named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Ecological Assessment Program
Conducts citywide assessments of NYC’s forests and wetlands to inform management and restoration planning, including the first comprehensive survey of 10,000 acres of natural areas.
Forest Management Framework
25-year strategic plan developed with NYC Parks to protect and enhance NYC’s urban forests, released in 2018.
Forests in Cities Network
National network of 26 cities promoting urban forest health through shared research, collaboration, and best practices.
SUN High School Internship
Summer program for high school students in Forest Park, Queens, and the Greenbelt in Staten Island to connect with local natural areas and learn about ecology.
Urban NEST Fellowship
Year-long workforce fellowship for CUNY students offering specialized training, certifications, and mentorship in natural resource management.
Urban NEST Internship
Paid summer internship for CUNY students providing training in plant identification, field ecology, data management, and trail improvement techniques.
Wetlands Management Framework
30-year plan outlining care and conservation strategies for NYC’s wetlands, released in 2021.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Environmental Policy Advocacy & Litigation 1 activity
- Advocacy for urban natural areas policy and planningEngages in citywide and national advocacy to improve funding, management, and long-term planning for urban natural areas, including testimony that contributed to the passage of New York City Local Laws 148 and 135. Develops strategic frameworks such as the Forest Management Framework, Wetlands Management Framework, and Strategic Trails Plan to guide conservation and resilience efforts.
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Urban Resilience Planning & Advocacy 1 activity
- Building national capacity for urban forest managementLaunched and operates the Forests in Cities network (also known as National Forests in Cities Network), a 26-city national network established in 2019 that advances science, management, and communication for urban forested natural areas. Facilitates large-scale meetings, shared resources, and community-of-practice development to strengthen urban forest stewardship nationally.
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Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
- Coastal and ecosystem restoration projectsLeads on-the-ground ecological restoration efforts, including coastal revitalization after Superstorm Sandy and development of 36 climate-resilient planting palettes for urban forest restoration. Developed the Forest Identification and Restoration Selection Tool (FIRST) to support land managers in selecting appropriate species for restoration.
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Wildlife Monitoring and Field Research 1 activity
- Conducting applied research on urban natural areasConducts and publishes scientific research on the ecological, public health, and economic benefits of urban forests, wetlands, and grasslands, including studies on carbon storage, stormwater management, urban heat island mitigation, and wetlands mitigation banking. Carried out citywide ecological assessments of over 10,000 acres of forested and wetland areas and makes datasets publicly available.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Environmental education and community engagement programsOrganizes lectures, guided nature tours, volunteer projects, and environmental education initiatives to connect New Yorkers with the city’s natural areas. Hosts an annual NYC Nature 5K run and walk event in Forest Park, Queens, using proceeds to support trail protection and maintenance.
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Recreational Trail Development and Maintenance 1 activity
- Improving public access to urban natural areas through trail development and maintenanceDesigns, formalizes, and maintains nature trails across New York City to enhance public access, wayfinding, and navigation. Has formalized nearly 300 miles of trails and operates a trail care program active in over 60 parks, including initial work in Marine Park and Bronx Park.
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Youth Workforce Development in Food & Environment 1 activity
- Workforce development and environmental internship programsProvides paid internships, year-round positions, and fellowship opportunities for students, particularly through partnerships with CUNY. Since 2016, has provided over 150 internships to more than 130 students and offers technical training and research experience in urban ecology and conservation.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$3.91M
Contributions & grants$3.53M91%
Program service revenue$252K6%
Investment income$119K3%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$3.01M
Program expenses73%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$2.32M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$6.18M
Cash$1.28M
Investments$3.40M
Liabilities$157K
Net assets$6.02M
Liquid reserves18.7 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue +69.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARAH CHARLOP-POWERS | EXECUTIVE DIR. | 35 | $240K |
| ELIZABETH MARRA | DEPUTY DIR. PROGRAM | 35 | $155K |
| KATE SEASE | DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 35 | $139K |
| CLARA PREGITZER | DEPUTY DIR. CONSER | 35 | $136K |
| SHANNON JORDY | DEP DIR OF COM & EXT AFFAIRS | 35 | $124K |
| CRYSTAL CROWN | SENIOR MANAGER, DATA & ANALYTICS | 35 | $105K |
board members · 19
- ADRIAN BENEPE — DIRECTOR
- ANDREW WALLACH — CHAIRMAN
- ARIEL SPEICHER — DIRECTOR
- AUGIE FURST — DIRECTOR
- BRAM GUNTHER — DIRECTOR
- CAROLINE BARAD — DIRECTOR
- CHRISTINA CLAUDIO — DIRECTOR
- CLARE PEETERS — DIRECTOR
- CLARK MITCHELL — DIRECTOR
- DAVID LANGER — VICE CHAIR
- ERIC SANDERSON — DIRECTOR
- HON SUSAN DONOGHUE — DIRECTOR
- JANE SOKOLOW — DIRECTOR
- JODI SCHEURENBRAND — TREASURER
- JON PAUL BUCHMEYER — DIRECTOR
- JULIA ROBBINS — DIRECTOR
- JUSTIN HALL — DIRECTOR
- KATHERINE FRITTS — SECRETARY
- KENNETH SAHL — DIRECTOR
relationships · 47
Who they work with
- 12 cities from the FiC network Partner — Collaborated with the Natural Areas Conservancy on a 2022 study quantifying temperature differences in urban greenspaces.
- CUNY Partner — Partner in the Urban NEST internship program and recipient of internship placements since 2016.
- Central Park Conservancy Partner — Local nonprofit partner collaborating on research and public programming for natural area preservation.
- City Parks Foundation Partner — Partner in the high school SUN internship program.
- City University of New York Partner — Partner in providing paid internships and technical training for college students in environmental conservation
- City University of New York Partner — Primary academic partner for the NAC internship program, recruiting CUNY students for year-round research participation.
- Community Counseling & Mediation Partner — Partner in the high school SUN internship program.
- Forest Park Trust Partner — Co-hosts events with the Natural Areas Conservancy in local parks.
- Forest Park Trust Partner — Local nonprofit partner collaborating on research and public programming for natural area preservation.
- Forest Park Trust Partner — Partner in the high school SUN internship program.
- Forest in Cities network Network — 26-city network that shares urban forestry data, research, and best practices to build a community of practice.
- Forests in Cities Network — National network created by the Natural Areas Conservancy to connect professionals from over 26 cities working on urban forest conservation
- Forests in Cities network Network — Network of 26 cities launched by the Natural Areas Conservancy to advance urban forest science, management, and communication.
- Freshkills Park Alliance Partner — Partner in the high school SUN internship program.
- Friends of Pelham Bay Park Partner — Co-hosts events with the Natural Areas Conservancy in local parks.
- Give Butter Partner — Platform used to facilitate peer-to-peer fundraising for the NYC Nature 5K.
- Greenbelt Nature Center Partner — Partner in the high school SUN internship program.
- Hudson River Foundation Partner — Partner in the Urban NEST internship program.
- Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy Partner — Partner in the Urban NEST internship program.
- Leon Levy Foundation Funder — Funder of the workforce programs, including internships and fellowships.
- NYC Department of Parks & Recreation Partner — Foundational partner on multiple research and conservation projects, managing 12,000 acres of natural areas in NYC.
- NYC Department of Parks & Recreation Partner — Longstanding partner since 2012 in restoring and managing urban forests and wetlands across New York City
- NYC Parks Government — Collaborates with NYC Parks on the stewardship and management of natural areas in New York City.
- NYC Parks Partner — Collaborated on the Ecological Assessment of New York City’s natural areas used to develop the FIRST tool.
- NYC Parks Partner — Collaborated to develop and release the Forest Management Framework for New York City's urban forests.
- NYC Parks Partner — Partner in the Urban NEST internship and high school SUN internship programs.
- NYC Parks Stewardship Partner — Collaborates with the Natural Areas Conservancy to organize trail maintenance events with volunteers.
- NYC Science Research and Mentoring Consortium Partner — Partner in the high school SUN internship program.
- National Parks Service Partner — Partner in the Urban NEST internship program.
- New York Botanical Garden Partner — Partner in the Urban NEST internship program.
+ 17 more
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 Engagement as a Pathway to Equitable Access and Stewardshipmethodology: community-engagement-through-access-and-educationBy expanding access to nature and providing environmental education and paid training opportunities, the organization strengthens community engagement and diversifies conservation careers because removing financial and educational barriers fosters stewardship and long-term support for urban natural areas.
- Data-Driven Conservation Planningmethodology: data-driven forest restoration planningBy using applied research and data synthesis to inform restoration and management decisions, the organization improves urban forest health because evidence-based planning increases ecological resilience and cost-effectiveness of conservation interventions.
- Integrated Research, Partnerships, and Advocacymethodology: integrated_research_partnerships_advocacyBy integrating scientific research with cross-sector partnerships and policy advocacy, the organization advances urban conservation because this multi-pronged approach generates actionable knowledge, builds consensus, and drives public investment in urban natural areas.