named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Great Saunter
Annual 32-mile urban hike around Manhattan that celebrates the city's waterfront, brings together 3,500 walkers, and promotes awareness of shoreline access and resilience.
Guided Hikes
Year-round hikes led by volunteer leaders throughout the New York metropolitan area, focusing on local parks, shores, history, and nature.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Organized Running and Triathlon Events 2 activities
- Hosting the Great Saunter Fall Challenge virtual walking eventOrganizes an annual global walking event, the Great Saunter Fall Challenge, enabling participants to complete 32 miles over a two-week period at their own pace and in any location. The event engaged participants from 9 countries and 36 U.S. states in 2020.
- Organizing the Great Saunter annual 32-mile walk around ManhattanHosts an annual 32-mile urban hike around Manhattan's shoreline, traditionally held on the first Saturday in May, bringing together approximately 3,500 participants each year. The event has been organized annually since 1985, with the exception of a two-year pause during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Local Land Conservation Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocating for the preservation of NYC shorelinesConducts advocacy work to protect and preserve New York City’s shorelines, supported by public engagement through hikes, membership benefits, and educational programming.
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Environmental Conservation Grantmaking 1 activity
- Funding park conservation through event registration feesFunds park conservation by donating all registration fees from the Great Saunter Fall Challenge to support the Carl Schurz Park Conservancy.
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Guided Outdoor Expedition Programs 1 activity
- Leading guided hikes to promote and preserve NYC waterfrontsLeads over 200 guided walks annually throughout the New York City metropolitan area to promote and preserve the city’s waterfront, raise awareness of its shorelines, and engage the public in outdoor exploration. These include member-led hikes and service projects, as well as themed events like the Happy New Year’s Day Walk and multi-day walks across major bridges and parks.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Organizing member-led service and clean-up projects for shoreline preservationOrganizes member-led service projects and clean-up events in partnership with community organizations to maintain parks, care for public spaces, and preserve New York City’s shorelines and wetlands.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$163K
Contributions & grants$153K94%
Program service revenue——
Investment income$6K3%
Other revenue$4K
expenses
Total expenses$111K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$236K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$236K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +12.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 5
- BRIGITTE STARK-MERKLEIN — Board member
- CHRISTINE SUMMERSON — Board member
- DIANE CIMINE — Board member
- GERRY MATUSIEWICZ — Board member
- NICK DINAPOLI — Board member
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- Brooklyn Bridge Partner — Route includes walking underneath the Brooklyn Bridge toward the finish line.
- Carl Schurz Park Partner — Route enters the park on the East River Promenade at East 86th Street.
- Carl Schurz Park Conservancy Partner — Receives donation of all registration fees from the Great Saunter Fall Challenge to support park maintenance and native plantings.
- Circle Line Cruise Terminal Partner — Location along the Great Saunter route where participants arrive at 9:30 a.m.
- Durrick Designs Government — Platform design and management partner for Shorewalkers' website
- Durrick Designs Government — Platform designed and managed by Durrick Designs
- Durrick Designs Partner — Designs and manages the organization's website platform.
- Durrick Designs Partner — Platform design and management partner for Shorewalkers' website.
- Durrick Designs Partner — Platform designed and managed by Durrick Designs
- Fraunces Tavern Partner — Hosts the finish line celebration and certificate collection for the Great Saunter.
- George Washington Bridge Partner — Route passes the Little Red Lighthouse beneath the bridge during the hike.
- Inwood Hill Park Partner — Hosts the midway break for the Great Saunter near the flagpole.
- NYC H2O Partner — Partners with Shorewalkers to organize clean-up events for public spaces in New York City.
- Partnerships for Parks Partner — Partners with Shorewalkers to organize clean-up events for public spaces in New York City.
- Riverbank State Park Partner — Route passes beneath the park at West 138th Street during the Great Saunter.
- like-minded organizations Partner — Collaborates with like-minded organizations in the New York City area to lead hikes and advocate for walking paths, parks, and shorelines.
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.
- Experiential Education Through Guided Hikesmethodology: experiential_educationBy leading guided hikes along shorelines and urban paths, Shorewalkers fosters public awareness, engagement, and stewardship of New York City's waterfront because direct physical experience deepens connection and motivates conservation behavior.
- Volunteer-Powered Community Engagement and Leadershipmethodology: volunteer_led_programmingBy relying entirely on volunteer hike leaders and organizers, Shorewalkers builds community ownership and sustained engagement in waterfront stewardship because shared leadership fosters deeper commitment and local knowledge transfer.
- Walking as Sustainable Urban Mobility and Conservation Advocacymethodology: sustainable_urban_mobilityBy promoting walking as a primary mode of urban transportation and exploration, Shorewalkers advances environmental sustainability and reduces fossil fuel dependence because embodied, low-impact mobility reinforces ecological values and connects people directly to place.