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SENECA YACHT CLUB
Geneva, NY · EIN 160863046 · Form 990EZ · FY2025 · Small ($100K-$1M) · senecayc.org
revenue
$110K
expenses
$101K
net assets
$83K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

Provide safe and clean access to enjoy Seneca Lake via sailing boating kayaking canoeing and other water sports Additionally we seek to educate our members and the greater community about stewardship of this wonderful freshwater resource

profile · synthesized from sources

Private recreational club founded in 1927 on the shores of Seneca Lake in Geneva, NY, providing members with access to boating, sailing, and waterfront facilities. The club supports sailing activities including regattas, junior sailing programs, and boat storage, while fostering a social community through seasonal events and member-led traditions. It emphasizes stewardship of the lake and maintains historic facilities used by generations of member families.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Junior Sailing Program
Youth sailing instruction using Penguin and 420 sailboats, established in 1952 to introduce younger members to sailing and racing.
Regatta Hosting
Hosts regional sailing competitions including the NYS Championship Star Regatta, Sunfish Regatta, and Doug Wisor Memorial Laser Regatta, providing facilities and organization for visiting sailors.
Seasonal Social Events
Organizes member-only events including the Burning of the Socks, Memorial Day and July 4th punch bowls, Commodore's Party, and the Hauling Out Party with annual awards.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Recreational Boating and Sailing Programs 3 activities
    • Delivering junior sailing education and youth racing programs
      Offers youth-focused sailing instruction and racing opportunities through a Junior Sailing program launched in 1952, using Penguin and 420 sailboats. Provided formal junior sailing classes and dedicated instruction staff as early as 1953 and 1961, supporting youth participation in competitive sailing.
    • Hosting seasonal racing programs and regional regattas
      Organizes a structured racing season from Memorial Day through September, featuring Sunday morning races, holiday weekend series, and annual regattas including the Doug Wisor Memorial Laser Regatta, Senecacanoe/Districts Regatta, NYS Championship Star Regatta, Sunfish Regatta, Cruising Class Barge Race, and Star Class Chili Regatta. Hosts multiple regional regattas annually, often including organized evening events for participants.
    • Operating a sailing and boating recreation facility on Seneca Lake
      Provides members and the community with access to Seneca Lake for recreational activities including sailing, boating, kayaking, and canoeing. Maintains physical infrastructure such as a clubhouse, boat launching facilities (including two 1-ton hoists and a launch ramp), rack storage, temporary slips with shore power, a soft-sand beach, and a "big dock" for swimming and water activities.
  • Nonprofit Retail and Merchandise Sales 1 activity
    • Operating a retail Ship Store and merchandise services
      Offers for sale SYC-branded items including baseball caps, flags, and stickers year-round through the Ship Store, and facilitates special-order access to custom embroidered merchandise via a third-party vendor for members.
  • Organized Member Social Events 1 activity
    • Organizing member social events and seasonal celebrations
      Hosts recurring social events throughout the year, including the Spring Fitting Out Party, Burning of the Socks (with bonfire and Haiku Contest), Memorial Day and July 4th Punch Bowl gatherings, Commodore's Party, Cruising Class Dinner, and the Fall Hauling Out Party/Annual Meeting, which includes awards and club business.
  • Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Producing and distributing club communications
      Publishes 'Telltales,' a club newsletter, to share information with members, beginning in the 1970s.
  • Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 1 activity
    • Promoting lake stewardship and environmental awareness
      Educates members and the broader community on the stewardship of Seneca Lake as a freshwater resource, emphasizing responsible use and environmental care.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Managing club operations and facility maintenance
      Employs a steward for routine cleanup of facilities during the summer season and maintains club grounds and buildings through a House and Grounds Committee. Enforces policies including smokefree areas, dog restrictions, and child supervision requirements.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$110K
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$27K24%
Investment income$960%
Other revenue$3K
expenses
Total expenses$101K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$27K
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$83K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$83K
5 years on record · 2021–2025 · YoY revenue -1.6%
relationships · 10

Who they work with

  • Averill Harriman Government — Visited the National Thistle Regatta hosted by Seneca Yacht Club in 1957 as Governor of New York State.
  • Facebook Partner — Uses Facebook page to share club activities with members
  • House and Grounds Committee Partner — Responsible for maintenance of the Club's physical facilities.
  • Jim Gindling Partner — Contact person for Senecacanoe/Districts Regatta
  • Ludlows Enterprises, Inc Partner — Partner organization providing custom embroidery services for Seneca Yacht Club merchandise.
  • State Canal Commission Government — Rented the stone pier from the State Canal Commission in 1928.
  • Tom West Partner — Contact person for Cruising Class Barge Race
  • Tom White Partner — Contact person for NYS Championship Star Regatta
  • US Sailing Government — Primary governing body whose rules regulate the club's racing program.
  • William Wilson Partner — Contact person for Doug Wisor Memorial Laser Regatta
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.

  • Environmental Stewardship via Recreational Integration
    methodology: recreation-based_environmental_education
    By combining recreational access to Seneca Lake with environmental education, the club promotes stewardship behaviors, because direct engagement in a natural environment fosters personal responsibility and ecological awareness.
  • Multigenerational Continuity Through Family Involvement
    methodology: family_tradition
    By emphasizing family tradition and shared recreational experiences across generations, the club ensures cultural continuity and sustained membership, because intergenerational participation strengthens emotional investment and long-term affiliation.
  • Social-Competitive Integration Model
    methodology: integrated-social-competition
    By integrating competitive sailing events with social activities like communal meals, the club strengthens community bonds, because shared experiences beyond competition foster belonging, inclusivity, and sustained engagement among members and regional participants.
  • Youth Engagement Through Sailing Education
    methodology: junior_sailing_program
    By providing youth-focused sailing programs and youth-led fleets with appropriately sized equipment, the club fosters early engagement in sailing and racing, because hands-on, age-appropriate experiences build skill, confidence, and long-term participation.