named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Initiative
Advocacy and policy effort to reduce road salt application in the Adirondack Park through task force recommendations, pilot programs, and public awareness.
Clarence Petty Internship Program
Supports undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in environmental fields through hands-on experience in conservation and policy work within the Adirondack Park.
Next Gen Council
Engages young professionals in advocacy, education, and recreation to build a community of future Adirondack Park stewards.
Prevention of Aquatic Invasive Species Spread
Collaborative advocacy for laws requiring boaters to clean, drain, and dry watercraft to prevent the spread of invasive species in New York waters.
Survey of Climate and Adirondack Lake Ecosystems (SCALE)
Multi-year scientific initiative to study the impacts of climate change on freshwater lakes in the Adirondacks and inform future protection strategies.
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Local Land Conservation Advocacy 3 activities
- Advocacy for protection of Adirondack Park’s ecological integrityWorks to ensure the ecological integrity and wild character of New York's six-million-acre Adirondack Park through legal, policy, and public advocacy efforts, including defending constitutional "Forever Wild" protections and opposing legislative threats.
- Advocacy for sustainable land use and working landscapesPromotes sustainable practices on working forests and farms to preserve large tracts of privately held land in the Adirondack Park, including efforts to retain at least 5,000 acres of working farmland in the region.
- Development and promotion of long-range conservation strategiesDeveloped and advanced long-term conservation plans such as the 2020 Vision series and VISION 2050, aiming to expand the Adirondack Forest Preserve and guide future land protection and management through stakeholder engagement.
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Environmental Policy Advocacy & Litigation 2 activities
- Advocacy for clean water and wastewater infrastructure improvementsAdvocates for policies and funding to protect water quality in Adirondack lakes, rivers, and streams, including supporting over $170 million in state clean water grants and low-interest loans for wastewater infrastructure improvements in Adirondack communities.
- Reduction of road salt pollution through policy and practiceAdvocates for reduced winter road salt use, including drafting and advancing the Randy Preston Road Salt Reduction Act, promoting statewide standards for winter road maintenance, and collaborating with partners to reduce chloride pollution while maintaining road safety.
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Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 1 activity
- Capacity building for environmental stewardship and clean water initiativesProvides technical assistance to lake associations, local governments, and nonprofits to support clean water initiatives and co-hosts conferences on road salt reduction to build regional capacity.
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Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Engagement of young adults in park stewardshipOrganizes advocacy, education, recreation, and community connection opportunities to engage young adults in the stewardship of the Adirondack Park.
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Agricultural Grantmaking and Funding Programs 1 activity
- Funding support for Adirondack farm resilienceProvides micro-grants to farmers and value-added business owners to support farm resilience in the Adirondacks.
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Nonprofit Internship Programs 1 activity
- Internship and career development programs for environmental professionalsOffers the Clarence Petty Internship Program, established in 2002, which has supported over 80 students pursuing careers in environmental non-profits and government agencies.
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Lake and Watershed Monitoring & Assessment 1 activity
- Prevention of aquatic invasive species spreadSupports comprehensive prelaunch boat-inspection programs and advocated for the passage of New York State’s Aquatic Invasive Species Transport Law to prevent the spread of invasive species in Adirondack waters.
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Community Environmental Monitoring and Research 1 activity
- Research on environmental threats and climate impactsConducts and supports scientific research on environmental challenges, including publishing reports on road salt impacts and wastewater infrastructure, and co-creating the SCALE study to monitor climate change effects on Adirondack lakes.
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Youth Outdoor & Conservation Education Scholarships 1 activity
- Support for urban youth environmental education and career accessSecured state funding for the Timbuctoo Institute to connect urban students with environmental careers in the Adirondacks, contributing to $9.2 million in support over five years.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Advocacy and coalition mobilization on key environmental issuesConvenes partners and mobilizes public support on critical issues, including over 1,400 public comments on the proposed Lewis artillery range and over 500 supporters advocating for science-based High Peaks Wilderness management.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.10M
Contributions & grants$2.37M77%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$712K23%
Other revenue$12K
expenses
Total expenses$2.76M
Program expenses76%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$1.90M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$11.72M
Cash$1.50M
Investments$8.58M
Liabilities$454K
Net assets$11.26M
Liquid reserves43.8 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +33.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 5
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAUL AGUIRRE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $214K |
| KEVIN CHLAD | DEPUTY DIRECTOR | 40 | $144K |
| JOHN SHEEHAN | COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR | 40 | $130K |
| ELAINE BURKE | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS | 40 | $127K |
| AARON MAIR | FOREVER ADIRONDACKS CAMPAI | 40 | $109K |
board members · 20
- ANDREW S BRADY — DIRECTOR
- ANN E CARMEL — DIRECTOR
- DANIEL J RYTERBAND — DIRECTOR
- DAVID E BRONSTON — DIRECTOR
- DIANE W FISH - INCOMING — CHAIR
- DOUGLAS SCHULTZ — TREASURER
- ELLEN PERCY KRALY PHD — DIRECTOR
- ERIC W LAWSON — DIRECTOR
- ETHAN WINTER — SECRETARY
- ETIENNE BOILLOT — DIRECTOR
- JEROME PAGE — DIRECTOR
- JOHN RESCHOVSKY — DIRECTOR
- JUSTIN POTTER — DIRECTOR
- KAREN MINTZER — DIRECTOR
- KAREN SAMMON — DIRECTOR
- KATE RUSSELL — DIRECTOR
- KURT ABRAHAMSON — DIRECTOR
- LAUREL SKARBINSKI — VICE CHAIR
- MARTHA MACGREGOR — DIRECTOR
- MARY BIJUR — DIRECTOR
relationships · 29
Who they work with
- Adirondack Common Ground Alliance Partner — Co-founded and collaborates with the Adirondack Common Ground Alliance to advance shared conservation goals in the Adirondack Park.
- Adirondack Land Trust Partner — Shared focus on land conservation in the Adirondacks with overlapping professional engagement.
- Adirondack Park Agency Government — Mobilized public participation leading to APA’s first adjudicatory hearing in 15 years on a major land-use proposal.
- Adirondack Watershed Institute Partner — Collaborated to draft and advance the Randy Preston Road Salt Reduction Act.
- AdkAction Partner — Partnered to host road salt reduction conferences and advance road salt reduction methods.
- Ausable River Association Partner — Collaborated to draft and advance the Randy Preston Road Salt Reduction Act.
- Clarence Petty Partner — Names and operates the Clarence Petty Internship Program in honor of Clarence Petty, indicating a legacy partnership or recognition of his contributions.
- Defenders of Wildlife Partner — Shared policy advocacy focus; a Next Gen Council member works in government relations at this organization.
- Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Engaged with DEC on High Peaks visitor management and deer management policy, providing technical analysis and advocacy input.
- Essex Farm Institute Partner — Operates the Essex Farm Institute as a program of the Adirondack Council.
- Lake George Association Partner — Collaborated to draft and advance the Randy Preston Road Salt Reduction Act.
- Lake George Land Conservancy Partner — Collaborates through shared staff involvement; members of the Next Gen Council hold roles at both organizations.
- Mohawk Nation Government — Honors the Mohawk as original stewards of the Adirondack Park lands.
- NASA Partner — Participated in NASA’s Earth to Sky Climate Communications program to strengthen climate science communication capacity in Adirondack communities.
- New York State Government — Engages with state-level planning and policy, including around open space conservation and land management.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Collaborates on tracking and reporting of Harmful Algal Blooms in New York State.
- Olympic Regional Development Authority Partner — Collaborated to support constitutional amendment allowing ORDA to maintain recreational infrastructure while adding 2,500 acres of Forest Preserve land to the Adirondack Park.
- Oneida Nation Government — Recognizes the Oneida as original stewards of the Adirondack Park lands.
- Paul Smith's College Partner — Hosted road salt reduction conferences with the Adirondack Council and AdkAction.
- State of New York Government — Primary source of clean water grants and low-interest loans secured for local municipalities.
- Timbuctoo Institute Partner — Partnered to secure funding and expand programming connecting urban students with Adirondack conservation and environmental career pathways.
- Youth Climate Program at The Wild Center Partner — Engages youth in climate education and action; a former Next Gen Council member interned with this program.
- experts Partner — Collaborates with experts in developing long-range conservation strategies such as VISION 2050.
- lake associations Partner — Collaborates with lake associations to build capacity, provide technical assistance, and advocate for funding.
- lake associations Partner — Partners with lake associations on education, outreach, and advocacy to mitigate Harmful Algal Blooms.
- local counties Partner — Collaborates with local counties on septic system replacement initiatives and HAB mitigation programs.
- local governments Partner — Works with local governments on wastewater projects, septic systems, and securing clean water grants.
- nonprofits Partner — Partners with nonprofit organizations to support clean water initiatives and build regional capacity.
- stakeholders Partner — Engages stakeholders in shaping long-term conservation and community development strategies for the Adirondack Park.
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.
- Collaborative, Stakeholder-Informed Conservation Planningmethodology: collaborative_problem_solvingBy engaging diverse stakeholders through active listening, consensus-building, and capacity partnerships, the organization advances durable conservation outcomes, because locally led, collaboratively developed solutions increase buy-in, equity, and long-term stewardship.
- Science-Based Advocacy for Policy Changemethodology: science_based_advocacyBy grounding advocacy in scientific research, legal frameworks, and political insight, the organization produces informed public opinion and effective environmental policy, because evidence-based arguments are more likely to influence policymakers and build public credibility.
- Systemic Policy Reform Through Long-Term Advocacymethodology: systemic_policy_reformBy pursuing long-range planning and sustained advocacy campaigns targeting systemic issues like road salt pollution and wastewater infrastructure, the organization achieves large-scale environmental protection, because incremental fixes fail without enforceable, Park-wide policies driven by persistent civic engagement.