Governors Island Alliance Inc.
Governors Island Alliance Inc.
Want to make a donation using Daffy?
Lower your income taxes with a charitable deduction this year when you donate to this non-profit via Daffy.
Do you work for Governors Island Alliance Inc.? Learn more here.
About this organization
Mission
The Friends of Governors Island works to ensure the Island’s continued growth and accessibility as a vibrant public resource. As the designated fundraising partner of the Trust for Governors Island and the National Park Service, the Friends stewards the Island’s green spaces, enhances the visitor experience and builds a community dedicated to the Island’s future. Our core activities include running Governors Island’s visitor services and volunteer programs; raising funds to care for the park’s landscapes, expand public access, and create more free programming; and advocating to ensure Governors Island remains a shared space for all.
About
SEE SCHEDULE OTHE FRIENDS OPERATES THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS AND PRIMARY ACTIVITIES: LANDSCAPE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM TO PROVIDE HORTICULTURAL LABOR AND SUPPLIES TO SUSTAINABLY MAINTAIN GOVERNORS ISLAND'S NEW AND HISTORIC LANDSCAPES. VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS INCLUDING GARDENERS, ISLAND AMBASSADORS, TOUR GUIDES, AND EVENT SUPPORT. VISITOR SERVICES AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS. HARBOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, A PAID SUMMER WORK AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. FREE PUBLIC EVENTS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC ACCESS AND ENJOYMENT OF THE ISLAND AND PRESERVE ITS UNIQUE ASSETS.LANDSCAPE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMTHE FRIENDS FILLS A CRITICAL ROLE IN HELPING THE TRUST FOR GOVERNORS ISLAND (TGI) MEET THE RIGOROUS DEMANDS OF CARING FOR THE ISLAND'S NEW AND HISTORIC LANDSCAPES. TOGETHER THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS WORK TO BALANCE STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY. THE FRIENDS SUPPLEMENTS TGI'S LIMITED BUDGET FOR HORTICULTURE BY FUNDING GARDENERS, TOOLS, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT, AND BY LEVERAGING VOLUNTEERS TO ENSURE THE ISLAND'S GREEN SPACES REMAIN IN WORLD-CLASS CONDITION. AT THE SAME TIME, THE FRIENDS WORKS TO DOCUMENT AND COMMUNICATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW LANDSCAPES OVER TIME, SERVING AS A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT PARK CARE. TO MEET THESE GOALS, IN 2018, THE FRIENDS FUNDED A FULL-TIME MANAGER OF STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY, A FULL-TIME HORTICULTURE COORDINATOR, A FULL-TIME VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR AND FOUR SEASONAL GARDENERS, AND MARSHALLED THE RESOURCES OF OVER 2,400 VOLUNTEERS WHO CONTRIBUTED OVER 11,200 VOLUNTEER HOURS TO LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE.VISITOR SERVICES PROGRAMWITH OVER 800,000 ANNUAL VISITORS TO THE ISLAND DURING ITS 6-MONTH PUBLIC SEASON AND INCREASING PROGRAMMATIC OFFERINGS ON GOVERNORS ISLAND, THE NEED FOR VISITOR ORIENTATION AND CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTINUES TO GROW. IN 2018, THE FRIENDS SIGNIFICANTLY GREW ITS VISITOR SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE WITH THE ADDITION OF A SECOND FREE-STANDING WELCOME CENTER AT THE BROOKLYN FERRY LANDING. TOGETHER WITH THE CENTER AT THE MANHATTAN FERRY LANDING (ADDED IN 2017), THESE CENTERS SERVE AS HIGHLY VISIBLE RESOURCES WHERE VISITORS CAN PICK UP FREE GUIDES, HEAR ABOUT THE DAILY LINEUP OF SPECIAL ACTIVITIES, AND GET INFORMATION ON MEMBERSHIP AND VOLUNTEERING FROM TRAINED FRIENDS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. THE CENTERS ALSO FILL THE ISLAND'S RETAIL GAP BY SELLING OUTDOOR NECESSITIES, COLD BEVERAGES AND GOVERNORS ISLAND BRANDED MERCHANDISE. IN ADDITION TO THE NEW STRUCTURE, THE FRIENDS HIRED ITS FIRST FULL-TIME VISITOR SERVICES MANAGER IN 2018 TO OVERSEE OPERATIONS AND STRATEGY. AS A RESULT, IN 2018, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE FRIENDS OPERATED VISITOR SERVICES PROGRAMS FIVE DAYS PER WEEK, FILLING AN IMPORTANT GAP IN WEEKDAY SERVICE AND AMENITIES. IN ADDITION TO THE WELCOME CENTERS, THE FRIENDS CONTINUED TO RUN ITS FREE GUIDED TOUR PROGRAM, WHICH OFFERED DAILY TOURS OF THE ISLAND LED BY TRAINED VOLUNTEER DOCENTS. OVER 2,200 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATED IN FREE TOURS IN 2018.HARBOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAMTHE HARBOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (HIP) PROVIDES A FORMATIVE PAID PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE TO UNDERSERVED YOUTH, FOCUSED ON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. IN 2018, HIP HIRED AND TRAINED 16 STUDENTS FROM 2 PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS: THE URBAN ASSEMBLY NEW YORK HARBOR SCHOOL, A PERMANENT, YEAR-ROUND GOVERNORS ISLAND TENANT AND THE ONLY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN NEW YORK FOCUSED ON MARINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND THE URBAN ASSEMBLY SCHOOL FOR GREEN CAREERS. THROUGH THEIR INTERNSHIPS, STUDENTS WELCOMED VISITORS TO THE ISLAND, OFFERING INFORMATION, HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION. BEYOND THE SALARY THEY EARNED, THE PROGRAM GAVE STUDENTS A BROADER PERSPECTIVE ON CAREERS IN THE NONPROFIT AND PUBLIC SECTORS THROUGH EXCHANGES AND WORKSHOPS WITH OTHER CULTURAL AND OPEN SPACE ORGANIZATIONS. THE CURRICULUM EMPHASIZED SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN PUBLIC SPEAKING, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND PROBLEM SOLVING, WHILE BUILDING ON STUDENTS' EXISTING KNOWLEDGE OF GOVERNORS ISLAND AND THE NEW YORK HARBOR. IN THEIR EVALUATION SURVEYS, INTERNS REPORTED INCREASED CONFIDENCE LEVELS, IMPROVED COLLABORATIVE SKILLS, BETTER PREPAREDNESS FOR WORK AND COLLEGE, AND A DEEPER SENSE OF CIVIC COMMITMENT TO THE CITY AND THE ISLAND.FREE PUBLIC EVENTSTHE FRIENDS ORGANIZES FREE PUBLIC EVENTS, INCLUDING AN ANNUAL "FAMILY FUN DAY," WHICH ATTRACTED 6,000 VISITORS TO THE ISLAND IN 2018 FOR A DAY OF EXCITING LIVE THEATER AND MUSIC PERFORMANCES, OUTDOOR GAMES, ARTS AND CRAFTS, AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THE OTHER MAJOR EVENT OF 2018 WAS THE ANNUAL "PUMPKIN POINT," WHICH OFFERED A PATCH OF 5,000 PUMPKINS, TRICK-OR-TREATING, AND FREE FALL-THEMED ACTIVITIES TO 30,000+ DIVERSE VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE FIVE BOROUGHS.
Interesting data from their 2020 990 filing
The filing outlines the non-profit's goal as “Governors island alliance d/b/a the friends of governors island works to ensure the island's continued growth, vitality and accessibility as a vibrant public resource, and is the designated fundraising partner of the trust for governors island. working together with the trust and the national park service, the friends stewards the island's green spaces and builds its community through visitor services, volunteering, membership, and diverse, free programming.”.
When detailing its duties, they were outlined as: “Governors island alliance d/b/a the friends of governors island works to ensure the island's continued growth, vitality and accessibility as a vibrant public resource, and is the designated fundraising partner of the trust for governors island. working together with the trust and the national park service, the friends stewards the island's green spaces and builds its community through visitor services, volunteering, membership, and diverse, free programming.”.
- As per legal reporting requirements, the state of operation for the non-profit is NY.
- The non-profit's address for 2020 is listed as 10 SOUTH STREET SLIP 7, NEW YORK, NY, 10004 in the filing.
- The non-profit's form for the year 2020 reports a total of 29 employees on their payroll.
- Is not a private foundation.
- Expenses are greater than $1,000,000.
- Revenue is greater than $1,000,000.
- Revenue less expenses is -$84,205.
- The organization has 22 independent voting members.
- The organization was formed in 2013.
- The organization pays $770,778 in salary, compensation, and benefits to its employees.
- The organization pays $226,572 in fundraising expenses.
Additional Non-Profits in the area
By donating on this page you are making an irrevocable contribution to Daffy Charitable Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity, and a subsequent donation recommendation to the charity listed above, subject to our Member Agreement. Contributions are generally eligible for a charitable tax-deduction and a yearly consolidated receipt will be provided by Daffy. Processing fees may be applied and will reduce the value available to send to the end charity. The recipient organizations have not provided permission for this listing and have not reviewed the content.
Donations to organizations are distributed as soon as the donation is approved and the funds are available. In the rare event that Daffy is unable to fulfill the donation request to this charity, you will be notified and given the opportunity to choose another charity. This may occur if the charity is unresponsive or if the charity is no longer in good standing with regulatory authorities.