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Friends of the Outlet Inc

Dresden, NY · EIN 161372608 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · Micro (<$100K) · keukaoutlettrail.org
revenue
$52K
expenses
$60K
net assets
$235K
employees
mission · from form 990

Maintain and expand the trail and park

profile · synthesized from sources

Friends of the Outlet Inc maintains and expands the Keuka Outlet Trail and surrounding preservation area in New York's Finger Lakes region. The organization supports a 7-mile multi-use recreational trail between Penn Yan and Dresden, NY, originally built on a historic rail and canal corridor. It relies on volunteers, donations, and sponsorships to preserve natural resources and provide outdoor education and historic recreation opportunities.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Campground Program
Manages a primitive campground near Hopeton Road with a lean-to and tent platforms available on a first-come, first-served or reserved basis
Hospitality Tables
Staffing information booths at local festivals and community events to distribute brochures and recruit members and volunteers
Keuka Outlet Trail Maintenance
Volunteer-driven upkeep of 5.7 miles of unpaved trail section, including clearing debris, sign installation, and bench repairs
Minnesetah Quarterly Newsletter
Digital publication sharing trail updates, historical content, and community news with members and supporters
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Recreational Trail Development and Maintenance 2 activities
    • Maintain and manage the Keuka Outlet Trail and Preservation Area
      Manages, maintains, and improves a 7.0-mile multi-use wooded trail connecting Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake, including trail surface, signage, benches, fallen tree removal, and adjacent land and waterways. The trail supports hiking, biking, fishing, horseback riding, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing, with 5.7 miles owned and maintained by the organization.
    • Maintain historical and operational records
      Maintains and organizes trail-related historical documents and official minutes for the Keuka Outlet Trail & Preservation Area, which are available upon request.
  • Organizational Governance & Leadership Development 1 activity
    • Conduct organizational capacity building
      Adopted formal bylaws, a policies and procedures manual, and a conflict of interest agreement to strengthen organizational governance and operational structure.
  • Managed Campground and Retreat Operations 1 activity
    • Operate and manage short-term wilderness camping facilities
      Operates a campground with one lean-to and three tent platforms, offering short-term wilderness camping opportunities limited to five days or less, available on a first-come, first-served or reserved basis.
  • Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Produce and distribute publications and newsletters
      Produces and distributes a quarterly digital and print newsletter called the Minnesetah Quarterly, along with volunteer-written articles and anecdotes, and maintains archives of print newsletters for members and the public.
  • Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
    • Provide educational outreach and guided experiences on the trail
      Offers volunteer-led educational presentations, guided nature tours, and produces informational materials such as illustrated guides and trail maps highlighting historical sites including mills, canals, railroads, and lake waterfronts to promote environmental education and trail use.
  • Museum and Historical Gift Shops 1 activity
    • Sell trail-related books and merchandise
      Sells books to the public including "The Outlet Trail Book" and "The Outlet Trail by Ralph Seager" as part of fundraising and educational outreach efforts.
  • Event and Production Volunteer Coordination 1 activity
    • Support volunteer and member engagement activities
      Engages volunteers in trail maintenance, document management, photography collection, brochure distribution, and mailing preparation. Operates hospitality tables at seasonal festivals and community events to distribute brochures, answer questions, and recruit members.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Collect and compile visitor feedback data
      Collects and compiles visitor feedback through Visitor Feedback Forms to gather information on trail use and user experience, supporting ongoing management and improvement efforts.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$52K
Contributions & grants$24K46%
Program service revenue$510%
Investment income$3781%
Other revenue
expenses
Total expenses$60K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits
Grants paid out
balance sheet
Total assets$235K
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$235K
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +48.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 7
  • Carol Worth — Director
  • Denise Hopkins — Director
  • Judson Reid — Director
  • Judy Erwin — Director
  • Kenneth Walker — Director
  • Michael O'Brien — Director
  • Tim Chambers — Director
relationships · 8

Who they work with

  • Keuka Outlet Trail & Preservation Area Partner — Collaborates on trail and preservation area governance, with shared recordkeeping and communication protocols.
  • Long's Books Partner — Partner location that distributes the Keuka Outlet Trail guide and maps.
  • PAYPAL Government — Uses PayPal Secure Account Payment Service for online sponsorships and donations.
  • PayPal Government — Processes online sponsorship payments securely; users do not need a PayPal account to pay.
  • The Cork & Fork Pub Partner — Partner location at the Dresden Trail Head that distributes the Keuka Outlet Trail guide and maps.
  • Village of Penn Yan Partner — Co-manages the Keuka Outlet Trail, with the Village owning and managing the paved 1.3-mile section from Elm Street to Cherry Street.
  • Yates County Chamber of Commerce Partner — Partner organization that distributes the Keuka Outlet Trail guide and maps.
  • Yates County Historian Partner — Partner organization that distributes the Keuka Outlet Trail guide and maps.
strategies · 3

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.

  • Adaptive Reuse of Historic Infrastructure
    methodology: adaptive-reuse-of-historic-infrastructure
    By repurposing abandoned railroad beds and canal towpaths into public trails, we create accessible recreational corridors, because leveraging existing linear infrastructure reduces development costs and preserves cultural heritage.
  • Community Stewardship Model
    methodology: community-supported_stewardship
    By engaging local volunteers and donors in the maintenance and governance of the Outlet Trail, we sustain public access and ecological integrity, because community ownership fosters long-term commitment and reduces operational costs.
  • Land Preservation for Recreation and Education
    methodology: land_preservation_for_recreation
    By preserving the Keuka Outlet corridor, we enable multi-use recreation and environmental education, because maintaining natural landscapes supports both public health and ecological literacy.