irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $72KENVIRONMENTAL ACTION - ACTIVITIES: THE ORGANIZATION ACTIVATES INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES TO BECOME STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO LEAD WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES THROUGH DIRECT RESEARCH AND CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN WATER QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
- #2 $14KCOMMUNITY OUTREACH - THE ORGANIZATION INSPIRES INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO HELP PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE HUDSON RIVER THROUGH COMMUNITY EVENTS AND MUSIC. VOLUNTEERS ARE ALSO ENGAGED TO HELP MANAGE AND RUN THE EVENTS AND TO HELP EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Classroom of the Waves
Hands-on environmental education program aboard the sloop Clearwater, teaching students about the Hudson River ecosystem through experiential learning
Clearwater Festival
Annual community event combining music, environmental education, and activism to engage the public in river stewardship
Day in the Life of the Hudson
Collaborative education initiative where students and educators monitor water quality and biodiversity at sites along the Hudson River
Spirit of the Hudson Gala
Fundraising gala that supports Clearwater’s mission through cultural celebration and donor engagement
Young Women at the Helm
Program empowering young women through leadership development, sailing, and environmental education on the Hudson River
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 2 activities
- Hosts environmental education programs aboard the sloop ClearwaterOperates the Sailing Classroom, a two- to three-hour educational program aboard the sloop Clearwater, where students conduct water quality tests, identify river organisms, explore indigenous history, and participate in ship operations. The program includes week-long excursions for elementary students and educator-led deckhand instruction in estuarine ecology and fish biology.
- Provides environmental education through portable and traveling programsDelivers environmental education to thousands of schoolchildren and youth organizations annually via the Traveling Environmental Festival, a portable classroom program, and supports high school environmental clubs through the Student Advocates Program.
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Community Festival & Event Production 2 activities
- Organizes community and public engagement events on the Hudson RiverHosts annual and recurring community events including the Great Hudson River Revival festival, end-of-season celebrations, Open Boats events with live music, and waterfront festivals from June to October. These events feature public sails, family-friendly activities, potlucks, and volunteer opportunities to celebrate and protect the Hudson River.
- Participates in tall ship parades and maritime heritage eventsParticipates in tall ship parades such as the Sail4th 250 events to celebrate national maritime heritage and America’s 250th anniversary, welcoming passengers aboard for parade sails in New York Harbor.
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Strategic Planning and Organizational Development 1 activity
- Builds organizational capacity through strategic planningConvened a Business Model Task Force (2024–2025) and ratified a five-year Comprehensive Business Model Plan in May 2025 to ensure long-term financial stability, expand programs, and implement data-driven revenue diversification and reserve-building strategies.
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Historic Vessel and Equipment Preservation 1 activity
- Conducts wooden boat restoration and maintenance projectsExecutes the 2026–2027 Restoration Project involving scraping, sanding, painting, varnishing, and structural demolition of the sloop Clearwater. Supervises winter volunteers in ongoing boat maintenance and preservation efforts.
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Oral History Collection and Preservation 1 activity
- Manages storytelling and historical archivesOperates the Clearwater Generations Storytelling Archive, a collection of community memories from individuals who have sailed the sloop, worked for the river, or been inspired by its mission, preserving organizational and river-related history.
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Lake and River Advocacy 1 activity
- Operates environmental advocacy and watershed communications programsConducts river and watershed advocacy efforts focused on community engagement in the Hudson Valley, including historical legal actions such as securing the first successful prosecution under the Clean Water Act in New York State and contributing to the cancellation of the Storm King Mountain power plant. Participated in the first Earth Day in 1970 and maintains ongoing advocacy communications.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Produces newsletters and community communicationsOperates a monthly email newsletter and other communications to share news, updates, events, advocacy actions, and volunteer opportunities with its community, supporting public engagement and outreach.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Conducts research and publishes environmental reportsAuthors and co-authors environmental publications including "The Hudson: An Illustrated Guide to the Living River" and the Hudson River Estuary Program's State of the Hudson reports (2009, 2015), and publishes an annual report documenting organizational activities and outcomes.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$1.51M
Contributions & grants$1.01M67%
Program service revenue$369K24%
Investment income$-291-0%
Other revenue$131K
expenses
Total expenses$1.57M
Program expenses60%
Admin / overhead28%
Fundraising12%
Salaries & benefits$1.00M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.36M
Cash$23K
Investments$0
Liabilities$504K
Net assets$852K
Liquid reserves0.2 mo
3 years on record · 2021–2023 · YoY revenue +32.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID TOMAN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $113K |
board members · 24
- AARON MAIR — DIRECTOR
- ADENIKE BAMGBOYE — DIRECTOR
- ARTHUR JONES — VICE PRESIDENT
- DANIEL RIESEL — DIRECTOR
- DONNA STEIN — DIRECTOR
- DR STUART FINDLAY — DIRECTOR
- GABRIELLA SPIELBERG — DIRECTOR
- GARETH HOUGHHAM — DIRECTOR
- JENNIFER MCMILLAN — DIRECTOR
- JEREMY RAINER — DIRECTOR
- JILLIAN MARESCO — DIRECTOR
- JOAN GAYLORD — AT-LARGE MEMBER AS OF 10/5/24
- JOSH CLYBURNE — DIRECTOR
- JULIA WILSON — DIRECTOR
- LARRY ROTHBART — DIRECTOR
- LIAM PURVIS — DIRECTOR
- MITZI ELKES — AT-LARGE MEMBER UNTIL 10/5/24
- NEIL GORDON — TREASURER, AT-LARGE MBR AS OF 10/5/24
- PETER CAPEK — DIRECTOR
- PETER GREGORY — DIRECTOR
- ROSEMARY THOMAS — SECRETARY
- SAMANTHA HICKS — PRESIDENT
- SARAH ARMOUR — DIRECTOR
- SARAH UNDERHILL — DIRECTOR
relationships · 42
Who they work with
- Adirondack Mountain Club Partner — Collaborates with North River Friends of Clearwater on environmental protection efforts.
- Bayshore Discovery Project Partner — Works with New Jersey Friends of Clearwater on estuary and river education and protection.
- Bill Braine Partner — Volunteer advisor on the Business Model Task Force with expertise in marketing, business, and sustainability.
- Capital District Greens Partner — Works with North River Friends of Clearwater toward shared environmental goals in the Capital District.
- Center for Health, Environment & Justice Partner — Long-standing partner of New Jersey Friends of Clearwater in health and environmental advocacy.
- Coastal Urban Institute Partner — Collaborates with New Jersey Friends of Clearwater on coastal and urban environmental matters.
- Cornell University Partner — Partnered with Cornell University through the Hudson River Estuary Program for environmental education efforts.
- David Toman Partner — Staff participant in the Business Model Task Force.
- Dean Lentz Partner — Volunteer advisor on the Business Model Task Force with expertise in business operations and technology leadership.
- Dr. Helen Pashley Partner — Volunteer advisor on the Business Model Task Force with expertise in science education and estuarine ecology.
- Emily Marcet Partner — Staff participant in the Business Model Task Force.
- Erin Macchiaroli Partner — Staff participant in the Business Model Task Force.
- Fishkill Ridge Caretakers Partner — Works with Beacon Sloop Club on regional environmental efforts.
- Hudson River Fishermen’s Association Partner — Joined in the legal and public campaign against Consolidated Edison’s Storm King power plant in the 1970s.
- Hudson River Foundation Partner — Received guidance from the Hudson River Foundation during the 2021 strategic planning process.
- Hudson River Maritime Museum Partner — Co-hosts Open Boats community events with Clearwater in Kingston, NY.
- Hudson River Maritime Museum Partner — Hosts Clearwater's Annual Member Meeting at the Museum's Barn in Kingston.
- Hudson River Maritime Museum Partner — Hosts Clearwater's end-of-season celebration at its Grey Barn facility in Kingston, NY.
- Hudson River Maritime Museum Partner — Hosts Clearwater's end-of-season celebration at its facility in Kingston, NY.
- Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Flickr website Partner — Hosts and shares organizational images through a dedicated Flickr group.
- Hudson River Watershed Alliance Partner — Collaborates on watershed characterization and provides technical assistance to watershed groups.
- Jen Benson Partner — Staff participant in the Business Model Task Force.
- Julia Wilson Partner — Board member participant in the Business Model Task Force.
- Meg Mayo Partner — Staff participant in the Business Model Task Force.
- NJ Environmental Federation Partner — Long-time partner of New Jersey Friends of Clearwater in environmental advocacy.
- NYSDEC Government — Collaborated with NYSDEC through the Hudson River Estuary Program to direct environmental education initiatives.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Partner — Co-sponsored a congressional briefing on decommissioning nuclear power plants in 2018.
- New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance Partner — Partner of New Jersey Friends of Clearwater in environmental justice education and advocacy.
- Peg Brandon Partner — Volunteer advisor on the Business Model Task Force with expertise in nonprofit maritime leadership and education.
- Peter Capek Partner — Board member participant in the Business Model Task Force.
+ 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.
- Community-Based Advocacy Multiplies Impactmethodology: community-based_environmental_advocacyBy empowering individual members to act as local advocates, we extend our reach and influence because decentralized, community-rooted activism is more trusted and adaptable than top-down campaigns.
- Experiential Environmental Education Fosters Stewardshipmethodology: experiential_educationBy immersing participants in hands-on, place-based learning aboard the sloop Clearwater, we cultivate environmental awareness and stewardship because direct experience creates deeper emotional and cognitive connections to the Hudson River ecosystem.
- Family-Engaged Learning Strengthens Environmental Connectionmethodology: family-engaged_environmental_educationBy involving parent-child pairs in shared river-based education experiences, we deepen long-term stewardship behaviors because family participation reinforces learning through intergenerational dialogue and shared values.
- Music as a Tool for Community Engagement and Activismmethodology: cultural_engagement_through_musicBy integrating music into education and advocacy events, we strengthen community bonds and amplify environmental messaging because shared cultural experiences increase emotional resonance and motivate collective action for environmental justice.
- Sweat Equity Model Promotes Active Environmental Citizenshipmethodology: sweat_equity_membershipBy requiring member participation through labor instead of monetary dues, we foster ownership and commitment to environmental work because contributing time and effort increases personal investment in the mission.