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INDIAN RIVER LAKES CONSERVANCY
REDWOOD, NY · EIN 161555636 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE C30 · Environment · Small ($100K-$1M) · indianriverlakes.org
revenue
$255K
expenses
$343K
net assets
$1.9M
employees
6
program ratio
60%
mission · from form 990

TO PRESERVE THE INDIAN RIVER LAKES REGION FOR ITS NATURAL, RECREATIONAL, AND SCENIC VALUES.

profile · synthesized from sources

Land trust operating in northern New York that conserves natural areas around the Indian River Lakes region for their ecological, recreational, and scenic values. Manages over 2,750 acres across 12 preserves with public trails and focuses on habitat protection, water quality, and environmental education. Engages the community through volunteer programs and youth initiatives to foster stewardship of local natural resources.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Fall Family Fun Day
Annual family-oriented event promoting nature connection through activities like faerie house building, part of broader family programming including Night Tree Lighting and Fairy Book Walk
Grand Lake Reserve
1116-acre preserve on Butterfield Lake established through donations from Henry Carse, featuring public trails and habitat conservation
Kids Nature Camp
Summer camp for children focused on nature exploration and environmental education, expanded to include multiple school districts in northern New York
Project WHIRL (Protectors of Water and Habitat on the Indian River Lakes)
Youth program engaging high school students in hands-on environmental science, water quality monitoring, and invasive species management in partnership with universities and agencies
Trailside Learning Center at Redwood Hill Preserve
Environmental education hub offering adult and children’s programs, built by volunteers and serving as central location for IRLC’s educational initiatives
activities · 11 groups

What they do

  • Benefit Events for Arts and Culture 1 activity
    • Annual fundraising event operations
      Organizes and supports the annual Celebration of the Lakes fundraiser, including guest greeting, sign-in, directional assistance, setup and cleanup, waste removal, technical setup, live and silent auctions featuring local items and experiences, and provision of hors d'oeuvres and desserts.
  • Environmental Conservation Grantmaking 1 activity
    • Capacity building through state partnerships
      Participates in the New York State Conservation Partnership Program, receiving funding and technical assistance from the New York Environmental Protection Fund to enhance land conservation and stewardship capacity. Also strengthened organizational capacity by hiring its first environmental educator staff member.
  • Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Community outreach and communication
      Conducts community outreach by promoting conservation initiatives, trails, and events through social media, photography, materials distribution, and event participation. Produces and distributes a newsletter featuring conservation updates, upcoming events, and community stories.
  • Lake and River Advocacy 1 activity
    • Conservation advocacy and regional collaboration
      Advances regional conservation through strategic planning for the Indian River Watershed and convening forums such as the annual Water Quality Conference (launched in 2018) and the Lake Leaders Summit (first held in 2020) to strengthen collaboration among lake associations and environmental leaders.
  • Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
    • Environmental education programs
      Delivers environmental education for children and youth through nature hikes, Summer Kids' Nature Camp, Project WHIRL, and school district partnerships. Expanded programming under professional leadership and increased youth engagement through mentorship with university partners and environmental professionals.
  • Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
    • Habitat management for species conservation
      Manages critical wildlife habitat through long-term ecological projects, including a young forest management initiative at Grand Lake Reserve that supports the Golden-Winged Warbler, recognized by Audubon and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.
  • Land Acquisition and Conservation Easements 1 activity
    • Land conservation and management
      Protects and manages over 2,750 acres of land across 12 preserves in the Indian River Lakes region, including preserving natural habitats, shoreline, and watersheds to prevent pollution, invasive species spread, soil erosion, and sedimentation while maintaining water quality. As of 2023, the organization conserved 2,732 acres with ongoing expansion.
  • Recreational Trail Development and Maintenance 1 activity
    • Trail maintenance and public access
      Performs regular trail maintenance including clearing obstructions, vegetation control, signage, boundary marking, building planking over wet areas, and invasive species removal across 28 miles of public trails. Ensures conserved lands are accessible and welcoming to all community members.
  • Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
    • Volunteer program coordination
      Operates a volunteer program engaging over 160 volunteers annually in conservation work, trail development, stewardship projects, and intergenerational education. Coordinates outreach, scheduling, RSVP tracking, and project assignments.
  • Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 1 activity
    • Water conservation and quality protection
      Conducts water conservation efforts through land preservation and community education to protect aquatic habitats and maintain water quality. Collaborates with local lake associations to safeguard water quality and promote regional stewardship.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Accreditation and organizational standards
      Maintains accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, with current accreditation valid through August 2027, demonstrating adherence to national standards for land trust management and governance.
    • Community research for conservation planning
      Collected over 400 responses through the Love of the Lakes survey to inform future lake conservation planning and community engagement strategies.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$255K
Contributions & grants$232K91%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$3K1%
Other revenue$19K
expenses
Total expenses$343K
Program expenses60%
Admin / overhead37%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$180K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.97M
Cash$207K
Investments$0
Liabilities$90K
Net assets$1.88M
Liquid reserves7.2 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -38.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 8
  • BROOKE WILLS-THOMAS — VICE CHAIR
  • ED ROBERTSON — BOARD MEMBER
  • JANET CARRINGTON — BOARD MEMBER
  • JEFF TETRAULT — BOARD MEMBER
  • JOHN O'DRISCOLL — CHAIR
  • ROBERT SARTWELL — BOARD MEMBER
  • STEPHEN DIEHL — BOARD MEMBER
  • STEPHEN SWALLOW — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 32

Who they work with

  • Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation Partner — Works together to protect loon populations and conserve regional ecosystems.
  • Algonquin to Adirondack Collaborative Partner — Collaborates on preserving ecological connectivity and landscape resilience between Algonquin Provincial Park and the Adirondack Park.
  • Algonquin to Adirondacks Network — IRLC's conservation work contributes to the Algonquin to Adirondacks ecological corridor network.
  • Audubon Partner — Collaborates on ecological monitoring, with Audubon ornithologists recognizing the Grand Lake Reserve as a key habitat for the Golden-Winged Warbler.
  • Clarkson University Partner — Engages in environmental conservation through research, education, and community partnerships focused on sustainable solutions.
  • Clarkson University Partner — WHIRL partner organization contributing expertise in environmental science and student mentorship.
  • Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Partner — Collaborates on ecological monitoring, with Cornell ornithologists recognizing the Grand Lake Reserve as a key habitat for the Golden-Winged Warbler.
  • Ducks Unlimited Partner — Collaborates on wetland and habitat conservation to support waterfowl populations and biodiversity.
  • Elizabeth May Duvall Foundation Funder — Provides support for programs that connect children with nature, reflecting a shared commitment to youth empowerment and education.
  • Encompass Recreation Partner — Nonprofit partner providing recreational opportunities for children with higher support needs in Northern New York.
  • FORCES - Friends of Recreation, Conservation, and Environmental Stewardship Partner — Collaborates on recreation, conservation, and environmental stewardship initiatives.
  • Hearts for Youth Inc. Partner — Works with the conservancy to empower youth and foster connections between young people and nature.
  • Izaak Walton League of Central New York Partner — Advocates for clean water, habitat protection, and outdoor recreation in partnership with the conservancy.
  • Izaak Walton League of Northern New York Partner — Collaborates with IRLC on Project WHIRL to provide environmental education and mentorship for youth.
  • Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District Partner — Provides technical assistance and educational outreach for soil health, water quality, and natural resource protection in Jefferson County.
  • Land Trust Accreditation Commission Government — Accrediting body that licenses the use of the accreditation seal after verifying compliance with national standards.
  • Land Trust Alliance Network — Accrediting body for IRLC; indicates adherence to national land trust standards and practices.
  • Land Trust Alliance Partner — Partner in the New York State Conservation Partnership Program providing funding, training, and technical assistance for land conservation.
  • Lisa’s Cucina Partner — Provides catering services for the Celebration of the Lakes event.
  • New York Federation of Lakes Network — Member of a statewide network committed to lake and watershed protection through sustainable practices and community involvement.
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Government agency partner in the New York State Conservation Partnership Program, supporting land conservation and environmental stewardship.
  • New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Government — Partner in Project WHIRL and funder of accessibility improvements at Redwood Hill Preserve.
  • Northern New York Community Foundation Funder — Supports environmental conservation, education, and community development initiatives in Northern New York.
  • Paul Smiths Adirondack Watershed Institute Partner — WHIRL partner supporting aquatic resources education and watershed monitoring.
  • Rich & Sally Sauer Partner — Donated real estate to support the organization's mission.
  • SLELO PRISM Partner — St. Lawrence and Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management; collaborates on invasive species management.
  • SUNY Environmental School of Science and Forestry (ESF) Partner — WHIRL partner organization providing environmental science mentorship to high school students.
  • St. Lawrence River Watershed Partnership Partner — Collaborates to protect and enhance the health of the St. Lawrence River and its tributaries through sustainable practices and community engagement.
  • St. Lawrence University Partner — WHIRL partner organization engaging students in environmental science education and stewardship.
  • St. Lawrence and Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (SLELO PRISM) Partner — WHIRL partner focused on invasive species management education and action.
+ 2 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.

  • Equity of Access as Foundational to Conservation
    methodology: equity-of-access
    By ensuring inclusive and public access to conserved lands, the organization advances the principle that outdoor access is a basic human right, because conservation that excludes people undermines long-term community support and environmental justice.
  • Integrated Conservation and Community Engagement
    methodology: integrated conservation and community engagement
    By combining land protection with education and stewardship programs, the organization strengthens both environmental outcomes and community connection to place, because engaged communities are more likely to sustain long-term conservation efforts.
  • Natural Buffer Zones for Water Quality Protection
    methodology: natural_buffer_zones
    By preserving lands with natural vegetation buffers, the organization filters pollutants and regulates hydrology to sustain water quality, because intact riparian ecosystems function as natural water treatment systems.
  • Youth Stewardship Development through Experiential Education
    methodology: experiential_youth_engagement
    By engaging children in hands-on outdoor experiences and mentorship with environmental professionals, the organization cultivates future stewards of land and water, because early, sensory-rich connections to nature foster lasting environmental responsibility.