named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
After-School Programming
Offers extended learning and enrichment opportunities for students across all campuses
Charter School Athletic Association Teams
Competitive sports teams for middle school students participating in league play with other NYC charter schools
Experiential Learning
Curriculum approach that includes out-of-classroom trips, guest speakers, and hands-on exploration to support academic and personal growth
Green Sustainability Program
Initiative integrating environmental stewardship and green culture into school culture and curriculum
Social-Emotional Learning
Program based on Responsive Classroom & Developmental Designs, incorporating restorative practices, advisory periods, and social-emotional support
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Website Accessibility Implementation 1 activity
- Ensure web accessibility for users with disabilitiesRegularly reviews and updates the organization’s website to comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, ensuring accessibility for users with disabilities such as blindness, low vision, deafness, hearing loss, learning disabilities, and cognitive limitations.
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High School Placement Support 1 activity
- Facilitate high school admissions and student counselingProvides dedicated school counselors at middle schools to support students through the high school admissions process, with 90% of graduating students receiving an offer from one of their top three high school choices.
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Admissions and Enrollment Support Services 1 activity
- Manage student enrollment and application processProvides a free, streamlined online application process for enrollment and offers support for enrollment and administrative inquiries, including curated resources such as forms, guides, and links.
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Charter School Operations 1 activity
- Operate charter schools for K-8 students in Queens, NYOperates four charter schools in Jamaica and Long Island City, Queens, serving over 1,500 students across elementary and middle school grades. The schools provide a full academic program with governance and oversight to support student learning and community engagement.
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Interscholastic and Inclusive School Sports Programs 1 activity
- Provide extracurricular sports programsOperates middle school sports teams that compete in the Charter School Athletic Association, offering students opportunities for athletic engagement and development.
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Universal In-School Meal Service 1 activity
- Provide student nutrition and after-school programmingOffers free breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students and runs after-school programming at all school campuses to support student development and engagement.
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Family-School Engagement Programs 1 activity
- Resolve family concerns and formal complaintsResolves family concerns through in-person meetings with School Leaders and handles formal complaints by communicating with staff, issuing written responses, and implementing recommended remedial actions.
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Special Education Support Services 1 activity
- Support student academic and language diversityProvides specialized academic and therapeutic supports for multilingual learners and students with IEPs, including ICT and SETSS classrooms, speech/language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and hearing services. Supports students who speak 25 different home languages.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$41.04M
Contributions & grants$1.42M3%
Program service revenue$39.26M96%
Investment income$349K1%
Other revenue$10K
expenses
Total expenses$43.34M
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$26.89M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$153.94M
Cash$7.01M
Investments$5.58M
Liabilities$147.93M
Net assets$6.01M
Liquid reserves3.5 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -0.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 7
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATTHEW GREENBERG | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $423K |
| NANCY WONG | DIRECTOR OF ASSESSMENT | 40 | $188K |
| ANITA AMOH | MANAGING DIRECTOR OF FINANCE | 40 | $186K |
| STEVEN VIOLA | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $185K |
| ANABEL SCHMELZ | SCHOOL LEADER | 40 | $178K |
| MAYA DENNIS | MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CURR. AND INST. | 40 | $177K |
| ONUOLUWAPO TOMI OKUYEMI | SCHOOL LEADER | 40 | $170K |
board members · 8
- ANNE LEVONEN — TREASURER
- DANIELLE WILLIAMS — BOARD MEMBER
- KELLY RUSSOTTI — SECRETARY
- KIAH HUFANE — BOARD MEMBER
- MARC GREENBERG — INTERIM BOARD CHAIR
- MARK FREIDBERG — BOARD MEMBER
- PASTOR CORWIN MASON — BOARD MEMBER
- PETER DAVIS — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- Board of Regents Government — Growing Up Green Charter Schools' authorizer, to which families may escalate complaints if unresolved by the school board.
- Charter School Athletic Association Partner — Organization in which GUG middle school sports teams compete.
- Facebook Partner — Presence maintained through official Facebook pages
- GUG I Elementary School Partner — One of four schools operated by Growing Up Green Charter Schools, located in Queens, NY.
- GUG I Middle School Partner — One of four schools operated by Growing Up Green Charter Schools, located in Long Island City, NY.
- GUG II Elementary School Partner — One of four schools operated by Growing Up Green Charter Schools, located in Jamaica, NY.
- GUG II Middle School Partner — One of four schools operated by Growing Up Green Charter Schools, located in Jamaica, NY.
- Instagram Partner — Official presence on Instagram under @growingupgreennyc
- Janna Lunetta Partner — Director of Enrollment & Data Operations who supports families with application submission.
- LinkedIn Partner — Professional presence on LinkedIn under Growing Up Green Charter Schools
- NYC Charter School Center Partner — Partner organization that provides professional development workshops and conference opportunities for GUG staff.
- New York State Education Department Government — Authorizer of Growing Up Green Charter Schools.
- New York State Education Department’s Charter School Office Government — Receives formal complaints about the school when the Board of Trustees does not adequately respond; serves as the state-level oversight body.
- Queens Government — Serves students from across the borough of Queens, New York City.
- YouTube Partner — Hosts content on YouTube channel @growingupgreen9124
- community leaders in Queens Partner — Collaborates with community leaders in Queens to support student success.
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.
- Anti-Racist, Anti-Bias Curriculum with Justice Focusmethodology: anti-racist_anti-bias_educationBy using an anti-racist, anti-bias curriculum combined with green culture and social justice advocacy, we develop students as conscious, contributing community members and future leaders, because identity-affirming and justice-oriented education fosters agency and collective responsibility.
- Experiential and Inquiry-Based Learningmethodology: experiential_learningBy using project-based and experiential learning methods, we connect academic content to real-world contexts and foster curiosity, because hands-on, inquiry-driven education deepens engagement and develops foundational knowledge and higher-level thinking.
- Family and Community Partnership Modelmethodology: family_community_partnershipBy fostering deep family engagement and community collaboration, we improve student outcomes, because sustained partnerships between schools, families, and community leaders create aligned support systems that reinforce student success.
- Green Culture and Social-Emotional Integrationmethodology: green-culture_and_ssel_integrationBy embedding green principles and social-emotional learning into daily instruction, we cultivate student self-regulation, mutual care, and environmental stewardship, because these integrated values produce conscious, contributing community members and support holistic development.
- Restorative and Responsive Classroom Practicesmethodology: restorative_practicesBy implementing restorative practices and logical consequences through Responsive Classroom & Developmental Designs, we support student growth and community cohesion, because addressing behavior through relational repair and emotional regulation strengthens school culture and individual accountability.