named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Conservation Conversations
Public discussion series that brings together community members and experts to explore waterfront restoration and stewardship in Western New York.
Eco-Expeditions
Community science events that engage participants in identifying and documenting local plants and wildlife to support land protection and restoration.
Fall Fest
Annual fall fundraiser held at Duende at Silo City featuring seasonal food, live music, and community gathering to support waterfront conservation efforts.
Nature Inspiration Day
Annual family-friendly event at Houghton Park and Houghton Conservation Area featuring guided nature walks, hands-on art projects, and outdoor education to connect children and families with nature.
Spruce Ups
Volunteer-led planting and cleanup days that engage the community in hands-on stewardship of protected lands.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Land Acquisition and Conservation Easements 1 activity
- Acquire, remediate, and steward waterfront lands for public access and habitat conservationAcquires and manages waterfront properties in Western New York through land acquisition and conservation easements, focusing on remediation of brownfield sites, invasive species management, and long-term stewardship to ensure public access and native habitat protection. Currently manages over 62 acres across multiple sites, with plans to expand to 116 acres through ongoing projects at City Ship Canal and Concrete Central.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Host fundraising events to support land protection and restorationOrganizes annual fundraising events such as Fall Fest and a fall fundraiser at Duende at Silo City to generate proceeds for the protection, restoration, and stewardship of Western New York’s waterfronts.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Host public engagement and environmental education eventsOrganizes community science and educational events including Eco Expeditions, Nature Inspiration Day, and Conservation Conversations to engage the public in documenting local biodiversity, learning about natural spaces, and discussing strategies for waterfront stewardship. Events include guided walks, art projects, and expert panels.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Organize volunteer stewardship activitiesCoordinates volunteer-led "SpruceUps" and planting days to maintain and improve protected lands, providing hands-on education about habitat health and site history while supporting land management goals.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$59K
Contributions & grants$50K85%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$9K15%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$150K
Program expenses69%
Admin / overhead31%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$49K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$360K
Cash$80K
Investments$85K
Liabilities$602
Net assets$360K
Liquid reserves13.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -70.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 23
- AIMEE ARCEO — BOARD MEMBER/ENGAGEMENT CHAIR
- AMY FISK SCHIFFERLI — BOARD MEMBER
- DAN RIKER — PRESIDENT
- EGON MOLDENHAUER — TREASURER
- EMMA COOK — SECRETARY
- ERIN CARMINA — BOARD MEMBER/DEVELOPMENT C
- EVANETTE VEIRA — BOARD MEMBER
- HENRY ZOMERFELD — BOARD MEMBER
- JESSE ALT-WINZIG — BOARD MEMBER
- JOE KEDRON — BOARD MEMBER
- JOSH SMITH — BOARD MEMBER
- JOY KUEBLER — BOARD MEMBER
- KACEY STEWART — BOARD MEMBER
- MARK STORCH — BOARD MEMBER
- MATTHEW FITZGERALD — VICE PRESIDENT
- MELISSA BRINSON — BOARD MEMBER
- MICHELLE BODEWES — BOARD MEMBER/LAND CO-CHAIR
- ROBERT PATTERSON — BOARD MEMBER
- SANDY SMITH — BOARD MEMBER
- SARAH COSTLOW — BOARD MEMBER
- SHELBY ROMANOWSKI — BOARD MEMBER
- STEVE FRANK — BOARD MEMBER/LAND CO-CHAIR
- STEVE MAYER — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 26
Who they work with
- Buffalo & Erie County Greenway Fund Standing Committee Partner — Partner in the development and funding of the 1660 Niagara Street greenspace project.
- Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Partner — Collaborates on the City Ship Canal restoration project.
- Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Partner — Collaborates on the Concrete Central Peninsula conservation project.
- Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Partner — Collaborates on the restoration and management of the 1660 Niagara Street site.
- Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Partner — Collaborating with BNRLT to establish a conservation easement and protect the Cayuga Creek project area.
- CSX Transportation Partner — Collaborates on stewardship and access initiatives for the City Ship Canal property.
- Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development Partner — Collaborates on planning and outdoor recreation projects, including trail development and public art initiatives.
- City Ship Canal Partner — Planned conservation easement on the City Ship Canal and Concrete Central Peninsula anticipated in 2026.
- City of Buffalo Partner — Collaborates with BNRLT on the Houghton Conservation Area project.
- Duende at Silo City Partner — Host venue for Fall Fest, the organization's annual fundraiser.
- Host Community Greenway Fund Standing Committee Funder — Providing funding through the Greenway Commission to support conservation efforts at the Cayuga Creek project area.
- Katherine Winkler Partner — Board member affiliated with Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, indicating a cross-organizational partnership in regional conservation.
- LaBella Partner — Professional partner involved in the design or engineering aspects of the 1660 Niagara Street project.
- Land Trust Alliance of New York Partner — Supports the land trust in the stewardship and conservation efforts at 1660 Niagara Street.
- NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Partner — Collaborates on the City Ship Canal restoration project.
- NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Partner — Collaborates on the Concrete Central Peninsula conservation project.
- NYSDEC Government — Government agency involved in the environmental oversight and restoration of the 1660 Niagara Street site.
- New York State Canal Corporation Partner — Partner in the restoration and public access development at 1660 Niagara Street.
- Niagara River Greenway Commission Partner — Collaborates on the planning and implementation of the 1660 Niagara Street ecological and recreational project.
- Sylvin Ashbrook Partner — Board member affiliated with ECOS, indicating a partnership with that organization in environmental stewardship.
- Town of Niagara Partner — Collaborating with BNRLT to establish a conservation easement on town-owned properties within the Cayuga Creek project area.
- Tuscarora Nation Partner — Collaborates on the City Ship Canal restoration project.
- Tuscarora Nation Partner — Collaborates on the Concrete Central Peninsula conservation project.
- US Fish and Wildlife Partner — Collaborates on the City Ship Canal restoration project.
- US Fish and Wildlife Partner — Collaborates on the Concrete Central Peninsula conservation project.
- West Side Bazaar Partner — Hosts joint events such as "Bartending for a Cause" to support BNRLT's mission.
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-Engaged Conservation and Stewardshipmethodology: community-engaged conservationBy involving the public in planning, restoration, and science activities, the organization strengthens ecological outcomes and public ownership of conserved lands, because community participation fosters long-term stewardship, enhances legitimacy, and integrates local knowledge into conservation design.
- Conservation-Integrated Experiential Educationmethodology: experiential-educationBy using hands-on outdoor education, guided walks, and creative engagement in conserved natural areas, the organization fosters personal connections to nature and inspires stewardship, because direct, experiential learning produces deeper public investment in conservation than passive awareness alone.
- Urban Brownfield to Publicly Accessible Green Space Transformationmethodology: urban-brownfield-restorationBy acquiring and remediating contaminated, post-industrial waterfront lands (brownfields), the organization enables permanent public access and ecological restoration, because transforming blighted sites into conserved natural areas creates dual community and environmental benefits where traditional rural-focused land trusts do not operate.