Fippoa / The Pines Foundation

What Fippoa / The Pines Foundation does

FIPPOA (Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association, Inc.) is a New York-incorporated 501(c)(4) non-profit property owners' association founded in 1953 to govern and provide community services for the Fire Island Pines, a barrier-island LGBTQ+ beachfront community located within Fire Island National Seashore in Suffolk County, NY. The organization, together with its 501(c)(3) affiliate The Pines Foundation, delivers a portfolio of community infrastructure and services that includes the Pines Marina and harbor, a subsidized US Post Office, the Whyte Hall community/event venue (300+ events per season), the volunteer-operated Mobility Access Cart (600+ trips per season), a community pest control program, and the Seashore Defense Fund for beach preservation. FIPPOA is governed by a Board of Directors (reduced from 20 to 15 in June 2024) elected by property-owner members, with daily operations supported by 11-50 staff and an extensive volunteer base.

Revenue is generated through five streams: annual property-owner membership dues (Board-set, calendar-year basis), tax-deductible donations to The Pines Foundation across multiple designated funds (Mobility Cart, Pest Control, Seashore Defense, Whyte Hall, Pines Party, Brockman Grants, Unrestricted), Pines Party event proceeds (over $4.8 million raised cumulatively over 25 years, including $1.3M+ donated to Stonewall Community Foundation), marina slip and service fees, and Whyte Hall venue rentals. Key annual signature events include Pines Party (3,000+ participants, late July) and Invasion of the Pines (July 4th drag-queen tradition dating to 1976). The organization operates with no proprietary technology stack, relying on Squarespace, NeonCRM, Constant Contact, and SharePoint; island-wide Verizon FiOS broadband was completed in Spring 2022 following Internet Task Force advocacy.

Name

Fippoa / The Pines Foundation

Legal name

Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association, Inc.

Website

https://fippoa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FIPPOA and The Pines Foundation are a non-profit property owners' association and affiliated 501(c)(3) that govern the Fire Island Pines LGBTQ+ beachfront community, providing marina, postal, transit, pest control, and event services funded by member dues, donations, and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Association Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), Forestry (800)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAB

Community Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGAGAD

Forestry & Reforestation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAKAM

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

Keywords

• Property owners association
• Community association management
• Marina harbor services
• Community event fundraising
• Membership dues services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sayville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Owner Assessments and Dues: FIPPOA (501(c)(4)) generates revenue through annual membership dues paid by regular and associate members. Regular members are property owners or their spouses/domestic partners; associate members are non-owning residents. Dues are calendar year-based, payable in January, with amounts determined annually by the Board.
2. Pines Party Fundraising Events: The Pines Foundation's major annual fundraising event in late July. Over 25-year history, Pines Party has raised over $4.8 million for community beneficiaries. A significant portion ($1.3+ million) has been donated to Stonewall Community Foundation to support LGBTQ+ nonprofits in the NYC area.
3. Donations to The Pines Foundation: The Pines Foundation (501(c)(3)) accepts tax-deductible donations funding community services and events. Donation programs include: Mobility Cart Fund, Pest Control Fund, Seashore Defense Fund, Whyte Hall Fund, Pines Party Fund, Brockman Grants Program, and Unrestricted Fund supporting community cleanups, Juneteenth celebrations, Invasion event, and harbor maintenance.
4. Pines Marina Fees: The Pines Marina generates revenue through boat slip rentals and marina services. FIPPOA maintains and operates the harbor, with dedicated harbor maintenance team preserving the natural environment.
5. Whyte Hall Event Venue Rental: Whyte Hall, described as the heart of the Pines community, hosts over 300 events per season and is available for bookings including meetings, religious services, private parties, and fitness classes. Rental fees contribute to operational costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FIPPOA and The Pines Foundation manage community infrastructure, services, events, and grantmaking for the Fire Island Pines LGBTQ+ community. Core offerings include marina and harbor services, subsidized post office operations, community event venue (Whyte Hall), free mobility transportation (Mobility Access Cart), pest control, beach preservation, and major annual fundraising events (Pines Party and Invasion of the Pines). The 501(c)(4) association collects membership dues while the affiliated 501(c)(3) Pines Foundation accepts tax-deductible donations for community programs and grants.

Product overview

FIPPOA (Fire Island Pines Property Owners' Association) and The Pines Foundation operate as a unified community organization offering a comprehensive suite of services for the LGBTQ+ beachfront community on Fire Island. The core offerings include community association management, transportation (Mobility Access Cart), marina/harbor services, postal services, event venues (Whyte Hall), and community programming including Pines Party and The Invasion events. The Pines Foundation serves as the 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm handling charitable fundraising and grants, while FIPPOA as the 501(c)(4) handles advocacy and member services. Key infrastructure initiatives include the Seashore Defense Fund for beach preservation, pest control, internet infrastructure, and various community task forces addressing environmental stewardship, climate change, and diversity. The organization relies on third-party platforms including Neon CRM for membership management and Constant Contact for communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pines Party: Annual major fundraising event of The Pines Foundation, a three-day celebration of community, music, and dance with over 3000 participants.
• Whyte Hall
• Mobility Access Cart (MAC)
• Trailblazers Park
• Committee on Black Equality (CoBE)

Products and services

• Mobility Access Cart (MAC) Free transportation service for residents and visitors requiring mobility assistance, including the elderly, children, pregnant women, and emergency situations. Operates three motorized vehicles with volunteer drivers from 7 AM to 7 PM daily and completes over 600 trips per season.
• Pines Marina Full-service harbor and marina facility providing dock services, boat mooring, and harbor maintenance for the Fire Island Pines community, with a dedicated harbor maintenance team preserving the natural environment.
• Post Office Subsidized US Post Office located in the harbor, providing free PO boxes to residential property owners, businesses, and long-term seasonal boaters.
• Whyte Hall Community Center and Event Venue Community center and event venue hosting over 300 events per season, available for meetings, religious services, private parties, and fitness classes. Hosts productions including Broadway Cares BROADWAY Bares, BOFFO, Fire Island Dance Festival, FIPAP, and Women's Pride in the Pines.
• Pines Party Major annual three-day fundraising celebration with over 3,000 participants, featuring music, dance, and a beach party. Sponsored by The Pines Foundation, it has raised over $4.8 million for beneficiaries over its 25-year history and over $1.3 million to the Stonewall Community Foundation.
• Invasion of the Pines Annual July 4th drag queen invasion event commemorating the 1976 tradition, attracting hundreds of drag queens and thousands of spectators to the Fire Island Pines community.
• Trailblazers Park Permanent public space in the Pines Harbor honoring LGBTQ+ community trailblazers, featuring 16 original flags designed by contemporary artists.
• Seashore Defense Fund Emergency funding mechanism for beach preservation, dune protection, signage, and maintenance. Has provided extra dune fencing, KEEP OFF DUNE signage, and built and installed 13 Beach Bins/Trash Receptacles.
• Pest Control Program Community-wide pest control initiative costing over $40,000 annually, operating for 30 years to reduce Lyme disease risk and control rodent populations in the Pines.
• Brockman Grants Program Grant program supporting innovative community projects, funded by a legacy gift from former FIPPOA president Alan Brockman and supplemented by Pines Party proceeds.
• FIPPOA Membership Annual membership offering two tiers (Regular Membership for property owners with voting rights, and Associate Membership for non-owning residents), providing access to community services, governance participation, and member benefits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 trees planted through Pines Conservation Society annual tree sale program
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• StoryCorpsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The Fire Island AIDS Memorial Task Force partnered with StoryCorps to document and preserve stories from community members impacted by HIV/AIDS. The partnership collects interviews to create a lasting archive of community experiences.
• SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSAGE supports the Mobility Access Cart (MAC) service through generous donations. MAC provides free motorized transportation to residents and visitors including elderly, children, pregnant women, and during emergencies like major fires.
• National Park ServicecoreOthersFire Island Pines is situated within Fire Island National Seashore, established in 1964. FIPPOA works with NPS on dune restoration, right-of-way tree removal, and environmental stewardship initiatives.
• Verizon FiOScoreTechnology or IntegrationInternet Task Force created business case and convinced Verizon to invest in high-speed broadband infrastructure. All homes, co-ops, and businesses fully wired as of Spring 2022.
• Stonewall Community FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPines Party has donated over $1.3 million to Stonewall Community Foundation to support its critical grant-making program with NYC area LGBTQ+ nonprofits.
• Bartlett Tree ServiceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPines Conservation Society and FIPPOA partner with Bartlett Tree Service for tree removal on rights-of-way. Nick DiLollo serves as Local Manager-Arborist Representative overseeing the community's pine beetle control efforts.
• Coastline Freight (dba Beachcomber Freight Service)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCoastline Freight manages all incoming and outgoing freight and scheduling of boats/vessels at the freight dock. Operates year-round freight service to Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove.
• Town of BrookhavencoreOthersFIPPOA has 10-year lease agreement with Town of Brookhaven to manage Fire Island Boulevard. Boardwalks maintained by Brookhaven Highway Department. Various town ordinances govern wooden public walks, zoning, and quality of life.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Stonewall Community Foundation: NYC-area LGBTQ+ grantmaking foundation that has received over $1.3M from Pines Party. Comparable as a peer grantmaking entity serving overlapping LGBTQ+ nonprofit beneficiaries.
• SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders): National LGBTQ+ elder advocacy organization that supports FIPPOA's Mobility Access Cart through donations. Comparable as a mission-aligned nonprofit partner operating in the same advocacy ecosystem.

Regional players

• Fire Island National Seashore (National Park Service): Federal park established in 1964 that governs land use across17 private communities including the Pines. Closely intertwined with FIPPOA through dune restoration, environmental stewardship, and right-of-way coordination.

Direct peers

• Greater Fire Island Pines Chamber of Commerce: Local chamber serving30+ Fire Island Pines businesses (restaurants, retail, guest houses). Operates in the same micro-economy with overlapping constituents, making it a directly comparable community-serving organization.
• Cherry Grove Community Association: Property owners' association for Cherry Grove, the adjacent LGBTQ+ community on Fire Island. Operates a similar membership, marina, and community-services model on the same barrier island, making it the closest functional comparable to FIPPOA.

Emerging players

• BOFFO: Fire Island-based nonprofit running an annual summer artist residency and arts programming. Co-located in the Pines community, sharing the FIPPOA event ecosystem while operating as a focused cultural nonprofit.
• Provincetown Business Guild: LGBTQ+ chamber-of-commerce-style organization serving Provincetown's beachfront community. Comparable as a destination-based organization sustaining LGBTQ+ cultural identity, tourism economy, and member services.
• CAMP Rehoboth: LGBTQ+ community organization in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Comparable as a nonprofit delivering community programs, advocacy, and events in an LGBTQ+ beach destination.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Fippoa
• Instagraminstagram.com/fippoa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fippoa / The Pines Foundation