIR FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND OTHER FARM PRODUCTS TO NEW YORKERS. ALL LOCATIONS PROMOTE AND ACCEPT SNAP AND OTHER NUTRITION INCENTIVES. THE FARMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO EXPERIENCED AND BEGINNING FARMERS TO INCREASE LONG-TERM VIABILITY.
  2. #2 $2.42M
    ZERO WASTE, WHICH OPERATES MORE THAN 50 FOOD SCRAP DROP-OFF SITES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, COORDINATES TEXTILE COLLECTIONS, ORGANIZES STOP 'N' SWAP COMMUNITY REUSE EVENTS, AND PROVIDES OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO ALL NEW YORKERS TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN THE CITY'S ZERO WASTE PROGRAMS AND HELP CONSERVE NATURAL RESOURCES. ZERO WASTE DROP-OFF SITES COLLECTED 2.2 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD SCRAPS IN 2023. THE NON-RENEWAL OF TWO MAJOR CITY CONTRACTS RESULTED IN THE ZERO WASTE PROGRAMS PAUSING AS OF JUNE 30, 2024 AS THE ORGANIZATION ASSESSES HOW TO CONTINUE ZERO WASTE PROGRAMMING.
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Food Access & Agriculture
Operates 80 retail food access locations including Greenmarkets, farmstands, and Fresh Food Box sites, connecting over 200 small regional producers with New Yorkers. Accepts SNAP and nutrition incentives. Includes a Farmer Assistance Program offering training and support to beginning and experienced farmers.
Greenmarket Co. Food Distribution Hub
Wholesale distribution hub that expands market access for small and mid-size farmers and supplies fresh produce to food pantries, senior centers, hospitals, and other institutional buyers, with over 60% of distributed food going to nutritionally at-risk populations.
Youth Markets
Youth-operated urban farm stands that provide workforce development opportunities for young adults, combining career education with hands-on experience in farming and retail.
Zero Waste
Operated over 50 food scrap drop-off sites, coordinated textile collections, and organized Stop 'n' Swap reuse events. Provided citywide outreach and education to promote participation in zero waste programs. Collected 2.2 million pounds of food scraps in 2023 before pausing operations due to loss of city contracts.
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Local Food Systems Development 2 activities
    • Distributing local food through wholesale and institutional channels
      Distributes over 5 million pounds of fresh, locally sourced food annually through its Wholesale Food Hub to nonprofits, schools, hospitals, senior centers, restaurants, and other institutional buyers, with over 60% going to nutritionally at-risk populations; provides last-mile delivery services for small and mid-sized farms.
    • Supporting farmers and regional food systems
      Supports a network of over 230 farmers and producers participating in GrowNYC markets, facilitates access to 49,000 acres of farmland stewardship, and promotes biodiversity by making over 6,000 unique and heirloom fruit and vegetable varieties available through its market network.
  • Local Food Market Operation 2 activities
    • Operating farmers markets and farmstands for fresh food access
      Operates over 45 seasonal and year-round Greenmarket farmers markets and farmstands across New York City, forming the largest producer-only outdoor farmers market network in the U.S., providing access to fresh, regional produce for New Yorkers.
    • Redeeming nutrition benefits at farmers markets
      Facilitates the annual redemption of over $5 million in SNAP, FMNP, FreshConnect, Healthfirst OTC, and eWIC benefits at its markets by converting them into market currency, enabling low-income customers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables directly from farmers.
  • Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 1 activity
    • Building and maintaining community gardens and green spaces
      Has built or restored over 180 community gardens and added more than 1 million square feet of green space to New York City’s urban landscape since 1985, including rainwater harvesting systems and green infrastructure; conducts over 25 garden renovations annually.
  • Youth Workforce Development in Food & Environment 1 activity
    • Delivering workforce development and youth training
      Provides career development education, hands-on work experience, and over 1,200 hours of annual training and field trips for young adults and summer youth interns through farmstand operations and agricultural programming.
  • Community Composting & Organic Waste Diversion 1 activity
    • Operating zero waste and composting programs
      Operates over 50 food scrap drop-off sites, coordinates textile collections, and organizes Stop 'n' Swap reuse events; collected over 2.2 million pounds of food scraps in 2023 and supported curbside composting outreach in residential buildings in partnership with NYC Department of Sanitation.
  • Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 1 activity
    • Providing agriculture, gardening, and nutrition education
      Empowers over 350,000 individuals through hands-on workshops, trainings, and educational programs in agriculture, gardening, composting, and nutrition; hosts over 5,000 children and adults annually at the Governors Island Teaching Garden and supports over 1,000 school gardens across NYC.
  • Smallholder Agricultural Development 1 activity
    • Providing technical assistance to farmers
      Offers technical assistance and training to beginning and experienced farmers to improve long-term viability and sustainability of small and mid-sized farms in the Northeast region.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$29.79M
Contributions & grants$18.90M63%
Program service revenue$10.41M35%
Investment income$121K0%
Other revenue$359K
expenses
Total expenses$23.04M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$15.15M
Grants paid out$10K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$66.13M
Cash$2.99M
Investments$811K
Liabilities$15.76M
Net assets$50.37M
Liquid reserves2.0 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -1.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

paid leadership · 8
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MARCEL VAN OOYEN PRESIDENT/CEO 35 $364K
GERARD LORDAHL DIRECTOR, GREEN SPACE 35 $206K
JULIE WALSH ASST. DIRECTOR/ASST. SEC. 35 $191K
DENNIS CONROY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE 35 $189K
MICHELLE SARRIA DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES 35 $181K
NICHOLAS ROLF DIRECTOR, ADVANCEMENT 35 $158K
ANGELA DAVIS DIRECTOR, FOOD ACCESS & AG 35 $158K
CORINNA LEE DIRECTOR, WHOLESALE FOOD DISTRIBUTION 35 $145K
board members · 17
  • AILEEN CHU — DIRECTOR
  • ANITA KAWATRA — DIRECTOR
  • ARLINE BRONZAFT — DIRECTOR
  • BRET CSENCSITZ — DIRECTOR
  • CHARLENE BALFOUR — CO-CHAIR
  • CHARLES RAMAT — DIRECTOR
  • EUGENE SCHNEUR — DIRECTOR
  • EVERARD FINDLAY — DIRECTOR
  • JOHAN SEGERGREN — DIRECTOR
  • JORDAN BAROWITZ — SECRETARY
  • LEA SAVOJI — TREASURER
  • LIZ NEUMARK — DIRECTOR
  • MARIANNE SPRAGGINS — DIRECTOR
  • MARK IZEMAN — DIRECTOR
  • MICHELLE BANG — DIRECTOR
  • NANCY ELDER — DIRECTOR
  • NICHOLAS SCHARLATT — CO-CHAIR
relationships · 31

Who they work with

  • Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation Partner — Collaborated on the development of Ashford Learning Garden.
  • Division of Veterans Affairs Government — Distributes FreshConnect coupons to veterans and families for use at GrowNYC markets.
  • Facebook Partner — Platform used for outreach and engagement
  • Farmer and Community Advisory Committee Coalition — Advisory body that guides Greenmarket policy and operations through subcommittees on advocacy, equity, regulations, and budget.
  • FoodPrint.org Partner — Partner organization providing additional resources on seasonal food
  • GREENMARKET CO. FOOD DISTRIBUTION HUB Partner — Collaborates to expand wholesale distribution options for small and mid-size farmers and improve food access in underserved communities.
  • Grandpa Farm Partner — Farm partner supplying vegetables, herbs, and fresh cut flowers.
  • Great Joy Family Farm Partner — Farm partner supplying rice, millet, tofu, beans, vegetables, mushrooms, and eggs.
  • Greenmarket Network — Operates Greenmarket as part of its food access and local agriculture programs.
  • GrowNYC Network — GrowNYC Wholesale is a program of the nonprofit GrowNYC.
  • GrowNYC Greenmarket Network — Operates a network of nearly 200 farms and food businesses within 250 miles of New York City.
  • Halal Pastures Farm Partner — Farm partner supplying certified organic vegetables, eggs, and honey.
  • HealthFirst Partner — Accepts HealthFirst OTC benefits at GrowNYC markets
  • Healthfirst Partner — Collaborates to enable OTC Plus card holders to use benefits at GrowNYC Greenmarkets.
  • Instagram Partner — Platform used for outreach and engagement
  • LinkedIn Partner — Platform used for outreach and engagement
  • Migliorelli Farm Partner — Farm partner supplying vegetables, orchard fruit, cider, and cider doughnuts.
  • Morgiewicz Farms Partner — Participates in pilot program to accept eWIC cards at select GrowNYC Greenmarket locations.
  • NYC Department of Health Government — Partner in administering Health Bucks program at farmers markets.
  • NYC Parks GreenThumb Government — Supports community gardens that are under the jurisdiction of NYC Parks.
  • NYC Parks GreenThumb Partner — Collaborates with NYC Parks GreenThumb to support community-managed gardens.
  • New York City Department of Sanitation Partner — Partners with GrowNYC on curbside composting outreach and waste system optimization
  • New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Government — Distributes FMNP coupon booklets accepted at GrowNYC Greenmarkets.
  • R&G Produce Partner — Participates in pilot program to accept eWIC cards at select GrowNYC Greenmarket locations.
  • R&R Produce Growers Partner — Farm partner supplying vegetables.
  • Reeves Farm Partner — Farm partner in Cayuga County, NY.
  • Row by Row Farm Partner — Farm partner supplying vegetables.
  • TikTok Partner — Platform used for outreach and engagement
  • USDA Government — Accepts federal nutrition benefits including SNAP EBT and WIC, indicating partnership with USDA programs.
  • Upstate Growers and Packers Partner — Farm partner based in Oneida County, NY.
+ 1 more
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.

  • Advance Environmental and Food Systems Literacy through Experiential Education
    methodology: interdisciplinary environmental education
    By teaching the interconnections between health, environment, and food through seasonal and intergenerational programming, we cultivate sustainable behaviors and leadership, because experiential understanding of food cycles and ecological systems leads to lasting behavioral change and community advocacy.
  • Build Community Resilience through Participatory Green Space Development
    methodology: community-led green space development
    By co-creating and restoring community gardens with local stewardship supported by long-term infrastructure investment, we strengthen community resilience and environmental equity, because community-led green spaces foster social cohesion, urban sustainability, and lasting ownership of shared resources.
  • Improve Food Access through Nutrition Incentives and Benefits Integration
    methodology: benefits-banking
    By converting government nutrition benefits into usable market tokens and providing matching incentives like Health Bucks, we increase the purchasing power of low-income consumers for fresh produce, because financial incentives paired with seamless benefit redemption lower economic and logistical barriers to healthy food access at farmers markets.
  • Strengthen Local Food Systems through Direct Market Access
    methodology: direct-farmer-consumer-linkage
    By connecting small to mid-sized regional farmers directly with urban consumers and institutions through farmers markets, farmstands, and wholesale aggregation, we improve access to fresh food and support sustainable agriculture, because direct relationships reduce intermediaries, increase farmer income, and ensure fresher, more reliable food access for underserved communities.