named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Adopt-A-Crag
Organizes volunteer events for trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and cliff cleanups to support sustainable climbing access
Anchor Replacement Initiative
Collaborates with the Mohonk Preserve to replace tree-based rappel anchors with bolted systems to reduce environmental damage and improve climber safety
Antlion Cliff Conservation Initiative
Acquired 1,000 feet of the Millbrook Mountain cliff line, including Antlion Crag, to create a new backcountry climbing area; includes trail construction, parking development, and ecological stewardship
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Recreational Trail Development and Maintenance 3 activities
- Advocacy for sustainable climbing access and conservationAdvocates for the creation, expansion, and maintenance of sustainable climbing opportunities on the Shawangunk Ridge and surrounding areas, including securing access to new climbing zones such as the Dickie Barre area in Minnewaska State Park Preserve under the 2010 Master Plan.
- Land acquisition and development for public climbing accessAcquired 1,000 feet of cliff line including Antlion Crag and developed public access through new trails and infrastructure, with plans to open the area by March 2022.
- Stewardship and maintenance of climbing areasConducts on-the-ground stewardship including trail maintenance, erosion control, cliff cleanups, installation and replacement of fixed anchors and rappel stations, and removal of tree anchors to protect sensitive environments across the Shawangunk Ridge, including at Antlion Crag, the Trapps, and Dickie Barre.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Education and community outreach programsOffers climber education initiatives such as the Gym-to-Crag program, hosts community events including slide shows and stewardship inventories, and supports diversity and inclusion by providing resources and access to individuals historically underrepresented in climbing.
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Organized Member Social Events 1 activity
- Membership engagement and communicationOrganizes annual events such as membership BBQs and distributes news and updates about the Shawangunk Ridge climbing area through a mailing list to foster community participation.
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Local Land Conservation Advocacy 1 activity
- Partnership with national climbing advocacy organizationOperates as a local affiliate of The Access Fund to support broader efforts in keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$45K
Contributions & grants$9K20%
Program service revenue$24K53%
Investment income$790%
Other revenue$230
expenses
Total expenses$40K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$189K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$189K
4 years on record · 2022–2025 · YoY revenue -12.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 5
- BRENDAN THOMAS — BOARD MEMBER
- CHRIS VULTAGGIO — BOARD MEMBER
- JASON HURWITZ — BOARD MEMBER
- MATT LOGAN — BOARD MEMBER
- YUERAN ZENG — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 28
Who they work with
- AAC Gunks Campground Partner — Collaborates with the AAC Gunks Campground, a climber-accessible campground located in Gardiner, NY.
- Access Fund Coalition — Local affiliate of the Access Fund, offering joint membership
- Access Fund Partner — Collaborated on an interview with Taimur Ahmad to discuss JEDI Principles.
- Access Fund Partner — Offers dual membership with the GCC to support climbing access and conservation.
- Access Fund Partner — Partnered to acquire Antlion Cliff, with Access Fund providing a $109,000 revolving loan through its Climbing Conservation Loan Program.
- Access Fund Partner — Partnered with Gunks Climbers Coalition to acquire the Antlion Crag property, providing $109,000 through the Climbing Conservation Loan Program.
- Access Fund Partner — Partners with the Access Fund to support local climbing initiatives through joint membership benefits.
- Advanced Rockcraft Partner — Collaborates with Advanced Rockcraft LLC, which provides technical rock climbing instruction and coaching.
- Alpine Endeavors Partner — Partners with Alpine Endeavors, a climbing instruction and guiding service for climbers of all ability levels.
- Antlion cliff Partner — Site of ongoing trail work and stewardship activities by the Gunks Climbers' Coalition.
- Athletic Brewing Company Funder — Awarded a $5,000 Two For the Trails Grant to support treatment of hemlock trees infected with hemlock woolly adelgid at Antlion Cliff.
- Chris Duca Partner — Collaborates with artist and climber Chris Duca, who contributed original Gunks illustrations to GCC Online Raffles.
- Gunks Apps Partner — Works with Gunks Apps to provide digital climbing resources including the Gunks+ app and digital guidebooks for local climbing areas.
- Gunks Guides Partner — Works with Gunks Guides, which offers expert-led rock and ice climbing adventures in the Gunks and Catskills.
- Jannette Wing Pazer Partner — Secretary, Webmaster, Marketing lead, and Founding Member of the Gunks Climbers’ Coalition Board of Directors.
- Matt Logan, Artist Partner — Partners with artist Matt Logan, a GCC Board member who creates linocut prints inspired by the Gunks.
- Minnewaska State Park Preserve Government — Partnered with the park to implement climbing access expansion under the 2010 Master Plan.
- Minnewaska State Park Preserve Partner — Collaborating to expand climbing access.
- Mohonk Preserve Partner — Collaborates with the GCC on evaluating, installing, and maintaining bolted rappel anchors and managing environmental impact in the Trapps area.
- Mohonk Preserve Partner — Collaborates with the Mohonk Preserve on land management and stewardship activities, including trail work and peregrine climbing restrictions.
- Mohonk Preserve Partner — Collaborates with the Mohonk Preserve, which protects and manages over 8,000 acres of land in the Shawangunks, the home of Gunks climbing.
- Mohonk Preserve Partner — Collaborating to expand climbing access.
- Pete Cody Partner — Chair of the Gunks Climbers’ Coalition Board of Directors with continuous involvement since 2002.
- Petzl Technical Institute Partner — Provided pilot training in bolt anchor placement to Mohonk Preserve rangers and GCC volunteers in May 2016.
- Rise Outside Partner — Partners with Rise Outside to support outdoor education, mentorship for diverse leaders, and programming for underrepresented groups in outdoor recreation.
- Rock and Snow Partner — Partners with Rock and Snow, the local climbing shop serving the Gunks climbing community since 1970.
- The Access Fund Network — Official affiliate organization working to keep climbing areas open and conserve the climbing environment.
- Vultaggio Studios Partner — Collaborates with Vultaggio Studios, an adventure photography and writing service, and includes its owner on the GCC Board of Directors.
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-Driven Stewardship Modelmethodology: community_stewardshipBy engaging climbers as volunteers in land stewardship and conservation efforts, the organization sustains climbing access and environmental protection because climbers’ personal connection to the Gunks motivates long-term care and responsibility.
- Inclusive Representation for Systemic Changemethodology: inclusive-community-buildingBy centering LGBTQ+, Adaptive, BIPOC, and People of the Global Majority in climbing spaces, the organization fosters deeper social understanding and dismantles systemic barriers because representation builds belonging and shifts cultural norms in outdoor recreation.
- Integrated Access and Conservation Advocacymethodology: climbing-access-and-conservation-integrationBy combining land acquisition, infrastructure upgrades, and ecological planning, the organization expands and preserves climbing access because sustainable development prevents environmental degradation and strengthens community support for long-term access.