Manhattan Community Board 8CB8
The City community board covering Roosevelt Island. Its public meetings cover land use, transportation, public safety, and neighborhood services.
Verified Jul 2026 · Official CB8 site
Island directory
39 current groups and 25 useful places — verified contacts, official links, and the practical way in.
Civic & neighborhood
Roosevelt Island Residents AssociationRIRA
The residents' elected Common Council and committees, representing island concerns to RIOC, the City, and the State.
🗓️ Common Council and committee meetings are announced publicly.
🙋 Takes volunteers
Verified Jul 2026 · July 2026 RIRA update
Good Life on Roosevelt Island AssociationGLORIA
A resident-led community group organizing practical giveaways and neighborhood programs, including its 2026 prom and graduation dress drive.
🙋 Takes volunteers
Verified Jul 2026 · May 2026 community program
Open Doors
A disability-led arts and advocacy organization rooted at Coler, including the Food Stories program.
🏛️ $15,000 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards +1 source
State Senator Liz Krueger's Office
The island's State Senate office for constituent help, legislation, and community services such as the Roosevelt Island e-waste drop-off.
Verified Jul 2026 · Official Senate contact page +1 source
Green & sustainability
Big Reuse
The reuse and composting nonprofit supporting Haki's food-scrap collection and island planting projects.
Verified Jul 2026 · Official Big Reuse site
Haki Compost Collective
Volunteer-run food-scrap collection for community compost, working with Big Reuse and RIOC.
🗓️ Saturdays 9am–2pm at Motorgate Plaza.
🙋 Takes volunteers
Verified Jul 2026 · Haki volunteer profile +1 source
iDig2Learn
Environmental education, planting, and hands-on nature programs, including the Manhattan Healing Forest in Southpoint Park.
🙋 Takes volunteers🏛️ $10,000 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards +1 source
Life Frames
Native pollinator gardens and a community workshop series through A Living Library.
🏛️ $10,000 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards +1 source
Recycle-A-Bicycle
Bike reuse and repair education, including free repair pop-ups on Roosevelt Island.
Verified Jul 2026 · Bike New York program page +1 source
Roosevelt Island Garden Club
The member-tended community garden at the north end, with public open days, environmental programs, and a plant sale.
🙋 Takes volunteers
Verified Jul 2026 · Official garden site
The Xerces Society
National invertebrate-conservation nonprofit whose pollinator ambassadors participate in island environmental programs.
Verified Jul 2026 · Official Xerces site +1 source
Kids & families
Island Kids
Independent nonprofit running youth programs and summer camp, with scholarships for island families.
🏛️ $12,500 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards +1 source
PS/IS 217 PTA
The public school's parent association, supporting arts education, family programs, and the Saturday market.
🏛️ $15,000 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards +1 source
Roosevelt Island Day NurseryRIDN
The island's nonprofit preschool and childcare provider, serving families since 1972.
📍 4 River Road🏛️ $10,000 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards +1 source
The Child Center of NY Beacon at PS/IS 217Beacon 217
The current Beacon after-school and community-school provider at PS/IS 217, replacing the outdated Roosevelt Island Youth Program listing.
📍 645 Main StreetVerified Jul 2026 · PS/IS 217 after-school programs
Older adults
Carter Burden Roosevelt Island Older Adult CenterCarter Burden
Lunch, exercise and dance, computer training, arts, and case-management services for older adults.
📍 546 Main Street🏛️ $12,500 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards +1 source
Roosevelt Island Disabled AssociationRIDA
Advocacy, food, inclusive cultural and social programs, and accessible transportation for disabled and older residents.
📍 546 Main Street, 3rd Floor🏛️ $25,000 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards +1 source
Roosevelt Island Senior AssociationRISA
Resident-run community events plus weekend and evening classes for older adults.
📍 546 Main Street🏛️ $20,000 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards
Arts & culture
Architectural Community Alliance of Roosevelt IslandARCH RI
A resident group documenting and advocating for Roosevelt Island's architecture, public spaces, and human-scaled design.
🙋 Takes volunteers
Verified Jul 2026 · April 2026 campaign document
FDR Four Freedoms Park Conservancy
Public talks, workshops, outdoor films, family programs, and volunteer days at Four Freedoms Park.
🙋 Takes volunteers
Verified Jul 2026 · Official park site
Main Street Theatre & Dance AllianceMSTDA
Theatre, dance, music, and movement classes with scholarships and accessible community performances.
🏛️ $20,000 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards +1 source
PIAZZOLLA100Piazzolleana
A Roosevelt Island tango concert series, workshops, and social dance programs.
🏛️ $15,000 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards +1 source
Roosevelt Island Chamber Music Society
Public chamber concerts and music education on Roosevelt Island.
🏛️ $10,000 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards +1 source
Roosevelt Island Concerts
Seven free community concerts each year.
🏛️ $15,000 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards +1 source
Roosevelt Island Historical SocietyRIHS
Preserves island archives and landmarks, presents lectures and tours, and runs the Visitor Center kiosk by the Tram.
📍 Tramway Plaza, across from the Tram station🛍️ Visitor Center shop
RIHS lists 12–5 PM daily except Tuesdays; weather closures possible. Credit cards accepted.
- ⭐Julia Gash Roosevelt Island tote$22
- Images of America: Roosevelt Island$25
- Roosevelt Island coloring book$10
- Crochet tram ornament$20
- Julia Gash tapestry throw$75
- Nellie Bly’s Ten Days in a Mad-House$12
Featured current picks; selection, stock, and prices can change. Purchase at the kiosk.
🏛️ $15,000 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards +3 sources
Roosevelt Island Visual Art AssociationRIVAA
The artist-run Gallery RIVAA: rotating exhibitions, workshops, concerts, and community shows.
📍 527 Main Street🙋 Takes volunteers🏛️ $20,000 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards +1 source
Sports & fitness
Bike New York
Free learn-to-ride lessons, bike education, and mobile repair at island events.
Verified Jul 2026 · Official Bike New York site +1 source
Roosevelt Island Runners
The island's open community running club.
Verified Jul 2026 · NYCRUNS club directory
Roosevelt Island Sports
A nonprofit providing affordable year-round youth sports, beginning with co-ed soccer.
🏛️ $15,000 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards +1 source
Roosevelt Island SwimmingRI Marlins
Free Learn-to-Swim programming and the island's youth swim community.
🏛️ $10,000 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards +1 source
Animals
Wildlife Freedom Foundation
Runs the island's cat sanctuary and supports local wildlife rescue, TNR, rehabilitation, adoption, and education.
🙋 Takes volunteers
Verified Jul 2026 · Official foundation site
Faith
Chabad of Roosevelt Island
Jewish worship, education, holidays, and community services for island residents and Cornell Tech.
📍 425 Main Street, Suite 6BVerified Jul 2026 · Official Chabad site
Church of the Good ShepherdEpiscopal
The active Episcopal congregation at the historic Good Shepherd chapel, distinct from the RIOC-operated community-center facility.
🗓️ Sunday worship; confirm the current time on the congregation site.
📍 543 Main StreetVerified Jul 2026 · Congregation site
Islamic Society of Roosevelt IslandISRI Masjid
The island's Muslim congregation and community center.
📍 564 Main StreetVerified Jul 2026 · Official ISRI site
Mosaic Roosevelt Island
A Christian congregation meeting at Good Shepherd Community Center.
🗓️ Sundays at 11:30am.
📍 543 Main StreetVerified Jul 2026 · Official Mosaic site
Roosevelt Island Jewish CongregationRIJC
An egalitarian congregation founded in 1976, with Shabbat and festival services and Jewish education.
Verified Jul 2026 · Official RIJC site
St. Frances Xavier CabriniEast River Catholics
The island's Catholic parish community, now worshipping at 504 Main Street rather than Good Shepherd.
📍 504 Main StreetVerified Jul 2026 · Official parish page
Safety & emergency
Roosevelt Island CERTCERT
Trained resident volunteers supporting emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.
🙋 Takes volunteers🏛️ $10,000 island grant
Verified Jul 2026 · RIOC 2026 Public Purpose Fund awards +1 source
Reviewed July 31, 2026 from official and first-party pages, the 2026 Roosevelt Island Public Purpose Fund awards, current local reporting, and Maps listings. Closed and unresolved entries stay out of active results. Missing something, or is a detail out of date? Send a correction.