named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
One Million Gallons (OMG!) Community Partnership Program
Green stormwater infrastructure program in Syracuse, NY, aiming to intercept one million gallons of stormwater annually from combined sewers through installations like rain gardens, tree trenches, and porous pavement
Saving Sterling Creek
Legal and community advocacy initiative opposing the Martville Mine project to protect Sterling Creek, residential wells, and community health from mining-related environmental harm in the Towns of Sterling and Victory, NY
Urban Forestry Program
Tree planting initiative in Central New York under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, focusing on native species to restore urban canopy, manage stormwater, and improve water quality in the Lake Ontario watershed
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 2 activities
- Advocacy for sustainable environmental policy and international collaborationAdvances sustainable resource use and environmental governance through advocacy informed by U.S. environmental laws like the Clean Water Act. Applies Great Lakes management lessons globally in regions including the Danube Basin, Baltic Sea, and Chinese river systems. Engages with UN agencies and the World Bank-GEF to promote climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development worldwide since 2011.
- Community-driven watershed planning and restorationLeads community-based planning processes to develop actionable restoration and management plans for degraded waterways, such as Butler Mill Pond and Wolcott Creek. Includes conducting workshops, identifying community goals, producing project portfolios, and developing funding strategies for long-term watershed improvement.
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Environmental Policy Advocacy & Litigation 2 activities
- Environmental litigation and legal advocacy for watershed protectionConducts environmental litigation and legal advocacy to protect and restore watersheds, including a landmark case against Onondaga County that contributed to the restoration of Onondaga Lake. Provides legal support to communities opposing environmentally harmful projects, such as the proposed Martville Mine in Sterling and Victory, NY.
- Technical and legal assistance for environmental protectionProvides technical, legal, and organizing services to Upstate NY communities on issues including water resource protection, green infrastructure, and urban forestry. Supports citizen and local government efforts in environmental management and compliance.
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Youth Workforce Development in Food & Environment 1 activity
- Capacity building in green infrastructure and urban forestryBuilds local capacity through training programs and institutional partnerships, including engaging youth via Onondaga Earth Corps to gain hands-on experience in green infrastructure construction and maintenance. Also supports the expansion and accreditation of the Centennial Arboretum at SUNY-Oswego and established an urban tree nursery in 2016 to grow native seedlings for regional use.
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Community Environmental Monitoring and Research 1 activity
- Environmental research and risk assessmentConducts environmental research and risk assessments in collaboration with independent experts, such as consulting geologist Dr. Richard Young to evaluate potential impacts of proposed mining activities on local ecosystems and water resources.
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Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 1 activity
- Urban forestry and tree planting initiativesImplements urban forestry projects across Upstate New York, including planting thousands of native trees and shrubs in cities like Syracuse, Oswego, and Pulaski. Activities include community planting events, brownfield reforestation, food forest development, and collaboration with schools and local governments to enhance climate resilience and water quality.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Green infrastructure installation for stormwater managementDesigns and installs green infrastructure systems—including stormwater tree trenches, porous pavement, green roofs, and container nurseries—to manage urban stormwater runoff. The OMG! Community Partnership Program has implemented projects that collectively intercept over one million gallons of stormwater annually, reducing strain on sewer systems in Syracuse.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$201K
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$189K94%
Investment income$100%
Other revenue$12K
expenses
Total expenses$469K
Program expenses96%
Admin / overhead4%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$122K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$254K
Cash$188K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$254K
Liquid reserves4.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -70.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 8
- BUFFY QUINN — TREASURER
- CHRISTINE BODY — BOARD MEMBER
- JAMES DARLINGTON — BOARD MEMBER
- JOHN POBEDINSKY — CHAIRPERSON
- KEVIN BLISS — SECRETARY
- MARTHA H LOEW — VICE CHAIR
- NASEER IDRISI — BOARD MEMBER
- SAMUEL H SAGE — PRESIDENT
relationships · 36
Who they work with
- Bellegrove Missionary Baptist Church Partner — Partnering with ASLF to retrofit its church parking lot with a porous asphalt system to reduce stormwater runoff in Syracuse.
- City of Fulton Partner — Collaborated with ASLF on tree planting and site evaluation projects in Fulton, NY.
- City of Syracuse Partner — Collaborated with ASLF on multiple urban forestry projects, including tree planting and green infrastructure planning.
- Evergreen Manufacturing Co. Partner — Partnered with ASLF to implement a stormwater tree trench and porous paving system on its commercial property to manage stormwater runoff.
- Fulton Garden Club Partner — Collaborating with ASLF on urban forestry, food forest development, tree replacement, pollinator garden restoration, outreach events, and tree giveaways in Fulton, NY.
- Greater Syracuse Land Bank Partner — Partnered with ASLF to plant native trees and shrubs on vacant urban land in Syracuse.
- International Fund for China’s Environment Partner — ASLF co-founder Samuel Sage serves as Vice President, indicating an organizational affiliation or collaborative relationship.
- Lippes and Lippes Partner — Legal firm retained to represent community interests in opposing the Martville Mine.
- Mightycause Partner — Platform used to process online donations.
- NOMAD Studio Partner — Collaborated with ASLF on the design concept for the Leavenworth/Onondaga Circle redesign called "The Magnet".
- NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Awarded the Environmental Justice Community Impact Grant to ASLF and the Fulton Garden Club for urban forestry and ecological restoration work in Fulton, NY.
- Natural Systems Engineering Partner — Consulting firm that designed green infrastructure projects for ASLF, including the tree trench at Evergreen Manufacturing Co. and the Lodi Street project.
- New York Sea Grant Funder — Provided support for the community-driven planning process in Wolcott, NY.
- Onondaga County Partner — Partner in maintaining a public repository of resources related to Onondaga Lake.
- Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection Partner — Contracted ASLF to implement urban tree planting projects on brownfields and contaminated land.
- Onondaga County Water Environment Protection Partner — Collaborates with ASLF on the design, outreach, and financing of the One Million Gallons (OMG!) green stormwater infrastructure program in Syracuse.
- Onondaga Earth Corps Partner — Leading native plantings in the rain garden at the Lodi Street project as part of a youth training program in green infrastructure construction and maintenance.
- Oswego County Community Development, Tourism & Planning Partner — Collaborated with ASLF on evaluating former industrial sites for tree planting and green infrastructure in Fulton and Oswego.
- Oswego Heath Partner — Partnered with ASLF on urban forestry and green infrastructure projects in Oswego County.
- Pulaski School District Partner — Collaborates on a tree planting initiative through a participatory planning process, including hosting planting events at Pulaski Academy Middle-High School.
- SUNY-Geneseo Partner — Institutional affiliation of Dr. Richard Young, independent geologist consulted for technical assessment of mining risks.
- SUNY-Oswego Partner — Collaborates on tree planting, arboretum expansion, and community engagement for the GLRI project
- SUNY-Oswego Partner — Partner in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 2025 project in Oswego, NY.
- Soil and Water Conservation Districts Partner — Collaborates with Soil and Water Conservation Districts to promote fruit and nut producing riparian buffers for water quality protection.
- St. Luke Family of Caring Partner — Partner agency involved in tree and shrub planting and community engagement in Oswego, NY
- St. Luke Family of Caring Partner — Partner in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 2025 project in Oswego, NY.
- Syracuse Cultural Workers Partner — Collaborating with ASLF on the development and implementation of a green infrastructure project on the 400 block of Lodi Street in Syracuse.
- Town of Butler Partner — Collaborates with ASLF on the restoration planning for Butler Mill Pond and Wolcott Creek.
- USDA Forest Service Government — Administers the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants that fund ASLF's tree planting projects.
- United Nations Partner — ASLF is represented to United Nations organizations by its International Program Director for collaboration on global environmental governance and sustainable development.
+ 6 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.
- Agroforestry-Integrated Urban Restorationmethodology: agroforestry_integrated_ecological_restorationBy integrating agroforestry practices such as urban food forests and riparian buffers into ecological restoration, we enhance both food security and ecosystem function because multifunctional landscapes simultaneously support biodiversity, water protection, and community engagement.
- Ecosystem-Based Management with Community Integrationmethodology: ecosystem_based_managementBy applying Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) principles that incorporate ecological, social, and scientific factors, we produce more effective and accepted restoration outcomes because community-identified priorities and ecosystem health jointly guide planning and action.
- Green Infrastructure for Water Quality and Community Resiliencemethodology: green_infrastructure_for_water_qualityBy implementing green infrastructure such as urban tree canopy and stormwater installations, we improve water quality and reduce pollution because these natural systems intercept stormwater and mitigate runoff at the source, especially when combined with community education.
- Legal-Advocacy-Integrated Ecological Restorationmethodology: legal_advocacy_for_environmental_remediationBy combining sustained legal advocacy with on-the-ground ecological restoration, we achieve lasting environmental remediation because legal action prevents harmful projects from proceeding while restoration rebuilds degraded ecosystems.
- Participatory Community-Driven Resilience Buildingmethodology: community_driven_environmental_resilienceBy engaging communities in co-developing tree planting and land use initiatives through participatory planning, we build environmental resilience because locally grounded projects have higher adoption, meet actual needs, and foster stewardship.