irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $258KTHE CONSERVANCY PRESENTS CLASSES, TOURS, LECTURES, VIDEOS, AND CONCERTS THAT INTERPRET THE GARDENS ARCHITECTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND HISTORY AND ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO INTERACT WITH THE NATURAL SETTING; IT PROVIDES PAID INTERNSHIPS THAT TEACH HORTICULTURAL SKILLS TO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS; AND IT PROMOTES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS SUCH AS THE GRAND HOLIDAY ILLUMINATION.
named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Grand Holiday Illumination
Annual winter event featuring festive lighting of the Walled Garden, seasonal music, and hot chocolate; runs nightly from December through early January
Guided Garden Tours
One-hour docent-led tours offered weekly on Sundays from April through October, focusing on the history, architecture, and horticulture of the gardens; includes themed tours such as "History Tour" and "Beyond the Walled Garden"
Horticultural Internship Program
Paid internship program for local high school students to learn horticultural skills through hands-on experience in the gardens
Mehregan Celebration
Annual celebration of the Persian harvest festival held in the Walled Garden, honoring notable figures with the Samuel Untermyer Award
Summer Solstice Sunset Soirée
Annual gala event held in June to celebrate the gardens, featuring cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and live music; honors community leaders and supports conservation efforts
Winter Lecture Series
Educational lecture series held annually, featuring topics such as "Paradise Found: The Gardens of Mughal India" and "Untermyer Gardens: Its Periods of Glory and Its Sack"
WorldFest Concert Series
Summer concert series featuring performances by diverse cultural ensembles including gospel, ballet, Bhangra, Shakespeare, and international music and dance groups
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Public Garden Tours and Events 1 activity
- Deliver educational programming and guided toursProvides seasonal guided tours from April through October, including weekly Sunday tours, private tours for groups up to 45, VIP President's Tours, and specialty tours on topics such as birds, fungi, plants, and sunsets. Tours focus on the history, architecture, horticulture, and ecology of the gardens and are led by volunteer docents or staff.
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Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 1 activity
- Deliver workshops, classes, and school programmingOffers educational workshops, classes, and school visits focused on horticulture, garden history, and environmental topics such as birdwatching and local ecology. Programming includes content for children and youth, and supports experiential learning in garden settings.
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Free Outdoor Music Concerts 1 activity
- Host concerts, performances, and cultural eventsOrganizes and presents a summer performing arts series with diverse musical and dance performances on Saturday evenings, as well as special events such as Persian music and dance concerts, solstice celebrations, and interfaith holiday music. Youth ages 7 to 18 in Yonkers receive free tickets to summer concerts and dance performances.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Organize annual and seasonal public eventsHosts recurring community events including the Grand Holiday Illumination (December 6–January 4), Sunset Soirée, Mehregan celebration, Yonkers Day, and a winter lecture series. These events feature festive lighting, music, refreshments, educational presentations, and themed entertainment, and are open free to the public.
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Digital Communications and Content Management 1 activity
- Produce and share multimedia contentCreates and distributes photo, video, and newsletter content to document the gardens, promote events, and inform the public about seasonal activities and garden developments.
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Free Public Access Nature Sites 1 activity
- Provide free public access to Untermyer GardensOffers free admission to Untermyer Park & Gardens every day of the year, with daily operations from 9:00 AM and seasonally adjusted closing times. The gardens are open to the public for visitation and self-guided exploration, supported by downloadable maps, brochures, and visitor information.
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Youth Workforce Development in Food & Environment 1 activity
- Support youth horticultural education and internshipsOffers paid internships and a youth horticultural training initiative to teach horticultural skills and plant care to local high school students, combining hands-on experience with educational programming.
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Volunteer and Professional Training Programs 1 activity
- Train volunteer docentsProvides capacity-building training for volunteer docents through a multi-session program that includes shadowing and monthly plant walks for horticulture docents, enabling them to lead educational tours and interpret the gardens for the public.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Manage photography use and permitsAllows casual smartphone and amateur nature photography without permits, while requiring permits for special occasion photography such as weddings, engagements, graduations, and posed portraits. Regulates use of equipment like tripods and lights to avoid interference with visitor flow.
- Restore and maintain garden features and landscapesUndertakes ongoing horticultural and architectural restoration and maintenance of the gardens, including the development of the Long Garden with its 400-foot central path and borders, installation of bronze busts of Hudson River School painters, and the 2023 restoration of the Persian Pool with sea creature mosaics.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.76M
Contributions & grants$2.51M91%
Program service revenue$128K5%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$128K
expenses
Total expenses$2.30M
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising12%
Salaries & benefits$463K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.48M
Cash$262K
Investments$2.08M
Liabilities$213K
Net assets$2.27M
Liquid reserves12.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +9.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHEN BYRNS | President | 40 | $160K |
board members · 19
- ABRAHAM OFER — Treasurer
- ALI GRANMAYEH — BOARD MEMBER
- ANN CARMEL — BOARD MEMBER
- BARBARA ISRAEL — VICE-CHAIR
- BATYA GORIN — BOARD MEMBER
- BETSY P SCHIFF — BOARD MEMBER
- BRIAN RUDER — BOARD MEMBER
- CATHERINE A LUDDEN — BOARD MEMBER
- CHRISTINA M GILMARTIN — BOARD MEMBER
- CRYSTAL BARNES — BOARD MEMBER
- EDWARD SABOL — BOARD MEMBER
- ELIZABETH FITZGERALD — SECRETARY
- HEENA PAI — BOARD MEMBER
- IRIS DUDMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- LEE MICHEL — BOARD MEMBER
- MEHDI ANSARI — BOARD MEMBER
- NORTRUD W SPERO — BOARD MEMBER
- PETER BOODELL — CHAIR
- VIRGINIA C KEIM — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 26
Who they work with
- Atlas Obscura Partner — Co-hosted the Great Forgotten Garden Party event with the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy.
- City of Yonkers Government — Collaborates with the City of Yonkers on permit issuance, parking regulations, and management of the park.
- City of Yonkers Government — Issues permits for special occasion photography and manages facility access at Untermyer Park and Gardens.
- City of Yonkers Government — Owns Untermyer Park and Gardens.
- City of Yonkers Government — Partner in managing and maintaining the public garden space.
- City of Yonkers Government — Partnered with the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy in hosting public events and garden restoration efforts.
- City of Yonkers, NY Government — Manages Untermyer Gardens as a municipal park in partnership with the Conservancy.
- Facebook Network — Shares information about garden blooms through its Facebook account.
- Facebook Partner — Platform used to share content and engage with the public
- Greystone Station Partner — Referenced as a nearby location for visitor navigation to the lower entrance of the gardens.
- Hudson River Museum Partner — Collaborated with the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy and Wave Hill on a lecture series about Yonkers’ Gilded Age homes.
- Instagram Network — Shares information about garden blooms through its Instagram account.
- Instagram Partner — Platform used to share content and engage with the public
- LinkedIn Partner — Platform used to share content and engage with the public
- New York Botanical Garden Partner — Instructor Vincent Galatolo, Director of Plant Health at NYBG, leads the Summer Fungi Walk at Untermyer Gardens.
- Newington-Cropsey Foundation Partner — Provided a generous gift of seven bronze busts for display in the Long Garden.
- TikTok Partner — Platform used to share content and engage with the public
- Untermyer Performing Arts Council Partner — Collaborated with the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy to present a summer performing arts series.
- Venmo Partner — Partner platform used to facilitate visitor donations to the conservancy.
- Wave Hill Partner — Collaborated with the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy and the Hudson River Museum on a lecture series about Yonkers’ Gilded Age homes.
- Yonkers Parks Department Government — Administers permits for tour groups and special occasion photography in coordination with the Conservancy.
- Yonkers Parks Department Government — Handles arrangements and distribution of photography permits for Untermyer Park and Gardens.
- Yonkers Youth Partner — Provides free access to cultural performances for youth in Yonkers.
- Yonkers, NY Government — Collaborates with the City of Yonkers for site access and operations, including photography permits through the city's website.
- YouTube Partner — Platform used to share video content and engage with the public
- Young Friends of Untermyer Gardens Partner — Sponsored and organized social events such as the End of Summer Garden Party and Midsummer Garden Party.
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.
- Education-Led Public Engagementmethodology: public-education-programmingBy using guided tours, on-site visits, lectures, and volunteer docents to interpret the garden’s architectural, horticultural, and historical significance, the Conservancy encourages environmental learning and public interaction with nature, because structured educational programming increases public understanding and emotional connection to the gardens.
- Historical and Cultural Restoration as Public Engagementmethodology: cultural_heritage_restorationBy restoring historically significant landscapes and integrating art installations reflective of Samuel Untermyer's era, the Conservancy reestablishes the garden’s national prominence and fosters public connection to cultural heritage, because engagement with history and art in nature deepens visitor investment and stewardship.
- Inclusive Access Through Adaptive Design and Programmingmethodology: accessibility_inclusionBy designing accessible pathways, providing ramps and designated parking, and customizing tours for varying physical abilities, the Conservancy ensures equitable access for visitors with disabilities, because removing physical and programmatic barriers enables full participation and fosters inclusion in cultural and natural spaces.
- Youth Workforce and Horticultural Developmentmethodology: youth-workforce-developmentBy offering paid internships and hands-on horticultural training to local high school students, the Conservancy promotes youth workforce development and environmental education, because experiential learning in a professional setting builds skills, stewardship values, and career pathways in horticulture.