named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
+ POOL Light
Public art installation that visualizes real-time water quality data through a floating light sculpture
Bluefish Program
Provides free swim lessons to youth ages 5–18, focusing on underserved communities in New York City
East River Trash Club
Organizes regular clean-up events along the Brooklyn Bridge Esplanade to protect water quality and remove debris
STEM Education Classes
Delivers hands-on, water-focused science education in schools, using the river as a living classroom
Water Quality Monitoring
Conducts weekly water testing and operates real-time water quality sensors in the East River
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Lake and River Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocate for urban river access and swim facility developmentEngages in advocacy by collecting petition signatures, raising public awareness on water quality, and filing permits to advance the construction of a public swim facility in the East River, contributing to an official RFP from New York City.
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Community Environmental Monitoring and Research 1 activity
- Conduct community-based water quality research and monitoringConducts environmental research through weekly water quality testing at Pier 35 and community-driven data collection to inform public health and policy decisions related to urban river swimming.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Conduct river cleanups and shoreline debris removalOrganizes seasonal and recurring volunteer-led river cleanups along the East River, including events on the Brooklyn Bridge Esplanade through the East River Trash Club, to remove debris and preserve shoreline ecosystems.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Deliver STEM and environmental education programsProvides hands-on STEM workshops and school-based environmental education using the river as a living classroom to teach science, ecology, and climate resilience.
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Outdoor Recreation Access Promotion 1 activity
- Ensure safe public access to urban rivers for swimmingProvides free and safe access to NYC rivers for swimming through design innovation, installation of filtration barges (e.g., at Pier 35), and ongoing development of swim facilities in the East River.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Host public events and community engagement activitiesHosts public talks, film festival collaborations, art installations like +POOL Light, and fundraising events such as the Summer Pool Party and Fall Swim Galas to engage communities and promote river stewardship.
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Membership Program Administration 1 activity
- Operate recurring donor program with donor recognitionRuns a monthly recurring donation program ("monthly lapper") that supports free river access and offers donor benefits such as tax receipts, social media recognition, name engraving on +POOL tiles, and free Aqua Fitness classes valued at $35.
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Competitive and Learn-to-Swim Programs 1 activity
- Provide free swim instruction to youthOffers free swim lessons to youth ages 5–18 through the Bluefish program, with recent programming providing instruction to 150 youth during the summer season.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$10.02M
Contributions & grants$10.00M100%
Program service revenue$14K0%
Investment income$780%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$2.62M
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$487K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$9.79M
Cash$816K
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.37M
Net assets$8.42M
Liquid reserves3.7 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +1169.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kara Meyer | Managing Dir. | 40 | $138K |
board members · 10
- Andrew Essex — Trustee
- Candace Damon — Trustee
- Claire Weisz — Trustee
- Gary Handel — Trustee
- George Fontas — Chair
- Janette Sadik-Khan — Trustee
- Justin Kalifowitz — Trustee
- Marc Kushner — Trustee
- Saneel Radia — Secretary
- Steven Harper — Treasurer
relationships · 32
Who they work with
- ARUP Partner — Engineering firm supporting + POOL
- Advisors Partner — Contribute expertise in strategy, programming, and development
- Alfred E. Smith Houses Resident Association Partner — Community supporter of + POOL
- Arup Partner — Member of the Host Committee for the Summer Pool Party 2026.
- Billion Oyster Project Partner — Collaborating organization in support of + POOL
- Board Members Partner — Provide governance and fiscal oversight for + POOL
- Brooklyn Bridge Park Partner — Supporting partner of + POOL
- Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Partner — Supporting business organization for + POOL
- City of New York Government — Established a public-private partnership with the City of New York to advance the +POOL project.
- Domino Park Partner — Collaborates on events, including a Sauna Village visit.
- East River Trash Club Partner — Collaborative initiative co-organized with + POOL to conduct river cleanup events.
- Facebook Partner — Hosts event media for the Summer Pool Party on Facebook.
- Heineken USA Partner — Corporate partner since 2016, supporting public awareness campaigns, events, and fundraising for Friends of +POOL.
- Howard Hughes Corporation Partner — Corporate sponsor supporting + POOL projects, event access, and fundraising since 2018.
- Kickstarter Partner — Platform used for fundraising support of + POOL
- Langan Partner — Member of the Host Committee for the Summer Pool Party 2026.
- Manhattan Community Board 3 Partner — Presents project updates and engages in community planning discussions for Manhattan waterfront developments.
- NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Government — Collaborates on permitting, water quality standards, and public health oversight for swim facilities.
- NYC Parks Government — Government agency supporting + POOL
- NYS DEC Government — Coordinates jurisdictional determinations and environmental compliance for proposed floating pool installations.
- New York Adventure Club Partner — Co-hosts walking tours on aquatic history of Lower East Side and Two Bridges neighborhoods.
- New York City Housing Authority Government — Supporting entity for + POOL initiatives
- New York State Governor’s Office Government — Partnered with the New York State Governor’s Office, which announced $16 million in funding for the +POOL project.
- New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program Partner — Supporter of + POOL's initiatives
- Novità Communications Partner — Member of the Host Committee for the Summer Pool Party 2026.
- PLASTARC Partner — Member of the Host Committee for the Summer Pool Party 2026.
- Pier 35 Partner — Host site for + POOL's East River Trash Club cleanup events.
- South Street Seaport Museum Partner — Collaborates with FRIENDS of POOL INC on public programming about the history and future of NYC public pools.
- Storefront for Art & Architecture Partner — Supporting organization for + POOL
- StubHub Partner — Sponsor of the Summer Pool Party 2026 fundraising event.
+ 2 more
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.
- Community-Engaged Environmental Stewardshipmethodology: community-engaged environmental stewardshipBy involving community volunteers in river cleanups and environmental programming, the organization fosters public ownership of urban waterways, which increases stewardship behavior and advances the goal of swimmable cities because direct participation builds personal and collective responsibility.
- Data and Design as Public Engagement Toolsmethodology: data-driven public engagementBy using data-driven installations, storytelling, and provocative design, the organization makes abstract environmental issues tangible and emotionally resonant, which drives public engagement and support because creative formats activate curiosity and reframe perceptions of urban rivers.
- Equitable Access Through Youth Programmingmethodology: equity-through-accessBy providing free swim lessons to youth, the organization builds water safety skills and confidence, promoting long-term equitable access to urban water spaces because early positive experiences reduce barriers and foster inclusion in public aquatic life.
- Place-Based Environmental Educationmethodology: place-based-educationBy using the river as a living classroom and training educators to deliver curriculum on water systems, public health, and stewardship, the organization connects students to ecological and civic responsibility because experiential, local context deepens learning and behavioral engagement.