irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $114KLAND CONSERVATION - CONSERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF LAKESHORE, WETLAND, STREAM CORRIDOR, AND FOREST LANDS OF THE CHAUTAUQUA REGION AS INDICATED BY THE CONSERVANCY'S COLLABORATIVE REGIONAL CONSERVATION IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY. IMPROVING TRAILS AND ACCESS AT THE MAJOR NATURE PRESERVES, AND INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL ACROSS THE PROPERTIES.
- #2 $358KECOLOGICAL RESTORATION - DEVELOPING AND UNDERTAKING WATERWAY RESTORATION AND BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ACROSS THE REGION TO ENHANCE THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND HYDROLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THE STREAMS AND LAKE SYSTEMS.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Ecological Restoration
Undertakes stream and lake restoration projects, including debris dam removal, stormwater management, and erosion control to improve hydrological integrity and public safety.
Land Conservation
Acquires and protects ecologically significant lands through donations, easements, bequests, and purchases; currently manages over 1,250 acres across 35 nature preserves in Chautauqua County.
Municipal Technical Assistance
Provides engineering and planning support to towns and villages on watershed protection, pollution prevention, and conservation best practices.
Native Landscaping Education
Offers public education on native plants, lawn alternatives, and sustainable landscaping to reduce runoff and support pollinators.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Wildlife Monitoring and Field Research 1 activity
- Conduct research to inform regional conservation strategiesConducts ecological and environmental research including studies on urban heat island effects, winter as a filter for invasive species, and GIS-based land prioritization. Produced the Collaborative Regional Conservation Implementation Strategy to guide conservation decisions across the Chautauqua Lake watershed.
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Land Acquisition and Conservation Easements 1 activity
- Conserve land through acquisition, donation, and easementsAcquires land for conservation through purchase (including bargain sales), donation (with or without retained life estates), and conservation easements. Examples include the 76-acre Cassadaga Lakes property purchased and the 11.9-acre Mud Creek wetland conserved via donation. The organization also facilitates the Voluntary Handshake Registry to encourage responsible land stewardship and early notification of potential land transfers.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Engage volunteers and promote community-based conservationRecruits and coordinates volunteers to support conservation and education initiatives in the Chautauqua region, including trail maintenance, monitoring, and public outreach efforts.
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Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Own and manage nature preserves for public access and conservationOwns and manages over 1,250 acres of land across 35 nature preserves in Chautauqua County, providing year-round free public access for non-motorized recreation such as hiking, birdwatching, photography, and geocaching, with regulated hunting and fishing allowed on select sites by permission. Trail improvements, signage, and boardwalks are implemented to enhance public use and stewardship.
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Lake Stewardship Education & Outreach 1 activity
- Provide technical assistance and educational programming on land and water stewardshipOffers free one-on-one yard consultations, native plant recommendations, and landscape designs to property owners and organizations. Delivers educational content such as the “Healthy Lawns, Healthy Lakes” presentation and promotes sustainable practices including overseeding to reduce water and fertilizer use. Also provides technical and engineering assistance to municipalities on watershed protection, stream erosion control, and pollution reduction.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Advance organizational and land trust capacity through accreditation and planningMaintains national land trust accreditation achieved in February 2024, reflecting adherence to national standards in governance and conservation. Updates management plans for preserves and monitors conservation easements to ensure long-term ecological integrity.
- Improve watershed health and reduce flooding risksUndertakes direct environmental interventions such as clearing debris dams from rivers—four miles of the Chadakoin River were cleared during 2021–22—to reduce flooding, erosion, and property damage in Jamestown.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$818K
Contributions & grants$767K94%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$6K1%
Other revenue$45K
expenses
Total expenses$977K
Program expenses71%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$523K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.18M
Cash$298K
Investments$298K
Liabilities$114K
Net assets$4.07M
Liquid reserves7.3 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +25.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WHITNEY GLEASON | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $77K |
board members · 16
- CHERYL MAWHINNEY — SECRETARY
- CLAIRE JOHNSON BAKER — DIRECTOR
- DEBORAH C TREFTS — DIRECTOR
- DEBORAH E MOORE CPA — TREASURER
- DENNIS H COLLINS — DIRECTOR TIL
- JANIS BOWMAN — CHAIRPERSON
- JEANNE WIEBENGA — CO-VICE CHAI
- KAITLYN L BENTLEY — DIRECTOR
- KRISTOFOR SELLSTROM — DIRECTOR
- MARY BETH SOUTHWICK — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL E JABOT — DIRECTOR
- REBECCA L NYSTROM — CHAIRPERSON
- ROBYN STEELE — DIRECTOR
- RUTH T WAHL — DIRECTOR
- WILLIAM J WARD — CO-VICE CHAI
- WILLIAM R LOCKE — EMERITUS DIR
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- Aldo Leopold Partner — Cited as a foundational voice in conservation philosophy, with quote used to frame the organization's mission.
- Bethany O'Hagan Partner — Land Specialist responsible for receiving trail condition photos and managing trail reporting.
- Bethany O'Hagan Partner — Land specialist responsible for managing hunting permissions on Conservancy preserves.
- City of Jamestown Partner — Collaborated on clearing debris dams from the Chadakoin River to reduce flooding and erosion.
- Dr. Frank Rossi Partner — Collaborates with Dr. Frank Rossi on the “Healthy Lawns, Healthy Lakes” presentation to provide expert guidance on sustainable lawn care.
- Jamestown BPU Partner — Worked with the Conservancy on restoration of its Jamestown property.
- Jan Bowman Partner — Collaborates with naturalist Jan Bowman, who contributes photographic documentation and field observations, such as nesting Pileated Woodpeckers in dead trees.
- Land Trust Accreditation Commission Government — Accrediting body that granted national accreditation to Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy after rigorous review.
- Land Trust Alliance Network — Member of the national land trust network through accreditation by the Land Trust Alliance.
- Land Trust Alliance Network — Parent organization of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission; Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is part of the national network of land trusts adhering to shared standards.
- Town of Busti Partner — Received technical and grant proposal assistance for watershed pollution, stream erosion control, and lake protection projects.
- Town of Chautauqua Partner — Received hydrological engineering technical assistance for watershed pollution, stream erosion control, and lake protection projects.
- Town of North Harmony Partner — Received technical and grant proposal assistance for watershed pollution, stream erosion control, and lake protection projects.
- Village of Lakewood Partner — Received technical and grant proposal assistance for watershed pollution, stream erosion control, and lake protection projects.
strategies · 4
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.
- Ecologically Co-Evolved Landscaping for Watershed Healthmethodology: native-plant landscaping and naturalizationBy promoting native plant landscaping and naturalization practices, we reduce stormwater runoff, enhance carbon sequestration, and support pollinators because plants co-evolved with local ecosystems perform better ecologically with minimal intervention.
- Integrated Watershed Stewardshipmethodology: integrated conservation and educationBy combining land conservation, environmental education, and on-the-ground restoration, we protect watershed health and community well-being because these interconnected strategies reinforce ecological resilience and public engagement.
- Landowner-Centered Conservation Engagementmethodology: landowner-centered conservation planningBy tailoring conservation options to individual landowner motivations such as wildlife protection, recreation, or family legacy, we increase participation and long-term commitment because personal relevance enhances stewardship buy-in.
- Permanent Conservation Through Institutional Accountabilitymethodology: permanent-stewardship-through-policies-or-transferBy adhering to Land Trust Standards and Practices and ensuring long-term stewardship via policy or transfer to qualified entities, we guarantee permanent ecological protection because institutional accountability secures conservation outcomes beyond short-term project cycles.