The St. John's Pond Watershed Alliance was incorporated as a New York not-for-profit corporation and received 501(c)(3) recognition from the IRS. It exists as a legally distinct entity from St. John's Episcopal Church, with its own board, bank account, and organizational identity.
That structural clarity matters. It allows SJPWA to receive grants, manage restricted funds, and act as a long-term stewardship vehicle for the pond — while St. John's Church remains its founding institutional partner and organizational home.
Founding Board
Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church, Cold Spring Harbor. Gideon has led the church's growing commitment to environmental stewardship of the pond and its watershed, convening the stakeholder community and shepherding SJPWA from concept to incorporated nonprofit.
A founding member of SJPWA's board, Billy brings organizational leadership and deep ties to the Cold Spring Harbor community to the Alliance's work. As President, he oversees day-to-day organizational operations and external relationships.
Joe serves as Secretary of the SJPWA board, responsible for organizational records, meeting documentation, and ensuring that the Alliance's governance practices meet the standards expected of a public-benefit nonprofit.
Jon serves as Treasurer Pro Tempore, overseeing SJPWA's financial accounts, grant fund management, and fiscal reporting. His stewardship ensures that donor gifts are managed with full transparency and directed to their intended purpose.
Jaclyn brings significant leadership experience in strategy and organizational transformation to the SJPWA board. She and her family are parishioners at St. John's and committed members of the Cold Spring Harbor community.
SJPWA operates as a legally independent organization, but it exists in close, intentional relationship with St. John's Episcopal Church — the institution that has stewarded the pond for generations and that provided the founding energy, community relationships, and financial support that made SJPWA possible.
The church is SJPWA's founding institutional partner. Board membership overlaps by design. The pond sits on church property. That relationship is a source of strength — not ambiguity.
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All funds are managed through a dedicated account with full board oversight. Donor gifts are tracked, reported, and directed to the purposes for which they were given. Annual financial reporting is maintained in accordance with 501(c)(3) requirements.
Every restoration decision is grounded in the work of GEI Consultants — our limnologists and ecologists — and Verdantas, the civil engineers leading dam and weir repair. We share our scientific and engineering findings openly through community reports and the still life newsletter, showing rigor without exhaustion.
SJPWA's work is shaped by a broad stakeholder group that includes state and local agencies, conservation organizations, and the Cold Spring Harbor community. We report back to those who invest in this work — in time, money, and trust.
Your gift to SJPWA is managed by a dedicated board accountable to you, to the community, and to the pond.
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