irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $159KYOUTH EDUCATION : THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES FACILITATED WASTE EDUCATION ACTIVITIES (LITTER CLEANUPS, WASTE AUDITS, AND LITTER BUSTER ASSEMBLIES) FOR NYC YOUTH IN GRADES K - 12, AND EDUCATOR CURRICULUM RESOURCES AND SUPPLY KITS TO SUPPORT CLASSROOM AND AFTERSCHOOL INSTRUCTION IN NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS FOLLOW YOUR WASTE-- AN INTERACTIVE, EDUCATIONAL GAME THAT FOLLOWS THE LIFECYCLE OF MATERIALS IN EACH OF NEW YORK CITY'S RESIDENTIAL WASTE STREAMS. THROUGH THESE PROGRAM OFFERINGS, NYC YOUTH LEARN HOW TO PROPERLY SORT AND DISPOSE OF WASTE, WHAT HAPPENS TO IT AFTER IT IS COLLECTED, AND THE ONGOING EFFORTS OF NYC SANITATION TO KEEP THE CITY CLEAN, SAFE, AND HEALTHY.
- #2 $47KTRASH ACADEMY : THIS FREE 9-SESSION EDUCATIONAL SERIES INTRODUCES CITY RESIDENTS TO ISSUES OF WASTE MANAGEMENT AND CONTEXTUALIZES HOW IT FITS INTO OUR CITY AND WORLD. TAUGHT BY NYC WASTE EXPERTS, THESE SESSIONS WILL PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF SOME OF THE MOST RELEVANT TOPICS IN SUSTAINABILITY TODAY.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Don’t Do NYC Dirty
Grassroots anti-litter and sustainability campaign engaging New Yorkers in behavior change through community pride and local voices.
ReFashion Week
Annual awareness initiative featuring events and workshops that highlight the environmental impact of the fashion industry and promote sustainable textile practices.
Trash Academy
Free 9-session educational program introducing NYC residents to waste management and sustainability, taught by city waste experts.
Volunteer Program
Organizes and supports volunteer-led cleanup events hosted by community groups, civic organizations, and corporate partners across New York City.
Youth Education
Provides facilitated waste education activities including litter cleanups, waste audits, and assemblies for NYC public school students in grades K–12, along with curriculum resources and supply kits for educators.
Zero Waste Academy
Free 9-session educational series for NYC residents covering waste management and sustainability topics, taught by local waste experts.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
-
Community Recycling & Reuse Education 3 activities
- Conducts public awareness and behavior change campaignsRuns citywide public service announcement campaigns and initiatives to promote cleanliness, responsible trash disposal, and sustainable behaviors among New Yorkers.
- Delivers waste education programs to K–12 schoolsProvides facilitated waste education activities, curriculum resources, supply kits, and interactive tools such as the "Follow Your Waste" game to K–12 students and educators in New York City public schools, including litter cleanups and waste audits.
- Provides free educational programs on waste management and sustainabilityOffers multiple free educational series—including NYC Trash Academy, Zero Waste Academy, and self-paced on-demand modules—for New Yorkers of all ages, covering topics such as sanitation, waste systems, and civic leadership, with rolling enrollment and both online and in-person components.
-
-
Community Environmental Monitoring and Research 1 activity
- Conducts research on public attitudes toward litter and cleanlinessCarried out a first-of-its-kind study examining New Yorkers' attitudes and behaviors related to litter and street cleanliness to inform future programming and policy.
-
-
Sustainable Fashion & Textile Circularity 1 activity
- Hosts ReFashion Week to reduce textile wasteOrganizes an annual weeklong series of events and workshops that raise awareness about the environmental impact of the fashion industry and promote sustainable consumption and textile waste reduction.
-
-
Supplemental Urban Sanitation Services 1 activity
- Operates as official nonprofit partner to NYC Department of SanitationCollaborates with the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to mobilize public participation in maintaining a clean, healthy, and sustainable city through coordinated programs and initiatives.
-
-
Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Organizes citywide and borough-specific volunteer cleanup eventsRuns recurring volunteer-led cleanup programs including the annual NYC Big Spring Clean and the Bronx Summer Cleanup Series, engaging thousands of participants across all five boroughs to collect trash and improve neighborhood cleanliness.
-
-
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Plans development of a museum dedicated to NYC sanitation historyIs in early planning stages for creating the first museum focused on the history and ongoing work of the New York City Department of Sanitation, aimed at public education and promoting sustainable waste solutions.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$945K
Contributions & grants$937K99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$7K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.62M
Program expenses67%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$759K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$884K
Cash$715K
Investments$0
Liabilities$53K
Net assets$831K
Liquid reserves5.3 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -38.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAMELA A HARRIS | SECRETARY | 40 | $187K |
board members · 13
- ALEX COSTAS — VICE CHAIRMA
- BOB JEFFREY — DIRECTOR
- CARYL ENGLANDER — CHAIR
- DAISY HELMAN — DIRECTOR
- JEFFREY A TANNENBAUM — TREASURER
- MICHAEL BROWN — DIRECTOR
- REBECCA MCGREGOR — DIRECTOR
- ROBIN NAGLE — DIRECTOR
- RUSSELL HERNANDEZ — DIRECTOR
- SPENCER RICE — DIRECTOR
- TOMMY MOTTOLA — DIRECTOR
- USHMA PANDYA MEHTA — DIRECTOR
- VAUGHN WINTON WENDALL — DIRECTOR
relationships · 22
Who they work with
- Adopt Your Spot NYC Partner — Collaborative initiative to engage volunteers in maintaining specific locations throughout the city.
- City University of New York Partner — Provides expertise on environmental justice through faculty instruction in the NYC Trash Academy program.
- Closed Loop Partners Partner — Contributes expertise on circular economy and supply chain innovation in the NYC Trash Academy curriculum.
- DREAM Partner — Supports the Bronx Summer Cleanup Series as a partner.
- DSNY Government — Collaborates with DSNY on public engagement programs, including the Trucks of Art public art competition featuring active DSNY collection trucks.
- DonateNYC Partner — Collaborates with DonateNYC, as indicated by featuring a partner organization founder in a blog post.
- Dreyfus Advisors Partner — Collaborated on conducting the NYC Litter Study 2025.
- ERI Partner — Collaborates with DSNY on electronic waste repair, refurbishment, and recycling programs featured in the curriculum.
- I.S. 68 Isaac Bildersee Middle School Partner — Partnered with the middle school's Student Government on a community cleanup event through the Youth Education program.
- Justin Sanchez Government — Supports the Bronx Summer Cleanup Series as District 17 Council Member.
- NYC Department of Environmental Protection Partner — Partners on water and wastewater education content for the NYC Trash Academy curriculum.
- NYC Department of Sanitation Partner — Collaborates on curriculum development and instruction for waste management and sanitation topics.
- NYC Department of Sanitation Partner — Official nonprofit partner supporting DSNY’s workforce and initiatives.
- NYC Sanitation Government — Supports the Bronx Summer Cleanup Series as a government affiliate.
- NYC Sanitation (DSNY) Partner — Official nonprofit partner providing support for DSNY's work to keep New York City clean and reduce landfill waste.
- NYC Service Partner — Supports the Bronx Summer Cleanup Series as a partner.
- New York City Department of Sanitation Partner — Official nonprofit partner; collaborates on cleaning initiatives, youth education, and public engagement programs
- New York Yankees Foundation Partner — Supports the Bronx Summer Cleanup Series as a partner.
- Office of the Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson Government — Supports the Bronx Summer Cleanup Series as a government affiliate.
- School of Visual Arts Partner — Partnered with a student from the School of Visual Arts on a thesis project to develop The Maker’s Resistance, an art and education collective focused on reducing overconsumption.
- Starr Partner — Supports the Bronx Summer Cleanup Series as a partner.
- Target Partner — Supports the Bronx Summer Cleanup Series as a partner.
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.
- Civic Leadership Developmentmethodology: civic leadership developmentBy training residents to become sustainability advocates and problem-solvers, the foundation builds local capacity for environmental action, because empowering individuals as leaders creates ripple effects in community norms and behaviors.
- Civic Pride-Driven Behavior Changemethodology: civic_pride_behavior_changeBy leveraging civic pride and authentic community narratives in public messaging and education, the foundation reduces littering behavior, because emotional connection to community identity motivates individuals to act responsibly.
- Community-Led Stewardship Modelmethodology: community_stewardshipBy providing training, tools, and resources to local groups, the foundation empowers communities to lead cleanups and steward public spaces, because grassroots ownership produces sustained civic engagement and long-term environmental improvements.
- Public-Private Partnership for Urban Sustainabilitymethodology: public-private_partnershipBy forming partnerships between city agencies, businesses, and community organizations, the foundation advances waste reduction and cleanliness initiatives, because coordinated action across sectors amplifies impact and resource efficiency.
- Science-Based Civic Educationmethodology: science-based community educationBy delivering accessible, science-based education and experiential learning, the foundation equips residents with the knowledge and tools to make measurable sustainability changes, because informed communities are more likely to adopt and sustain responsible behaviors.