irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $361KTO ORGANIZE ATHLETIC TOURNAMENTS AND OTHER EVENTS FOR NYSAIS MEMBERS
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Accreditation
Conducts evaluation and accreditation of elementary and secondary independent schools under a charter from the New York State Board of Regents, using a process of self-study, peer review, and site visits to ensure educational quality and institutional integrity
Advocacy and Legislative Monitoring
Monitors state legislation, regulations, and judicial proceedings affecting independent schools; advocates before government agencies and the Regents to protect school autonomy
Business Affairs Council
Supports school business officers through professional development, networking, and an annual statewide business conference to improve financial and operational management
Diversity, Equity, and Justice Initiatives
Provides guidance, accreditation criteria, and professional development to support member schools in building inclusive communities, including an annual Diversity Conference and Job Fair to Promote Diversity
Interscholastic Athletics
Organizes and oversees postseason athletic tournaments and competitions among member schools and with other schools across New York State
Professional Learning
Offers workshops, institutes, and conferences for educators including new teacher training, leadership development, and subject-specific programming, organized by committees of member schools
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Educator Conferences & Professional Development Events 3 activities
- Business and administrative support for member schoolsPlans and executes an annual statewide business conference for independent school business officers and provides ongoing information on legislation, regulations, statistics (salaries, tuition, enrollment, financial aid), and administrative practices to support effective school management.
- Hosting professional conferences and community-building eventsHosts residential conferences at Mohonk and other gatherings to facilitate community-building, professional support, and networking among member school attendees.
- Professional learning programs for educators and administratorsOrganizes conferences, workshops, multi-day institutes (including Beginning and Experienced Teachers Institutes), e-learning programs, and leadership development initiatives for faculty, administrators, and emerging school leaders in member schools.
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School Governance & Strategic Oversight 1 activity
- Accreditation and evaluation of member schoolsConducts rigorous evaluation and accreditation of elementary and secondary independent schools in New York State through a self-regulation process, ensuring mission-driven, innovative, and sustainable school practices.
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Education Policy Advocacy & Reform 1 activity
- Advocacy for independent educationEngages in advocacy efforts on behalf of independent schools by monitoring state legislation, regulations, and judicial proceedings; maintaining representation in Albany; and securing variances from curricular and testing requirements under the Regents Action Plan, Part 100.
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Educator Training in Equity and Inclusion 1 activity
- Diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) initiativesProvides leadership, guidance, and professional learning opportunities to support anti-racism, diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice practices in member schools; sponsors an annual Diversity Conference and Job Fair; and integrates DEIJ principles into accreditation criteria and school community education.
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Event and Program Registration Management 1 activity
- Event registration and refund processingProcesses event registration cancellations and issues refunds based on specific policies, including advance notice requirements, COVID-19-related exceptions, and official event cancellations due to inclement weather.
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Teacher & Classroom Innovation Grants 1 activity
- Funding professional learning for member schoolsOffers annual financial assistance grants to member schools for participation in NYSAIS professional learning events, with funding awarded on a yearly basis subject to reapplication and review.
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Industry Advocacy and Regulatory Engagement 1 activity
- Legislative services for member schoolsProvides legislative services to both Full and Provisional Member schools, supporting their engagement with policy and regulatory issues affecting independent education.
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Interscholastic Athletic Governance 1 activity
- Organization of interscholastic athletic eventsOversees post-season interscholastic tournaments and organizes an annual athletics conference for member schools, in addition to organizing broader athletic tournaments and events.
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Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
- Support for professional development infrastructure in member schoolsProvides guidance to member schools on establishing professional development programs, recommends allocating at least 1% of operating budgets to such activities, encourages participation in the Beginning Teacher Institute, and advises designating a professional development liaison.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Member support and communication servicesProvides email-based support to member schools with responses delivered within one business day, ensuring timely communication and service delivery.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.28M
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$3.22M98%
Investment income$63K2%
Other revenue$350
expenses
Total expenses$3.46M
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead22%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.74M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.43M
Cash$399K
Investments$2.82M
Liabilities$920K
Net assets$2.51M
Liquid reserves11.2 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +1.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 7
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| VINCE WATCHORN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 50 | $357K |
| GEORGE SWAIN | COO | 50 | $245K |
| MATTHEW SUZUKI | ASSOC DIRECTOR FOR PROF LEARNING | 50 | $196K |
| WOROKYA DUNCAN | ASSOC DIRECTOR FOR PROF LEARNING | 50 | $190K |
| ANDREW COOKE | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS | 50 | $171K |
| SHANNON ROGERS | ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR EVALUATION AND ACCREDIT | 50 | $166K |
| SUZANNE BAUMGARTEN | CFO | 50 | $157K |
board members · 18
- ALBINA MILLER — TRUSTEE
- CHRIS LAURICELLA — TRUSTEE
- COREY BLAY — TRUSTEE
- CRISY CACERES — TRUSTEE
- ERICA CORBIN — TRUSTEE
- GABRIELA CORDO — TRUSTEE
- JENNIFER RAO — PAST PRESIDENT
- JERRY BRIGHT — TRUSTEE
- JOHN BOTTI — CO SECRETARY
- LAURA DANFORTH — CO SECRETARY
- LAURIE GRUHN — TRUSTEE
- LISA WALLER — VICE PRESIDENT
- MARTHA HAAKMAT — TRUSTEE
- MICHAEL KAY — TRUSTEE
- MICHELLE EDWARDS — TREASURER
- PHILIP KASSEN — PRESIDENT
- RAMON JAVIER — TRUSTEE
- SHANNON BAUDO — TRUSTEE
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- Association of Teachers in Independent Schools (ATIS) Partner — Provides workshops and book fairs for teachers in the greater New York City area on behalf of NYSAIS-affiliated schools.
- Mohonk Partner — Host site for NYSAIS residential conferences.
- Mohonk Partner — NYSAIS coordinates room reservations and cancellations for its events at Mohonk, instructing attendees not to contact Mohonk directly.
- NYSAIS Commission on Accreditation Government — Accredits Full Member schools as part of the membership process.
- NYSAIS Professional Development Committee Partner — Committee responsible for setting forth principles and guidance on professional development for member schools.
- NYSAIS Support Partner — Unit responsible for receiving and processing financial assistance applications from member schools.
- National Association of Independent Schools Network — NYSAIS is affiliated with the National Association of Independent Schools.
- National Association of Independent Schools Network — Provides additional services, resources, and programming to NYSAIS member schools through affiliation.
- National Business Officers Association (NBOA) Network — Offers supplementary resources and programs for business officers at NYSAIS member schools.
- New York State Coalition for Independent and Religious Schools Network — NYSAIS is affiliated with the New York State Coalition for Independent and Religious Schools.
- member schools Network — Independent schools that are part of the NYSAIS network and receive accreditation, advocacy, and professional development services.
- neighboring state associations of independent schools Partner — Collaborates with neighboring state associations to co-develop and enhance professional learning programs.
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 Advocacy to Protect Autonomymethodology: collaborative-advocacyBy engaging in collaborative advocacy with state education authorities, NYSAIS balances regulatory compliance with the preservation of institutional autonomy, because constructive engagement enables independent schools to influence policy while maintaining credibility and operational independence.
- Critical Systems Interruption in Educationmethodology: critical-systems-interruptionBy educating students to identify, interrupt, and transform unjust systems, NYSAIS prepares them for societal challenges, because critical awareness and action-oriented learning produce more socially responsible and capable graduates.
- Investment in Professional Development as Capacity Buildingmethodology: professional_development_investmentBy investing in educator professional development—especially through financial support and removal of time-based barriers—NYSAIS increases educator participation and effectiveness, thereby improving school quality and long-term sustainability, because access to continuous learning is a key driver of institutional resilience.
- Peer Review as Leadership Developmentmethodology: peer-review-as-professional-developmentBy involving school leaders in peer accreditation reviews, NYSAIS strengthens leadership capacity and institutional understanding across member schools, because evaluating peer institutions deepens professional insight and fosters a culture of shared accountability and learning.
- Self-Regulation Model for Accreditationmethodology: self-regulationBy using a self-regulation model in accreditation, NYSAIS helps schools maintain academic excellence and continuous improvement while preserving their institutional independence, because internal ownership of standards leads to more authentic and sustainable quality enhancement.