named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Green Heart Gala
Annual fundraising event featuring dinner, live music, and a silent auction to support land conservation efforts in Central New York
Invasive Species Workshop
Hands-on educational program teaching identification and removal of invasive plants, held at Woodchuck Hill Field & Forest Preserve
O’Neill Family Farm Reforestation Project
Multi-phase reforestation of a 144-acre former farm to protect Skaneateles Lake water quality, involving planting thousands of native trees in partnership with volunteers and state grants
Volunteer Stewardship Workdays
Community volunteer events focused on trail maintenance, bench building, invasive species removal, and native seed nursery development across multiple preserves
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Hosts educational and community outreach programsHosts guided hikes, educational workshops on invasive species, and community open houses at preserves to engage the public in conservation planning and stewardship; examples include events at Perkins Woods, Marie's Woods, and Woodchuck Hill Field & Forest Preserve.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Organizes volunteer engagement and stewardship eventsRegularly organizes volunteer workdays for trail construction, maintenance, hazard removal, bench assembly, site preparation, and invasive species management across multiple preserves; supports over 175 volunteers annually and maintains a listing of active opportunities through VolunteerCNY.
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Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Owns and manages conservation preservesOwns and manages a portfolio of 56 to 57 nature preserves in Central New York, 18 of which are publicly accessible, including stewardship activities such as trail maintenance, habitat protection, and public access improvements.
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Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 1 activity
- Protects land and safeguards environmental resourcesPreserves natural areas to protect clean water, clean air, wildlife habitat, and drinking water sources by preventing development, restoring ecosystems, and maintaining ecological integrity across Central New York landscapes.
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Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
- Restores and enhances natural habitatsConducts habitat restoration projects including reforestation of former farmland, invasive species removal, aquatic passage reconnection, and ecosystem enhancement to improve water quality, stabilize slopes, reduce storm runoff, and support wildlife; includes active projects like the O’Neill Preserve reforestation.
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Environmental Conservation Grantmaking 1 activity
- Secures funding for conservation projectsLeveraged $320,000 in private donations to secure $855,000 in public funding for the O’Neill Preserve reforestation project, demonstrating active fundraising and grant leveraging for land conservation.
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Wildlife Monitoring and Field Research 1 activity
- Supports citizen science and public reporting toolsEngages the public in conservation through tools for identifying and reporting invasive species, coordinates bird distribution data collection by amateur birders, and provides access to a directory of NYS DEC Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitators.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Pursues land trust accreditationIs applying for renewal of accreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, reflecting ongoing institutional commitment to national standards in land conservation practice.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.41M
Contributions & grants$2.38M99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$26K1%
Other revenue$4K
expenses
Total expenses$552K
Program expenses71%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$272K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$11.93M
Cash$832K
Investments$1.10M
Liabilities$103K
Net assets$11.83M
Liquid reserves42.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -4.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIMON SOLOMON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THROUGH 1/25 | 40 | $99K |
board members · 15
- ANDREW OBERNESSER — BOARD MEMBER
- ANDREW RAMSGARD — CHAIR
- CHRISTOPHER SANDSTROM — BOARD MEMBER
- EDWARD GLAZA — BOARD MEMBER
- ELEANOR KRAUSE — FORMER BOARD MEMBER
- HOLLY GRANAT — SECRETARY
- JANE RICE — BOARD MEMBER
- LAUREN E DARCY — BOARD MEMBER
- LOREN WAHL — TREASURER
- MARGARET BOCSOR — BOARD MEMBER
- MARGARET RIES — BOARD MEMBER
- RICHARD SMARDON — BOARD MEMBER
- ROBERT DEWITT — BOARD MEMBER
- STEPHEN SCHWAB — VICE CHAIR
- STEVEN KULICK — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 28
Who they work with
- Adirondack Research Symposium Partner — Contributes knowledge through staff participation and speaking engagements.
- Beak & Skiff Partner — Donated items to the EverGreen EverBlue silent auction supporting conservation efforts.
- Bijou Salon Partner — Donated items to the EverGreen EverBlue silent auction supporting conservation efforts.
- Bill Bush Flight Tours Partner — Donated items to the EverGreen EverBlue silent auction supporting conservation efforts.
- Black Brook Farm Partner — Donated items to the EverGreen EverBlue silent auction supporting conservation efforts.
- CNY Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease Alliance Partner — Partnering to deliver a tick safety and iNaturalist training workshop.
- Corporate Sponsors Partner — Partners with corporate sponsors to support land conservation efforts.
- Crazy Daisies Partner — Donated items to the EverGreen EverBlue silent auction supporting conservation efforts.
- Doug’s Fish Fry Partner — Donated items to the EverGreen EverBlue silent auction supporting conservation efforts.
- Favorelles Garden Partner — Donated items to the EverGreen EverBlue silent auction supporting conservation efforts.
- Finally Ours Partner — Donated items to the EverGreen EverBlue silent auction supporting conservation efforts.
- Land Trust Accreditation Commission Government — Independent commission conducting review of the organization's compliance with national land trust standards.
- Land Trust Alliance Network — Parent organization of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, which oversees the national accreditation program in which the Central New York Land Trust participates.
- Mello Velo Partner — Donated items to the EverGreen EverBlue silent auction supporting conservation efforts.
- Native Roots Ecosystem Partner — Donated items to the EverGreen EverBlue silent auction supporting conservation efforts.
- New York Outdoor Recreation Coalition Network — Participates in coalition communications efforts to advance outdoor recreation and conservation.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Partners with NYS DEC to connect the public with licensed wildlife rehabilitators.
- Nightingale Mills Partner — Donated items to the EverGreen EverBlue silent auction supporting conservation efforts.
- Onondaga County Council on Environmental Health Partner — Engages in advisory and educational dialogue around environmental health and land conservation.
- SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Partner — Collaborates through staff speaking engagements, academic affiliations, and internships.
- Sharon Bottle-Souva Partner — Donated items to the EverGreen EverBlue silent auction supporting conservation efforts.
- Skaneateles Jewelry Store Partner — Donated items to the EverGreen EverBlue silent auction supporting conservation efforts.
- Syracuse Mets Partner — Donated items to the EverGreen EverBlue silent auction supporting conservation efforts.
- The Little Jazz Trio Partner — Donated items to the EverGreen EverBlue silent auction supporting conservation efforts.
- The Nature Conservancy Partner — Partnered with The Nature Conservancy on the O’Neill Preserve reforestation project.
- Trout Unlimited Partner — Shares expertise through staff presentations on land and water conservation.
- United Way of CNY Partner — Collaborated on a volunteer workday as part of United Way of CNY's Day of Caring 2026.
- VolunteerCNY Partner — Partner organization platform used to list and manage volunteer opportunities.
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.
- Citizen-Powered Invasive Species Responsemethodology: early_detection_rapid_response_invasivesBy equipping the public with identification tools and response protocols, the organization enables early detection and rapid containment of invasive species, because timely intervention prevents ecosystem degradation and reduces long-term management costs.
- Community-Engaged Stewardship Modelmethodology: community_engaged_stewardshipBy involving community members in hands-on conservation activities such as habitat restoration, trail maintenance, and citizen science, the organization strengthens local ownership and long-term stewardship of conserved lands, because active participation fosters deeper connection and responsibility toward nature.
- Land Conservation for Ecosystem Servicesmethodology: land_conservation_for_ecosystem_servicesBy protecting and restoring natural landscapes, the organization produces clean water, clean air, wildlife habitat, and community access to nature, because intact ecosystems provide essential services that benefit both biodiversity and human well-being.