Give the gift of community water stewardship - now and in the future
Donate
At CSI, we depend on the generosity and dedication of the individuals who support our mission. In 2023, the Community Science Institute partnered with over 250 community-based volunteers who together collected over 5,900 water quality data items. CSI staff also engaged in over a dozen outreach and education activities
in the Finger Lakes region. By becoming a member of CSI in our 2024 Annual Membership Drive, you will be
contributing to our mission of partnering with communities to protect water. We accomplish this mission
through the following campaigns (which you can now contribute to individually):
Stream and Lake Monitoring
Profiling nutrient loading and monitoring pathogenic bacteria in streams and Cayuga Lake. Through these monitoring efforts, we identify potential dangers to swimmers, boaters, and aquatic ecosystems. You can now “Adopt A Stream” in Seneca, Cayuga, or Tompkins County by contributing to these campaigns! The beautiful Great Gully Creek is pictured above.
Community Outreach and Education
Raising the next generation of water stewards through community outreach and education. In addition to kids’ programming, we hold periodic Water and Community Events and publish frequent educational materials to connect with community members of all ages.
Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring
Monitoring Cayuga Lake Harmful Algal Bloom frequency, location, composition, density, and toxicity so that we may better understand patterns of HABs on Cayuga Lake. The results of this program are published in near real-time on our HABs database to help families and municipalities make informed decisions about water recreation!
Biological Monitoring
Assessing long-term ecosystem health by analyzing which benthic macroinvertebrates (“stream bugs”) can make their home in streams within the Cayuga Lake Watershed.
You can support CSI with a one-time donation, by becoming a new member, or by renewing your membership today. Or, you can purchase attire from our online store! Donations can be made online or by mailing your contribution to the Community Science Institute at the address listed at the bottom of the page. CSI is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Become a Member Today
Become a member at one of the annual contribution levels listed below. All members receive a subscription to our Water Bulletin Newsletter and our Annual Report as well as an invitation to our Annual Volunteer Symposium, and receive a 15% discount on one certified water test performed at CSI’s lab during their membership year!
To donate by mail, please send your donations to the Community Science Institute at the address below:
Community Science Institute
95 Brown Rd./ STE 1044
Ithaca, NY 14850
“We all need to know what’s happening in our environment if we expect to leave a healthy environment to our kids & grandkids.”
– Diane Florini, Biological Monitoring Volunteer
Purchase Community Science Institute attire!
Help spread the word about our organization by wearing a CSI T-shirt or sweatshirt! Shirts and sweatshirts come in multiple sizes and colors.
Our custom apparel was designed by Aleah Young. Thanks, Aleah!
Make a One-time Donation
Give the lasting gift of community water stewardship and protection. Your gift today will ensure that we can further our mission to partner with communities to protect water. Your gift will support our existing programs – such as the Cayuga Lake Harmful Algal Bloom (HABs) Monitoring Program – and will fund new initiatives to shed light on the Finger Lakes’ most pressing water quality issues.
“This is my community and water is life. If I want to live well in my community, I need to know that the water is being guarded.”
– Roberta Healey, Red Flag Volunteer monitoring Fly Meadow Creek
