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Friends Of The Great Swamp Inc
Pawling, NY · EIN 161526251 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE C32 · Environment · Micro (<$100K) · frogs-ny.org
revenue
$76K
expenses
$55K
net assets
$997K
employees
0
program ratio
77%
mission · from form 990

Awareness and education about protecting wetlands.

profile · synthesized from sources

Friends Of The Great Swamp Inc (FrOGS) is a volunteer-driven nonprofit founded in 1990 to preserve and protect the Great Swamp watershed in Putnam and Dutchess Counties, NY. The organization advances its mission through citizen-led research, environmental education programs, and conservation partnerships. FrOGS focuses on water quality monitoring, wildlife surveys, land protection, and public outreach to safeguard wetland ecosystems and promote responsible stewardship.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $0
    ASSIST PUTNAM COUNTY LAND TRUST WITH SEARCH OF WET LAND PROPERTY WITH "HEART OF GREAT SWAMP" PROGRAM
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Annual Canoe Trips
Educational paddling events introducing participants to the ecology of the Great Swamp and fostering public engagement in conservation.
Great Swamp Quilt
Art and education project highlighting twelve native species of the swamp through a quilt and coloring book, used to teach about local biodiversity.
Swamp Smart
Collaborative public education initiative promoting awareness and stewardship of the Great Swamp, providing practical guidance on protecting the watershed.
Turtle Tracking
Radio telemetry and conservation efforts for wood, bog, and box turtles, including nest protection and infrastructure improvements like turtle ramps on rail lines.
Water Quality Testing
Annual volunteer-led program collecting water samples from tributaries and rivers in the Great Swamp watershed to monitor water quality and track changes over time.
Wildlife Surveys
Citizen science initiatives including bird counts, mammal tracking, and species monitoring for leopard frogs, New England cottontails, and Northern Metalmark butterflies.
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 2 activities
    • Collaborate on watershed conservation strategy development
      Partnered with the Nature Conservancy on scientific studies that led to the publication of The Great Swamp: A Watershed Conservation Strategy in 1999.
    • Support partner land trusts in wetland property assessment
      Assisted the Putnam County Land Trust in evaluating wetland properties through the "Heart of Great Swamp" program.
  • Wildlife Monitoring and Field Research 2 activities
    • Implement scientific and educational conservation projects
      Carries out scientific and educational initiatives focused on the conservation of the Great Swamp ecosystem, including public engagement and species monitoring.
    • Monitor turtle populations and protect nesting sites
      Tracks wood, bog, and box turtles using radio telemetry; develops and deploys predator excluders and turtle ramps to protect nesting areas; operates an 'Adopt a Turtle' program to engage the public in conservation efforts.
  • Lake and Watershed Monitoring & Assessment 1 activity
    • Conduct scientific research on water quality and wildlife in the Great Swamp
      Performs annual water quality testing by collecting samples from tributaries and rivers in the watershed; conducts wildlife surveys including bird counts, mammal tracking, and species documentation for rare species such as Rana kaufeldi, New England Cottontail, and Northern Metalmark butterfly.
  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Host annual Great Swamp Art Exhibit
      Organizes and hosts an annual art exhibit celebrating the Great Swamp through visual art.
  • Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
    • Host annual Great Swamp Celebration and family-friendly events
      Organizes a recurring weekend event celebrating the Great Swamp with family-friendly activities, known as the Annual Great Swamp Celebration.
  • Beach and Waterway Cleanup Initiatives 1 activity
    • Organize and conduct annual Great Swamp Cleanup Day
      Coordinates volunteer efforts to remove garbage from the Great Swamp, including the removal of 25,000 pounds of waste in a documented cleanup effort.
  • Guided Outdoor Expedition Programs 1 activity
    • Organize recreational canoe trips in the Great Swamp
      Plans and leads canoe trips in the Great Swamp for members and participants as part of its recreational and educational programming.
  • Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
    • Provide public education on ecological and recreational value of the Great Swamp
      Conducts ongoing public education about the Great Swamp’s role in water storage, flood prevention, habitat protection, and recreational use; maintains online resources documenting thousands of species of birds, plants, trees, and animals.
  • Environmental Conservation Grantmaking 1 activity
    • Secure grants for land acquisition in the Great Swamp watershed
      Obtained NAWCA grants to purchase properties within the Great Swamp watershed for conservation purposes.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Feature and share volunteer-submitted photographs of the Great Swamp
      Reposts and displays photographs submitted by volunteers and photographers on its website and social media platforms, including Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook, with credit to the creators.
    • Produce educational and promotional videos about the Great Swamp
      Produces videos highlighting the Great Swamp and related conservation work, including a 2016 video about the organization’s activities and a 2010 video featuring turtle researcher Michael Musnick.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$76K
Contributions & grants$69K90%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$7K9%
Other revenue$655
expenses
Total expenses$55K
Program expenses77%
Admin / overhead23%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$2K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$997K
Cash$306K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$997K
Liquid reserves67.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +3.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 12
  • Astri Teal — Director
  • Jenny Pirc — Director
  • Jim Utter — Director
  • Judy Kelley-Moberg — Director
  • Julie Toscano — Treasurer
  • Kathryn Jaliman — Director
  • Ken Luhman — Chair
  • Kirk Edleman — Director
  • Laurie Wallace — Director
  • Paul Andrews — Vice Chair
  • Ron Pascale — Director
  • Sharon Nakazato — Director
relationships · 28

Who they work with

  • Audubon Network — Designated the Great Swamp as an Important Bird Area.
  • Audubon New York Partner — Partner on NAWCA-funded land conservation and habitat protection efforts.
  • Bedford Audubon Society Partner — Partner on NAWCA grant projects and other conservation initiatives in the watershed.
  • Christ Church on Quaker Hill Partner — Host venue for the annual Celebration of the Great Swamp event.
  • Diana Lee Partner — Photographer who provided images for use on the Friends of the Great Swamp website.
  • Don Turner Partner — Photographer who provided images for use on the Friends of the Great Swamp website.
  • Fish and Wildlife Foundation Partner — Partner on conservation projects including habitat and species protection in the Great Swamp.
  • Highlands Coalition Coalition — Member organization collaborating on regional conservation goals for the Highlands region.
  • Justin Goodhart Partner — Photographer who provided images for use on the Friends of the Great Swamp website.
  • NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Government — Partner on conservation and land-use planning projects in the Great Swamp watershed.
  • New York City DEP Partner — Partner on NAWCA grant projects related to watershed protection and water resource management.
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Cited the Great Swamp in a 2009 report for its unique habitat and diverse wildlife and designated it a Class I wetland.
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Partner — Collaborated on NAWCA grant projects for land acquisition in the Great Swamp watershed.
  • Oblong Land Conservancy Partner — Partner on NAWCA grants, H2H initiative, and Swamp Smart Initiative for regional conservation efforts.
  • Open Space Institute Partner — Partner on NAWCA grant projects for land acquisition and conservation in the watershed.
  • Parker/Hodges Productions Inc. Partner — Collaborated on the production of a video about the Gordon Douglas Nature Reserve.
  • Putnam County Land Trust Partner — Collaborated on wetland property search through the "Heart of Great Swamp" program.
  • Putnam County Land Trust Partner — Partner on NAWCA grants, H2H initiative, and Swamp Smart Initiative for land conservation and stewardship.
  • SUNY-Purchase College Partner — Partner on NAWCA grant projects and collaborative conservation research.
  • Science Friday Partner — Partnered on the production of a video about the Great Swamp.
  • Sharon Mammoser Partner — Photographer who provided images for use on the Friends of the Great Swamp website.
  • The Nature Conservancy Partner — Collaborated with Friends of the Great Swamp on scientific studies and publication of a watershed conservation strategy.
  • The Nature Conservancy Partner — Partner on NAWCA grant-funded land acquisition projects in the Great Swamp watershed.
  • Trout Unlimited Partner — Partner on NAWCA grant initiatives focused on watershed protection and habitat conservation.
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Government — Recognized the Great Swamp as a Priority Wetland and an “Important, Scarce, and Vulnerable” Wetland.
  • US Fish and Wildlife Service Government — Partnered on multiple conservation projects, including habitat protection and species monitoring.
  • USDA Forest Service Government — Designated the Great Swamp as a Highlands Conservation Focal Area.
  • Wildlife Conservation Society Partner — Collaborated on conservation and species research initiatives in the Great Swamp.
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.

  • Community Engagement Through Participatory Activities
    methodology: community-engagement-through-events
    By involving the public in hands-on events, photography, and outreach, the organization strengthens conservation outcomes, because participatory experiences build emotional connection and sustained civic involvement in protecting the Great Swamp.
  • Ecology-Based Education Fosters Stewardship
    methodology: ecology-based education
    By promoting discovery and awareness of biodiversity through education, the organization cultivates ecological stewardship, because personal engagement with nature leads to lasting conservation values and community support.
  • Integrated Research, Education, and Conservation
    methodology: integrated-conservation
    By combining research, education, and on-the-ground conservation efforts, the organization produces more effective and sustainable protection of the Great Swamp ecosystem, because this multi-pronged approach ensures informed action, public support, and adaptive management.
  • Land Acquisition as Permanent Protection
    methodology: land-acquisition-for-conservation
    By acquiring land within the Great Swamp watershed, the organization prevents development and ensures long-term ecological conservation, because ownership eliminates external threats and secures habitat and hydrological functions indefinitely.
  • Proactive, Hands-On Conservation Response
    methodology: proactive-conservation
    By taking direct and immediate action in response to conservation threats, the organization effectively mitigates development pressures, because rapid intervention preserves critical habitats and hydrological functions before irreversible damage occurs.