named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Advocacy Program
State and federal lobbying efforts on labor laws, food safety regulations, outdoor dining policies, and third-party delivery fee caps; includes regional advocacy councils and legislative monitoring
Emerging Leaders Council
Professional development network for hospitality professionals aged 22–39 in management, culinary, marketing, or operations roles
Restaurant Ready
National job training program providing job-readiness skills to unemployed and underemployed individuals; operates in partnership with community organizations in Albany, Buffalo, Schenectady, Troy, and New York City
Safety Group 505
Workers' compensation insurance program offering up to 35% premium discounts and dividends; has returned over $100.5 million in dividends over 38 years
ServSafe Training Discount
Provides members with 15% discount on food safety, alcohol server, allergen, and sexual harassment prevention training courses
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Industry Trade Association Services 2 activities
- Dual membership with National Restaurant AssociationProvides all members with dual membership in the National Restaurant Association, expanding access to national resources, advocacy, and programs.
- Regional service delivery across New York StateProvides services to restaurant industry members across all regions of New York State, including New York City, Long Island, the Capital Region, Central New York, the Hudson Valley, Western New York, and Northern New York.
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Culinary Workforce Training Programs 2 activities
- ProStart high school culinary and management education programManages ProStart, a two-year culinary arts and restaurant management program for high school students, in New York and Vermont to build career pathways in the hospitality industry.
- Workforce development through Restaurant Ready programImplements the national Restaurant Ready program in partnership with community-based organizations to provide job and life skills training for individuals pursuing careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry, initially targeting opportunity youth aged 16–24 and young professionals.
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Industry Advocacy and Regulatory Engagement 1 activity
- Advocacy and lobbying for restaurant industry policiesConducts state, local, and federal advocacy on behalf of the restaurant industry through lobbying, legislative monitoring, member campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and action alerts on political developments. Focuses on policy priorities such as fee caps on third-party delivery platforms, opposition to street vendor deregulation, and education-based enforcement with opportunities to cure violations.
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Member Business Referral & Discount Programs 1 activity
- Cost-saving programs and financial benefits for membersProvides members with cost-saving programs including group purchasing rebates (e.g., Prime Source Purchasing Program), insurance, retirement planning, telehealth, payroll processing, and discounted services such as RestaurantOwner.com plans. Members save an average of $350 annually through rebate programs.
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Mentorship and Professional Development Programs 1 activity
- Emerging Leaders Council for young professionalsOperates the Emerging Leaders Council (ELC) for hospitality professionals aged 22–39 to support networking, mentorship, and leadership skill development.
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Professional Association Capacity Building 1 activity
- Member education and professional development programsOffers webinars, seminars, roundtables, networking events, monthly calls, and access to the NY Restaurant Show to provide practical solutions, knowledge sharing, and skill development for hospitality professionals.
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Union and Association Benefit Funds 1 activity
- Safety Group 505 workers' compensation dividend programOperates Safety Group 505, a workers’ compensation savings program that has distributed over $100.5 million in dividends to members over 38 consecutive years, including a 35% dividend payout in 2024, designed to promote workplace safety and reduce insurance costs for members.
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Professional Certification and Continuing Education 1 activity
- ServSafe and safety training discountsProvides members with a 15% discount on ServSafe training programs covering food safety, alcohol service, allergens, and workplace harassment prevention, along with free access to premium safety courses through a partnership with LossIQ.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.14M
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$742K35%
Investment income$477K22%
Other revenue$926K
expenses
Total expenses$2.40M
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$1.53M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$6.57M
Cash$168K
Investments$5.76M
Liabilities$444K
Net assets$6.13M
Liquid reserves29.6 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +6.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MELISSA FLEISUT | PRESIDENT/CEO | 1 | $262K |
| PETER VAN NOSTRAND | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE | 1 | $111K |
board members · 13
- DAN CONNOR — DIRECTOR
- DOMINICK PURNOMO — DIRECTOR
- ELLIE GRENAUER — VICE TREASURER
- FRANCESCA NAKAGAWA — DIRECTOR
- KELLY BUSH — DIRECTOR
- KEVIN GOGGINS — CHAIRMAN
- KEVIN ILARDI — DIRECTOR
- LUCA DI PIETRO — DIRECTOR
- MICKEY KING — DIRECTOR
- NANCY BAMBARA — TREASURER
- NICK PITILLO — DIRECTOR
- SHELBY POOLE — DIRECTOR
- STEVE LUPO — IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
relationships · 21
Who they work with
- Authentic Partner — Provides insurance infrastructure enabling NYSRA to offer customized commercial insurance policies to members.
- Everspan Insurance Company Government — Backs NYSRA-endorsed insurance policies as an A-rated carrier.
- FeedMore WNY Partner — Delivers Restaurant Ready program in Buffalo, NY
- Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram (@nysranyc) as a communication channel to engage members and share updates.
- LossIQ Partner — Partners with NYSRA to provide members free access to premium safety courses.
- Marketplace Partners Partner — Companies that have collaborated with NYSRA to develop special programs and pricing for members.
- National Restaurant Association Network — Has a dual membership agreement, enabling federal advocacy collaboration.
- National Restaurant Association Network — Proud partner of the National Restaurant Association, indicating affiliation or endorsement at the national level.
- National Restaurant Association Partner — Collaborates with the National Restaurant Association to conduct federal-level advocacy on behalf of the restaurant industry.
- New York State Insurance Fund Partner — Co-created Safety Group 505 with NYSRA to provide workers' compensation insurance and premium savings to members.
- Prime Source Purchasing Partner — Partners with Prime Source Purchasing to administer the PSP Rebate Rewards Program for NYSRA members.
- ProStart Partner — Manages ProStart programs in New York and Vermont, delivering a two-year culinary arts and restaurant management curriculum for high school students.
- Reform Alliance Partner — Partners on the Restaurant Ready program at Edgecombe in New York City
- Restaurant Ready Partner — Implements the national Restaurant Ready program to prepare individuals with job and life skills for careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry.
- RestaurantOwner.com Partner — Partner providing discounted services and resources to NYSRA members.
- ServSafe Partner — Provides discounted ServSafe products to NYSRA members for food safety, alcohol service, allergen, and sexual harassment prevention training.
- Starr Indemnity & Liability Company Government — Backs NYSRA-endorsed insurance policies as an A-rated carrier.
- The Odyssey House Partner — Delivers Restaurant Ready program in New York City
- The SEAT Center Partner — Delivers Restaurant Ready program in Schenectady, NY
- The Success Map Initiative Partner — Delivers Restaurant Ready program in Cohoes, NY
- Unity House of Troy Partner — Delivers Restaurant Ready program in Troy, NY
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.
- Collective Risk Management for Cost Reductionmethodology: collective_risk_managementBy pooling members into collective insurance arrangements, the organization reduces individual premiums and incentivizes workplace safety improvements because shared risk aligns financial outcomes with safety performance.
- Peer-Informed Capacity Buildingmethodology: peer_informed_learningBy facilitating peer-led knowledge exchange and practical education, the organization improves business resilience and operational outcomes because restaurant owners are more likely to adopt strategies validated by peers facing similar challenges.
- Unified Industry Advocacymethodology: unified_advocacyBy consolidating the voices of restaurant operators, the organization increases political influence and shapes favorable policy outcomes because elected officials are more responsive to coordinated constituent action than to isolated lobbying efforts.
- Workforce Development through Integrated Supportmethodology: workforce_development_with_supportBy aligning training with wraparound services and employer partnerships, the organization improves job readiness and retention in the hospitality sector because sustained employment requires both skills and structural support.