Concerned Citizens of Montauk

What Concerned Citizens of Montauk does

Concerned Citizens of Montauk (CCOM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental advocacy organization founded in 1970 and headquartered in Montauk, New York, at the eastern tip of Long Island. Its mission is to preserve Montauk's unique environment through land preservation, water quality protection, coastal resiliency planning, and environmental education. The organization has helped preserve over 70% of Montauk's land since inception, including key acquisitions such as Theodore Roosevelt County Park (1975) and Camp Hero (1983), and was instrumental in creating the Community Preservation Fund (CPF) in 1998, a 2% real estate transfer tax that structurally funds land banking in East Hampton.

CCOM's core programmatic offerings include a year-round water quality monitoring program covering 23 bodies of water in Montauk — comprising enterococcus bacteria testing conducted in partnership with the Surfrider Foundation's Blue Water Task Force (since 2013) and harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring via Dr. Christopher Gobler's lab at Stony Brook Southampton (since May 2018) — as well as microbial source tracking with the U.S. Geological Survey (since 2018). Beyond monitoring, CCOM runs active remediation projects such as ~3,000 sq. ft. of floating wetlands in Fort Pond (partnering with Beemats since 2021) and a shellfish nursery/oyster reef deployment in Lake Montauk. Community-facing programs include the Clean Water Steward pledge, septic upgrade application assistance (helping homeowners access grants up to $55,000), monthly educational webinars, quarterly newsletters, beach cleanups, and the annual Summer Soirée fundraiser hosted by Gurney's Montauk.

CCOM is funded through three primary streams: private donations and a Sustainer program with 3-year pledges, grants from government programs and foundations — including a $323,000 NFWF award in July 2026 — and annual fundraising events. It operates with a very lean staff (3 employees) supplemented by an active volunteer board of directors, with day-to-day operations led by Executive Director Kay Tyler (appointed December 2023) and governance led by Board President Jessica James (elected 2025).

Name

Concerned Citizens of Montauk

Legal name

Concerned Citizens of Montauk, Inc.

Website

https://preservemontauk.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Concerned Citizens of Montauk is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization founded in 1970 that protects Montauk, New York through water quality monitoring, land preservation, coastal resiliency planning, and environmental education, serving residents, property owners, and visitors of the community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Advocacy

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK), Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Environmental advocacy
• Water quality monitoring
• Land preservation
• Coastal resiliency
• Nonprofit conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Montauk

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: CCOM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies primarily on private donations from individuals, community members, and supporters. The organization runs a Sustainer program with 3-year pledges and accepts one-time donations. Most funding comes from private citizens.
2. Annual Events: CCOM hosts an annual Summer Soirée at Gurney's Montauk which serves as a major fundraising event. Gurney's donates the entire event so all proceeds go directly to CCOM's environmental programming.
3. Grants: The organization receives grants from various sources including government programs, foundations, and environmental organizations to support specific projects like water quality improvement, coastal resiliency, and floating wetlands installation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Concerned Citizens of Montauk is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental advocacy organization that protects Montauk's land, water, and coastal environment through water quality monitoring (bacteria and HAB testing), land preservation advocacy, coastal resiliency planning, environmental education, and citizen science programs. The organization engages residents, property owners, and visitors via community events, webinars, and the Clean Water Steward pledge, and advocates for policy changes related to water quality, septic upgrades, and sustainable development in East Hampton Town.

Product overview

Concerned Citizens of Montauk (CCOM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization founded in 1970 that does not offer commercial technology products. Instead, CCOM provides environmental programs and services centered on three core initiative areas: Water Quality, Coastal Resiliency, and Environmental Sustainability. The organization's primary offerings include water quality monitoring/testing programs, the Clean Water Steward community pledge program, septic improvement application assistance, coastal resiliency planning advocacy, and educational resources including webinars, newsletters, and trail guides. These programs work together to preserve and protect Montauk's unique environment through education, advocacy, and grassroots citizen action.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Quality Monitoring Program Year-round water sampling and bacterial analysis across 23 bodies of water in Montauk, including enterococcus bacteria testing in partnership with Surfrider Foundation's Blue Water Task Force and harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring with Stony Brook Southampton's Gobler Laboratory.
• Clean Water Steward Program Community engagement program inviting residents to pledge 10 practices for clean water, including septic upgrades, organic fertilizer use, native plantings, and stormwater reduction measures. Participants receive yard signs and ongoing support.
• Septic Improvement Application Assistance Assistance program guiding homeowners through Suffolk County and Town of East Hampton septic upgrade programs, helping access grant funding up to $55,000 for nitrogen-reducing system installations.
• Coastal Resiliency Planning Advocacy and planning support for coastal protection measures including beach nourishment, managed retreat strategies, and the Fire Island to Montauk Point (FIMP) beach replenishment project.
• Community Events and Beach Cleanups Annual events including the Great Montauk Cleanup, Summer Soirée fundraising gala at Gurney's Montauk, and Lindley-Morrison Signature Walks series celebrating Montauk's natural spaces.
• Webinar Series Monthly educational presentations covering topics like coastal resiliency, toxic algae, septic upgrades, renewable energy, and shellfish restoration, hosted via Vimeo video platform.
• Fort Pond Floating Wetlands Remediation project deploying ~3,000 sq. ft. of seasonal floating wetlands with 7,200 native plants in Fort Pond to uptake excess nitrogen and phosphorus and combat harmful algal blooms.
• Eelgrass Monitoring Program Citizen science initiative in partnership with Peconic Estuary Partnership to monitor eelgrass (Zostera marina) populations in Lake Montauk, contributing to regional conservation efforts.
• Newsletters and Publications Quarterly newsletters and special topical publications including the 'Science Explained' educational series on water quality reports, distributed via email and archived online.
• Wastewater Management Advocacy Policy advocacy and scientific analysis on Montauk's wastewater challenges, including commissioned studies from Dr. Christopher Gobler on centralized vs. decentralized treatment approaches.

Quantifiable outcome

• Preserved over 70% of Montauk's land
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Beemats Floating WetlandsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021CCOM partnered with Florida-based Beemats Floating Wetlands to install floating wetlands in Fort Pond. The project involved ~3,000 sq. ft. of seasonal and reusable floating wetlands with 7,200 native plants to uptake excess nitrogen and phosphorus.
• Gobler Laboratory at Stony Brook SouthamptoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2018CCOM partnered with Dr. Christopher Gobler's laboratory in May 2018 for harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring in Fort Pond. Weekly samples are taken by CCOM and analyzed by the Gobler Lab from May through October annually. The partnership expanded to include wastewater studies and Fort Pond scientific studies.
• Gurney's Montauk Yacht ClubmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018In 2018, CCOM partnered with Gurney's Montauk Yacht Club and Cornell Cooperative Extension to bring a shellfish nursery to Lake Montauk. Gurney's continues to host CCOM's annual Summer Soirée, donating the entire event so all proceeds go to CCOM's environmental programming.
• United States Geological Survey (USGS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018CCOM partnered with USGS to conduct microbial source tracking in Lake Montauk to identify sources of pollutants. USGS uses advanced scientific analysis to track the sources and significance of pollutants including nitrogen entering Lake Montauk.
• Surfrider Foundation - Blue Water Task ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013CCOM joined Surfrider Foundation's Blue Water Task Force in 2013 to start testing enterococcus bacteria levels in Montauk's waters. This partnership provides broader outreach and greater environmental and public health impact through shared data and resources.
• Town of East HamptoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCOM works extensively with the Town of East Hampton on multiple initiatives including the Community Preservation Fund Water Quality Improvement Program, septic improvement programs, coastal resiliency planning, and water testing expansion throughout East Hampton Town.
• Suffolk CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Suffolk County's Reclaim Our Water program and Septic Improvement Program providing grant funding up to $30,000 ($20,000 from County plus $10,000 from NY State) for septic system upgrades.
• Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCOM partners with Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program for shellfish nursery installation in Lake Montauk, oyster reef deployment, and floating wetlands projects for water quality remediation.
• Peconic Estuary PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCOM partners with Peconic Estuary Partnership for annual citizen science eelgrass monitoring at Lake Montauk Inlet. Peconic Estuary Partnership supports CCOM's work through the Homeowner Rewards Program offering up to $500 for green infrastructure projects.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Surfrider Foundation: National nonprofit focused on beach access, water quality, and coastal protection. CCOM is a chapter partner through the Blue Water Task Force, running enterococcus testing under the same program framework with shared data infrastructure.
• Group for the East End: Eastern Long Island-based environmental advocacy nonprofit covering the South Fork. Operates with a similar community-led, multi-issue mission (land preservation, water quality, sustainability) and overlapping geographic scope with CCOM in East Hampton Town.
• Peconic Estuary Partnership: National Estuary Program covering the Peconic Estuary on Eastern Long Island. Direct programmatic partner with CCOM on eelgrass monitoring and the Homeowner Rewards green infrastructure program.
• Citizens Campaign for the Environment: New York-based environmental advocacy nonprofit focused on water quality, open space preservation, and policy campaigns. Operates a similar grassroots advocacy model with comparable scale and overlapping program areas.

Broad incumbents

• Riverkeeper: Established New York-based water quality advocacy nonprofit with significantly larger scope and resources. Addresses similar water quality and pollution issues but across the Hudson Valley and NYC waterways.
• The Nature Conservancy (New York): Global conservation organization with a strong New York chapter working on Long Island land preservation, marine conservation, and climate resilience. Overlaps with CCOM on land preservation and coastal resiliency priorities.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on land conservation and park creation. Works on land banking and preservation deals similar to those CCOM helped enable through the Community Preservation Fund on Long Island.
• Audubon New York: State chapter of the National Audubon Society focused on bird habitat and broader conservation. Engages in coastal resiliency, land preservation, and water quality advocacy with overlapping constituencies on Long Island.

Regional players

• Long Island Pine Barrens Society: Long Island-focused land preservation nonprofit protecting the Pine Barrens ecosystem. Similar small-staff, community-led advocacy model focused on a specific Long Island geography and land conservation mission.
• Save the Sound: Regional nonprofit focused on Long Island Sound water quality and ecosystem health. Shares CCOM's water quality mission and citizen science approach but operates in a different (CT/Long Island Sound) watershed.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/preservemontauk
• Facebookfacebook.com/concernedcitizensofmontauk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/concerned-citizens-of-montauk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Concerned Citizens of Montauk