named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Catskill Fire Tower Project
Restores and operates historic fire towers as educational and recreational sites, with volunteer stewards providing interpretation and visitor support
Catskill Park Advisory Committee
Forum established and convened by the Catskill Center to align local governments, agencies, and organizations on park-wide management priorities
Catskill Park and Forest Preserve Coalitions
Convening body co-chaired by the Catskill Center to coordinate management, policy, and stewardship across jurisdictions
Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP)
Volunteer-driven program focused on removing invasive species and restoring native ecosystems across the Catskills
Catskills Visitor Center
Provides visitor education, trip planning, and stewardship information; staffed by volunteers and serving as a hub for regional engagement
X-Snow
NASA-funded community science initiative in partnership with Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, engaging volunteers to collect on-the-ground snow data
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Environmental Conservation Grantmaking 1 activity
- Administering Smart Growth Grants for local planning projectsFunds towns and nonprofits in the Catskill and Adirondack Parks through the Smart Growth Grants program to support planning and implementation of locally driven conservation, development, and community resilience projects.
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Environmental Policy Advocacy & Litigation 1 activity
- Advocacy for state funding and policy to protect the Catskill Park and Forest PreserveEngages in sustained advocacy with state legislators and agency officials during budget negotiations to secure funding and advance policies that support Forest Preserve stewardship, trail maintenance, ecological protection, and visitor education. Contributed to securing over $46 million in cumulative state funding, including $10 million annually in recent years, through the Environmental Protection Fund.
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Neighborhood Civic Engagement 1 activity
- Convening the Catskill Park Advisory Committee for interagency coordinationEstablishes and convenes the Catskill Park Advisory Committee to foster collaboration among agencies and community stakeholders on park management, planning, and stewardship initiatives.
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Land Acquisition and Conservation Easements 1 activity
- Implementing the Streamside Acquisition Program to protect water qualityPurchases streamside buffer lands and floodplains in the northeastern Catskills to permanently conserve them, safeguarding critical habitats and protecting New York City’s source drinking water through strategic land acquisition.
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Local Land Conservation Advocacy 1 activity
- Leading invasive species prevention and response through CRISPHosts and leads the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP), coordinating regional efforts in invasive species prevention, early detection, rapid response, and public outreach to protect ecosystem health across the Catskills.
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Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Managing ecological preserves and conservation landsManages over 300 acres of publicly accessible preserves—including Thorn Preserve, Platte Clove Preserve, and Simmons Family Garden—with active ecological management such as grassland and riparian habitat restoration, invasive species removal, native tree planting, and pollinator garden maintenance. Implements science-based practices like monitoring hemlock forests for pests and enforcing protective visitor policies to enhance ecosystem resilience.
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Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
- Operating the Catskill Fire Tower Project for public access and historical interpretationProvides seasonal public access and historical interpretation at the Catskill region’s historic fire towers through volunteer-led programs on summer weekends, including at the Upper Esopus Fire Tower accessible via an ADA-compliant trail.
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Visitor Information and Trip Planning Services 1 activity
- Operating the Catskills Visitor Center as a hub for public education and recreation planningOperates the Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center—the official visitor center for the Catskill Park—as a central resource providing maps, trail guidance, safety updates, interactive exhibits on natural and cultural history, educational programs, and personalized trip planning. Serves tens of thousands of visitors annually and uses visitor data to inform programming and facility improvements.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Running the Catskill Stewards Program for visitor education and responsible recreationDeploys trained stewards to high-use recreational sites and all six Catskill Park Fire Towers to provide on-the-ground education about safe navigation, Leave No Trace principles, and responsible outdoor recreation. Engages directly with tens of thousands of visitors annually to reduce environmental impact and promote stewardship.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.63M
Contributions & grants$628K24%
Program service revenue$1.75M66%
Investment income$201K8%
Other revenue$57K
expenses
Total expenses$2.60M
Program expenses69%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$1.74M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$8.08M
Cash$942K
Investments$4.86M
Liabilities$607K
Net assets$7.48M
Liquid reserves26.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -21.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFREY P SENTERMAN | Executive Dir. | 40 | $152K |
board members · 24
- AMY KENYON — BOARD MEMBER
- ARMAND B ERPF — BOARD MEMBER
- CALANDRA CRUICKSHANK — BOARD MEMBER
- CAMILLA LANCASTER — Secretary
- CURTIS CRAVENS — BOARD MEMBER
- CYNDI LAPIERRE — BOARD MEMBER
- DAN LAUB — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID KUKLE — BOARD MEMBER
- DONALD FARLEY — BOARD MEMBER
- FRANK E SANCHIS III — Board member
- GEOFFREY DANN — Treasurer
- H CLAUDE SHOSTAL — Board member
- HELEN K CHASE — Vice Chair
- JIT BAJPAI — BOARD MEMBER
- JOHN LYONS — BOARD MEMBER
- KENDRA PAYNE — BOARD MEMBER
- KERISSA BATTLE — BOARD MEMBER
- LARRY ROADMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- MARGARET DIBENEDETTO — CHAIR
- MARK GINSBERG — Vice Chair
- MARKLEY BOYER — BOARD MEMBER
- MICHAEL CONNOR — BOARD MEMBER
- RAUL ROCCI AGUIRRE — BOARD MEMBER
- SONIA BARNES-MOORHEAD — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 42
Who they work with
- Albany Med Health System - Columbia Memorial Health Partner — Business member supporting the Catskill Center at the Gold level.
- Bettina Cafe Partner — Offers members a 10% discount on dining as part of the Catskill Center membership benefits.
- Bread Alone Partner — Business member supporting the Catskill Center at the Gold level.
- Camp Catskill Partner — Offers members a 10% discount on all purchases as part of the Catskill Center membership benefits.
- Campmor Partner — Offers members a 15% discount on purchases as part of the Catskill Center membership benefits.
- Catskill Fire Tower Project Partner — Supports fire tower steward volunteers who provide interpretation and visitor guidance at fire towers.
- Catskill Park Coalition Coalition — Catskill Center serves as co-chair of the coalition advancing shared conservation and community priorities in the Catskill Park.
- Catskill Park Coalition Coalition — Co-chairs the Catskill Park Coalition to advance coordinated park management and stewardship.
- Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership Partner — Collaborates with volunteers on invasive species management and native habitat restoration.
- Catskill Strategic Planning Advisory Group Coalition — Helped initiate and support the CAG's development and recommendations for whole-park management.
- Catskill Watershed Corporation Partner — Collaborating on conservation and regional promotion efforts.
- Catskills Visitor Center Partner — Engages volunteers to support visitor services and education at the Catskills Visitor Center.
- Catskills Visitor Center Partner — Operates the Catskills Visitor Center as the Catskill Park's official visitor center.
- Committee of Concerned Citizens Coalition — Original organizing body from which the Catskill Center emerged
- Cornell University Partner — Collaborates on Hemlock Woolly Adelgid biocontrol research to protect hemlock forests in the Catskills.
- Deer Mountain Inn Partner — Offers members a 15% discount on midweek stays as part of the Catskill Center membership benefits.
- Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Collaborates with the DEC on visitor use management and policy advocacy for the Catskill Park.
- Department of State Partner — Collaborating on conservation and regional promotion efforts.
- Emerson Resort Partner — Offers members a 20% discount on retail, spa treatments, and dining as part of the Catskill Center membership benefits.
- Empire State Development Funder — Provided support for the strategic plan study.
- Forest Preserve Coalition Coalition — Catskill Center serves as co-chair of the coalition advocating for Forest Preserve funding and stewardship.
- Forest Preserve Coalition Coalition — Co-chairs the Forest Preserve Coalition to promote sustainable forest management and funding.
- Foxfire Mountain House Partner — Offers members a 10% discount on dining as part of the Catskill Center membership benefits.
- Fruition Chocolate Works Partner — Offers members a 10% discount on purchases as part of the Catskill Center membership benefits.
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Partner — Partnered on X-Snow, a NASA-funded community science project to collect snowfall data in the Catskills.
- MTC Telecom Partner — Business member supporting the Catskill Center at the Platinum level.
- NBCUniversal Partner — Business member supporting the Catskill Center at the Platinum level.
- NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Partner — Collaborating on conservation and regional promotion efforts.
- New York City Department of Environmental Protection Partner — Partnership to implement the Streamside Acquisition Program for source water protection.
- New York State Government — Primary government partner in securing and administering Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) funding for the Forest Preserve.
+ 12 more
strategies · 5
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.
- Collaborative and Adaptive Landscape Managementmethodology: adaptive_managementBy applying adaptive management informed by data and ecological thresholds, and by promoting coordinated stewardship across jurisdictions, the organization ensures resilient landscapes because responsive, science-based, and regionally aligned management sustains both ecological integrity and visitor experiences.
- Community-Led Stewardship and Experiential Engagementmethodology: community-led conservationBy engaging volunteers, visitors, and local communities in hands-on conservation, education, and interpretation, the organization fosters stewardship because direct experience and local leadership build lasting emotional and practical investment in the region’s resilience.
- Conservation Through Economic Linkage and Business Engagementmethodology: trail-to-town economic linkageBy connecting conservation to local economic benefit—such as extending visitor stays through trail-to-town infrastructure and engaging businesses as stakeholders—the organization secures broader support because economic vitality reinforces conservation as a shared community priority.
- Integrated Conservation and Community Developmentmethodology: integrated_conservation_and_community_developmentBy combining environmental protection, community development, and public education, the organization strengthens both natural systems and local economies because the vitality of the Catskills depends on the interdependence of ecological and community resilience.
- Policy Advocacy Through Coalition-Buildingmethodology: policy advocacy through coalition-buildingBy building coalitions with partners and maintaining dedicated advocacy presence, the organization influences state-level funding and policy decisions because sustained, coordinated pressure ensures the Catskills are prioritized in regional planning and budget discussions.