named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Annual Events & Festivals Promotion
Highlights and promotes local events including Brave Brews, Route 90 Garage Sale, Harriet Tubman Day, Tomato Fest, and Juneteenth celebrations to attract visitors.
Bike Friendly Business Network
Identifies and promotes local businesses that support cyclists with amenities like bike racks, restrooms, and refreshments along the trail.
Canal Heritage & Tourism Sites
Features historic Erie Canal attractions such as the Port Byron Heritage Park, Richmond Aqueduct, Samuel Center for Canal History, and Old Brutus Historical Society.
Empire State Trail Town Program
Supports Montezuma, Port Byron, and Weedsport as designated trail towns along the Empire State Trail, promoting tourism, local businesses, and historic preservation.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Visitor Information and Trip Planning Services 2 activities
- Promote heritage tourism related to Harriet Tubman and the Underground RailroadDevelops and promotes tourism centered on Harriet Tubman’s legacy and the Underground Railroad in Cayuga County through self-guided tour maps, a free mobile app, podcast series, and participation in Juneteenth celebrations. Offers 24-hour and 48-hour itineraries and promotes over 100 documented Underground Railroad sites via printed and digital resources.
- Provide tourism planning resourcesOffers lodging guidance across hotels, motels, cabins, cottages, and private rentals via platforms like Airbnb and VRBO; promotes group visitation through conference facilities and special getaway packages; and maintains a calendar of monthly festivals, fairs, and community events.
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Local Land Conservation Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocate for heritage conservation and environmental stewardshipPartners with Leave No Trace to promote conservation in outdoor spaces and participates in the development of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway by contributing to the Corridor Management Plan to document and interpret key historical sites.
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Visitor & Business Guide Distribution 1 activity
- Distribute tourism promotional materialsProduces and distributes a free visitors guide, posters, postcards, printable brochures, and phone-based information to promote tourism, including attractions, dining, lodging, and special events across Cayuga County.
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Outdoor Recreation Access Promotion 1 activity
- Maintain and promote outdoor recreation and trail tourismSupports trail-based tourism and economic development along the 12-mile stretch of the Empire State Trail in the Montezuma-Port Byron-Weedsport corridor, including participation in the Empire State Trail Town program and promotion of recreational activities such as fishing, boating, hiking, biking, waterfall viewing, and birding.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Organize and promote annual tourism eventsPlans and promotes major annual events including the 50-mile Route 90 Garage Sale held on the last full weekend in July and the Erie Canal Bicentennial Celebration in 2025, including public outreach and commemorative activities.
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Regional Arts Advocacy & Promotion 1 activity
- Promote cultural and historical attractionsHighlights cultural assets including Harriet Tubman’s legacy, arts institutions, live theater, concerts, and public art installations such as seven large murals depicting Erie Canal history by local artist Dawn Jordan.
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Craft Beverage Tourism Trails 1 activity
- Promote local food and beverage tourismHighlights farm-to-table dining, regional cuisine, and craft beverage producers including wineries, breweries, tasting rooms, and a cidery; produces a video series and shares recipes to showcase local culinary offerings.
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Regional Tourism Promotion 1 activity
- Support local economic development through tourism promotionDrives economic growth by promoting tourism across sectors, generating $144 million in direct visitor spending, sustaining 1,470 jobs, distributing $39.7 million in wages, and providing $588 in annual local tax relief per household.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.26M
Contributions & grants$1.25M100%
Program service revenue$3K0%
Investment income$2320%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.34M
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$360K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$880K
Cash$186K
Investments$0
Liabilities$75K
Net assets$805K
Liquid reserves1.7 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +5.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN KUHL | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $82K |
board members · 24
- AHNA WILSON — DIRECTOR
- AILEEN MCNABB-COLEMAN — DIRECTOR
- AMANDA HENNESSEY — DIRECTOR
- AMBER GANSERT-DAGNESI — DIRECTOR
- ANDREA SEAMANS — DIRECTOR
- BRIAN DEBERNARDO — DIRECTOR
- CHUCK MASON — DIRECTOR
- DOUG DELLO STRITTO — TREASURER
- ERIN KATZKER — CHAIR
- ERIN MCELHINNEY — DIRECTOR
- JACOB R HAMILTON — DIRECTOR
- JENNY HAINES — DIRECTOR
- KARI TERWILLIGER — VICE CHAIR
- KATE GRINDSTAFF — DIRECTOR
- KATE PELKEY — DIRECTOR
- KIRSTEN GOSCH — DIRECTOR
- KRISTEN LUNKENHEIMER-SLOCUM — SECRETARY
- LAURA HAHN — DIRECTOR
- MELODY SMITH JOHNSON — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL RILEY — DIRECTOR
- NANCY GABLE — DIRECTOR
- SALLEE TEN EYCK — DIRECTOR
- SARA DOUGLASS — DIRECTOR
- STEVEN LYNCH — DIRECTOR
relationships · 36
Who they work with
- African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Partner — Founded the Harriet Tubman Home, Inc. and played a central role in preserving her legacy; referenced as a key historical and organizational partner.
- Brave Brews Fest Partner — Partner organization hosting a beer and craft beverage festival supporting women and non-binary individuals in New York’s beverage industry.
- Buffalo Maritime Museum Partner — Partner organization whose replica of the Seneca Chief is used to carry the Haudenosaunee Peace Tree message along the canal communities.
- CNY TomatoFest Partner — Partner organization hosting an annual festival in downtown Auburn that supports local food pantries through music, food, and vendor activities.
- Canal Society of New York State Partner — Partner in operating the Samuel Center for Canal History in Port Byron.
- Colloca Estate Winery Partner — Hosts annual food, wine, and music festivals promoted by the Convention and Visitors Bureau to attract visitors.
- Empire State Trail Town program Network — Member of the network of communities designated as trail-friendly along the Empire State Trail.
- Equal Rights Heritage Partner — Partner organization associated with Harriet Tubman Day and Juneteenth celebrations in Auburn.
- Fair Haven Pirate Fest Partner — Partner organization hosting a family-friendly pirate-themed festival in Fair Haven, NY.
- Fort Hill Cemetery Partner — Collaborates to promote visitation to Harriet Tubman’s final resting place in Auburn, NY.
- Friends of Fillmore Glen Partner — Partner organization hosting the Fillmore Days & Bathtub Races, an annual event promoted by the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
- Great Race Partner — Partner organization hosting an annual running, bicycling, and paddling race in Auburn, promoted as a community event.
- Harriet Tubman Government — Highlights Harriet Tubman's legacy sites in connection with Juneteenth celebrations.
- Harriet Tubman Home Partner — Collaborates to promote visitation to Harriet Tubman-related historical sites in Auburn, NY.
- Harriet Tubman Home, Inc. Partner — Collaborates to promote the Harriet Tubman historic sites as part of heritage tourism in Cayuga County.
- Harriet Tubman Home, Inc. Partner — Partner organization managing the Harriet Tubman homestead; promoted as a key site for visitors to learn about her life and values.
- Harriet Tubman National Historical Park Partner — Promotes Harriet Tubman’s legacy as part of the cultural and historical tourism offerings in Cayuga County.
- Hilton Garden Partner — Lodging partner that accommodates large groups visiting Cayuga County.
- Holiday Inn Partner — Lodging partner that accommodates large groups visiting Cayuga County.
- Leave No Trace Partner — Collaborates to promote environmental education and conservation in outdoor spaces.
- NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center Partner — Collaborated to distribute Erie Canal Bicentennial posters and postcards in Auburn.
- National Park Service Government — Manages the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, preserving sites central to her legacy, which the organization promotes to visitors.
- National Park Service Partner — Partners to promote visitation to historical sites associated with Harriet Tubman, including the church where she worshipped.
- New York State Department of Transportation Government — Engages with state transportation authorities in the development and review of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan.
- New York State Legislature Government — Prepares for legislative submission of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan in 2026.
- Old Mentz Heritage Center Partner — Collaborated on the planting of commemorative Eastern White Pines for the Erie Canal Bicentennial.
- Parks & Trails New York Partner — Collaborates to support trail-friendly infrastructure and promote the Empire State Trail Town program in Cayuga County communities.
- Porch Fest: Fair Haven NY Partner — Partner organization hosting a music festival where local porches serve as performance stages in Fair Haven.
- Seward House Museum Partner — Collaborates on the Holiday Traditions event, originally created by the Seward House Museum as a community appreciation event.
- Sterling Renaissance Festival Partner — Partner organization operating a seasonal renaissance festival in Sterling, NY, promoted as a key annual event in Cayuga County.
+ 6 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.
- Heritage Tourism as Economic and Educational Drivermethodology: heritage_tourismBy integrating historically significant narratives—particularly the legacy of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad—into self-guided tours and place-based experiences, the organization increases visitor engagement and education, because connecting tourism to authentic local history enhances both the visitor experience and community economic outcomes.
- Outdoor Recreation as Wellness and Tourism Foundationmethodology: outdoor-recreation-for-wellnessBy promoting access to uncrowded natural environments and outdoor recreation such as hiking and walking, the organization supports physical and mental well-being while attracting visitors, because scenic, accessible outdoor experiences enhance both resident quality of life and tourist appeal.
- Tourism-Driven Economic Developmentmethodology: tourism-driven economic developmentBy increasing tourism through events, trails, and heritage promotion, the organization stimulates local economic growth and improves quality of life, because visitor spending supports local businesses and strengthens community vitality.