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NY State Turfgrass Association Inc
Latham, NY · EIN 222233502 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · nysta.org
revenue
$133K
expenses
$95K
net assets
$781K
employees
0
program ratio
100%
mission · from form 990

Unify, lead and promote professionalism among people interested in the turfgrass and grounds industry.

profile · synthesized from sources

The New York State Turfgrass Association (NYSTA) supports professionals in the turfgrass and grounds industry through continuing education, advocacy, and workforce development. It provides science-based training, promotes environmentally responsible management practices, and represents the industry in legislative and regulatory matters. The organization serves members across New York State with programs ranging from DEC-credited webinars to apprenticeships and youth outreach.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Education Archive
On-demand webinar library offering DEC-credited continuing education courses on turfgrass disease, pest management, sustainable practices, and other industry topics
NYSTA Ambassador Program
Youth outreach initiative partnering with FFA chapters and agricultural educators to promote turf careers in K-12 schools through guest speaking, career fairs, and internships
NYSTA Apprenticeship Program
Registered Apprenticeship program providing paid work experience, classroom instruction, and nationally recognized credentials for careers in golf courses, sports turf, and turf businesses
Scholarships
Financial awards for students pursuing degrees in turfgrass science or related fields, with preference for New York State residents
Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Fund
Program supporting research and projects that promote environmentally responsible turf management practices
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Industry Advocacy and Regulatory Engagement 1 activity
    • Advocating for science-based turfgrass policies
      Produces and releases annual Turfgrass Advocacy Issue Papers to inform members and the public about government policies affecting the turfgrass industry and advocates for science-based regulatory and legislative decisions.
  • Industry-Specific Student Scholarships and Competitions 1 activity
    • Awarding scholarships for turfgrass science education
      Provides scholarships to NYSTA members enrolled in turfgrass science or related degree programs at two- or four-year colleges, with preference for students attending schools in New York State.
  • FFA and Agricultural Education Support 1 activity
    • Building regional education and industry collaboration networks
      Developed a regional collaborative resource contact list that connects K–12 agriculture educators, FFA advisors, and turf/landscape management professionals across New York State to strengthen workforce development pathways.
  • Professional Certification and Continuing Education 1 activity
    • Delivering DEC-credited educational programming
      Offers on-demand educational courses and webinars for turfgrass professionals, including topics such as disease control and agronomy fundamentals, with completion verified through pre- and post-course assessments; issues certificates and submits participant records to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for DEC credit.
  • Agricultural Grantmaking and Funding Programs 1 activity
    • Funding turfgrass research and education
      Funds turfgrass research projects led by scientists and educators through interest income from an endowment managed by Cornell University, supporting advancements in the turfgrass industry.
  • Professional Networking Events 1 activity
    • Organizing professional events and registrations
      Organizes and lists events for registration, providing opportunities for professional engagement and learning within the turfgrass industry.
  • Organization Website and Online Platform Management 1 activity
    • Providing digital member resources and communication tools
      Operates a members-only mobile app and website offering access to news, job listings, event calendars, a member directory, and communication features such as chat and photo sharing to support community and information exchange among turf professionals.
  • Youth Workforce Readiness Programs 1 activity
    • Supporting youth career development in turfgrass professions
      Offers youth career development opportunities, business networking, and a Registered Apprenticeship program that combines paid work experience and classroom instruction leading to a nationally recognized credential for individuals pursuing careers in golf courses, sports turf, and turf businesses in New York.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Producing specialized educational content for turf management
      Creates and distributes free educational resources including instructional videos and recorded sessions on topics such as artificial field maintenance, water and wetting agents, field painting techniques, and infield maintenance for baseball and softball fields.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$133K
Contributions & grants$42K32%
Program service revenue$66K49%
Investment income$24K18%
Other revenue$900
expenses
Total expenses$95K
Program expenses100%
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$788K
Cash$223K
Investments$460K
Liabilities$7K
Net assets$781K
Liquid reserves86.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -10.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Sue Van Amburgh Executive Director 15 $65K
board members · 10
  • Andrew Eick — Director at Large
  • Chris Pogge — Central Dir
  • Christopher Strehl — Metro Dir
  • Darren Shuman — Dir at large
  • DominicMorales — Finger Lakes
  • Elizabeth Seme — Consultant
  • Greg Chorvas — Northeast
  • Jim Hornung Jr — Western
  • John Carlone — Long Island Dir
  • Matt Lindner — Dir-at large
relationships · 18

Who they work with

  • Cornell University Partner — Collaborates on turfgrass research and education, linked through Cornell's turf and golf BMP programs.
  • Cornell University Partner — Collaborates with Cornell University faculty as panelists in educational webinars on topics including IPM, landscape management, and environmentally responsible turf practices.
  • Cornell University Partner — Manages the New York Turfgrass Foundation endowment fund to support research and education.
  • Davey Tree Service Partner — Partners with Davey Tree Service for webinars on managing residential yards for pollinators.
  • Grady Miller, Ph.D. Partner — Featured panelist in educational programming on field painting.
  • New York Alliance For Environmental Concerns Partner — Partner organization collaborating with NYSTA to advocate for reasonable environmental and horticultural policy.
  • New York Association of Agricultural Educators Partner — Partners with NYSTA through its Ag Education Specialist to support workforce development and career outreach in the turfgrass industry.
  • New York Farm Bureau Partner — Partner in the New York Agricultural Alliance to advocate for sound horticultural policy.
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Referenced as a regulatory and permitting authority in environmental compliance for turfgrass management.
  • New York State FFA Partner — Collaborates with NYSTA on career awareness and outreach initiatives targeting K-12 students in New York State.
  • Penn State University Partner — Includes faculty from Penn State University as panelists in insect management update webinars.
  • Playbooks for Golf Partner — Co-hosts and delivers online educational webinars for the New York State Turfgrass Association.
  • Playbooks for Golf Partner — Technology partner that developed the NYSTA app using its Associate platform.
  • Rutgers University Partner — Engages Rutgers University faculty as panelists in educational webinars on turfgrass disease and management topics.
  • TBloom LLC Consulting Partner — Engages TBloom LLC Consulting for webinars on talent acquisition and recruitment in the turf industry.
  • Turfgrass Disease Solutions LLC Partner — Collaborates with Turfgrass Disease Solutions LLC for educational content on disease control and plant protection.
  • UCONN Partner — Works with UCONN faculty on webinars about weed management and cultural practices.
  • Virginia Tech University Partner — Features experts from Virginia Tech University in webinars on sports field management.
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.

  • Integrated Education and Workforce Development Pipeline
    methodology: workforce_development_pipeline
    By combining on-the-job training with formal education through a registered apprenticeship model and youth outreach, the organization builds a skilled workforce, because structured pathways that align employer needs with career development produce higher retention and job readiness in the green industry.
  • On-Demand Continuing Education with Credentialing
    methodology: on_demand_education_with_credentialing
    By delivering on-demand webinars eligible for regulatory credit, the organization increases professional engagement and compliance, because accessible, flexible learning formats remove barriers to continuing education while meeting licensing requirements.
  • Science-Based Advocacy for Policy Influence
    methodology: science_based_advocacy
    By advocating for science-based regulatory and legislative decisions, the organization influences policy outcomes in ways that support sustainable turfgrass management, because evidence-driven policymaking leads to more durable and effective regulations that align with industry best practices.