named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Custer Maker Space
Hands-on educational space for innovation and exploration in science and technology
Lectures and Classes
Regular educational events covering topics in astronomy, eclipses, meteor showers, and other celestial events
Music Project
Hosts concerts and musical performances under the night sky, including collaborations with ensembles like the Rites of Spring Ensemble
Radio Astronomy
Program dedicated to the study and demonstration of radio astronomy techniques and phenomena
Saturday Night Observing
Weekly public stargazing event from 7 PM to midnight featuring guided tours of the night sky through telescopes; weather permitting
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Public Astronomy & Space Science Education 3 activities
- Facility-based public resourcesMaintains a library, museum, and gift shop at its facility to support public access to educational and cultural materials related to astronomy, science, and the arts.
- Public educational and cultural programmingOrganizes frequent lectures, classes, concerts, art exhibits, and special events for the public, including music and stargazing events featuring contemporary compositions by visiting ensembles, as well as STEAM-related and humanities-based programming.
- Weekly public astronomy observing sessionsHosts weekly public observing events every Saturday evening from dusk until midnight, featuring facility tours and guided telescope viewing of the night sky using on-site instruments, including the apochromatic Zerochromat telescope in the historic dome. Volunteer-led tours focus on seasonal celestial objects and stargazing.
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 2 activities
- Provision of pro bono legal services to nonprofitsProvided more than 37,000 hours of free legal assistance and delivered over $24 million in pro bono legal value to nearly 1,000 nonprofit clients in the prior year, managing over 2,200 legal matters through a network of volunteer attorneys.
- Volunteer attorney recruitment and supportRecruited and supported 1,794 volunteer attorneys in the prior year to deliver legal services to nonprofit organizations.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Funding community education and public space improvement projectsFunds a variety of local initiatives including career exploration programs for girls, historical education and native landscape restoration at the New Suffolk Waterfront, technology lending programs at Floyd Memorial Library, STEAM curriculum development for students, culinary workforce training for high school students, and water quality outreach for watershed planning.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$125K
Contributions & grants$105K83%
Program service revenue$10K8%
Investment income——
Other revenue$46
expenses
Total expenses$98K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out$2K
balance sheet
Total assets$199K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$199K
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +55.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 4
- FARHAN ALI — DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
- JOHN LONGOLETOS — DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
- JUSTINE HAUPT — DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
- KEN WEAKLEY — DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
relationships · 24
Who they work with
- CAST Partner — Funded by Side by Side to continue and institutionalize its North Fork Culinary workforce-training program.
- Custer Institute Partner — Listed as one of Side by Side's grantees, indicating a funding relationship.
- East End Arts & Humanities Council Partner — Funded by Side by Side to collaborate on STEAM curricula development for students in Riverhead Township.
- Eastern Long Island Hospital Partner — Listed as one of Side by Side's grantees, indicating a funding relationship.
- Family Health and Wellness, Cornell Extension Partner — Listed as one of Side by Side's grantees, indicating a funding relationship.
- Floyd Memorial Library Partner — Funded by Side by Side to launch a technology lending program for up to fifty patrons.
- Group for the East End Partner — Funded by Side by Side to engage Orient residents on water quality issues and develop a watershed management plan.
- Hallockville Farm Partner — Listed as one of Side by Side's grantees, indicating a funding relationship.
- Landcraft Garden Foundation Partner — Listed as one of Side by Side's grantees, indicating a funding relationship.
- NASA Goddard Government — Referenced in connection with MODIS data processing software development.
- New Suffolk Waterfront Fund Partner — Funded by Side by Side to improve public spaces through historical education and landscape restoration in New Suffolk.
- North Fork Side by Side Partner — Community partner linked from Custer Institute website
- PayPal Partner — Processes membership and sponsorship payments through PayPal's secure platform.
- Pro Bono Partner Partner — Partner organization providing pro bono services
- Ridgewood Savings Bank Partner — Financial supporter of Custer Institute
- Sound Justice Initiative Partner — Listed as one of Side by Side's grantees, indicating a funding relationship.
- Southold Government — Located in Southold, New York, and uses a local mailing address.
- Southold Public Library Partner — Listed as one of Side by Side's grantees, indicating a funding relationship.
- Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning Government — Government affiliate linked from Custer Institute website
- Synchrony Financial Partner — Employer of Pro Bono Partnership Board Chairman and Executive VP, General Counsel & Secretary Jonathan Mothner.
- The Butterfly Effect Project Partner — Funded by Side by Side to support a program for girls ages 14-18 focused on academic and career development.
- The Harold Family Foundation Funder — Funder of Custer Institute
- The Joe & Hellen Darion Foundation Funder — Funder of Custer Institute
- The New York Community Trust Funder — Funder of Custer Institute
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.
- Community-Centered Grantmaking for Holistic Well-Beingmethodology: community_support_grantmakingBy supporting nonprofits in key sectors including arts, education, health, and environment, we enhance community well-being on Long Island's North Fork, because strengthening local organizations through targeted grantmaking compounds positive social outcomes across interconnected domains.
- Interdisciplinary Lifelong Learning for Intellectual and Community Engagementmethodology: interdisciplinary educationBy fostering interdisciplinary exploration across the arts, sciences, and humanities, we cultivate intellectual curiosity and community fellowship, because integrating diverse fields of knowledge sustains engagement and enriches public understanding.
- Volunteer-Led Community Astronomy Educationmethodology: volunteer-led public educationBy using volunteer-led public observing sessions, we make astronomy education accessible and engaging for the community, because shared passion and peer-led instruction foster deeper public interest and sustained participation in science.