irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $364KDEVELOPE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE HUDSON RIVER THROUGH ITS EXHIBITS, LECTURES, PROGRAMS, PUBLICATIONS AND FESTIVALS.
- #2 $380KYOUTH AND ADULT CLASSES - APPROX 25-30 CLASSES, SOME WITH A FEE AND SOME OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE, COVERING WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING MARITIME HISTORY AND CRAFTS, BOATBUILDING, SEAMANSHIP, SAILING AND ROWING OFFERED TO YOUTH AND ADULTS. THIS INCLUDES YOUTHBOAT, A FREE CLASS OFFERED TO UNDERSERVED LOCAL YOUTH TO TEACH TEAMWORK, AND STEM-RELATED SKILLS THROUGH WOOD-WORKING, BOAT BUILDING, SAILING AND ROWING.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Follow the River Lecture Series
Public lecture series featuring historians, authors, and experts on Hudson River history, ecology, and culture; held at museum venues and recorded for YouTube
Hudson River Hooray! Concert for Kids
Family-friendly musical event celebrating the Hudson River with songs about boats, nature, and Pete Seeger
School Programs
Hands-on educational programs for Pre-K–12 students aligned with state learning standards, including in-class mini-lessons and onsite tours with historical themes
Seven Sentinels: Lighthouses of the Hudson River
Film produced and commissioned by HRMM exploring the history of the Hudson’s seven remaining lighthouses and their keepers
YouthBoat
Free program for underserved local youth teaching teamwork and STEM skills through woodworking, boat building, sailing, and rowing
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Recreational Boating and Sailing Programs 4 activities
- Delivering youth and adult education programsOffers approximately 25–30 annual classes for youth and adults in maritime history, boatbuilding, woodworking, seamanship, sailing, and traditional crafts through the Wooden Boat School and as the only accredited US Sailing school in the Hudson Valley. Includes introductory and advanced courses, US Sailing instructor certification, and parent-child sailing classes.
- Hosting youth summer camps and STEAM programsProvides annual on-land and on-water youth programs, including the Voyager Program (launched in 2025), a summer camp for ages 9–17 combining sailing, boatbuilding, woodworking, and STEAM activities. Also offers six-week summer programs for Seafarers (ages 9–12) and Navigators (ages 13–17), taught by professional educators and certified instructors.
- Operating a public marina and transient docking servicesProvides overnight docking for transient private and commercial vessels up to 220 feet long on Rondout Creek, with amenities including restrooms, showers, water, electricity, Wi-Fi, trash disposal, and free museum admission. Maintains 16 feet of water depth at low tide and a wheelchair-accessible gangway on B-Dock.
- Running free youth programs for underserved communitiesOffers Youthboat, a free program for underserved local youth that teaches teamwork and STEM-related skills through woodworking, boatbuilding, sailing, and rowing. Also provides free in-class "mini lessons" led by educator-storytellers using museum artifacts for schoolchildren.
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Historic Vessel and Equipment Preservation 2 activities
- Hosting visiting vessels and special maritime eventsHosts visiting historic vessels at its waterfront marina annually, offering deck tours and public programming. Scheduled to host the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief during its Bicentennial Voyage in 2025, providing public access to a floating museum experience with recreated cabins, artifacts, and interactive exhibits on the Erie Canal.
- Operating solar-powered river cruises and lighthouse toursOperates Solaris, a 100% solar-powered tour boat, to offer themed public cruises on the Rondout Creek and Hudson River from May through October, including dual lighthouse sightseeing cruises and seasonal interior and exterior tours of the Rondout Lighthouse, accessible only by boat.
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Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
- Conducting public lectures, film screenings, and educational seriesHosts a recurring lecture and film series featuring historians, authors, and maritime experts on regional history, ecology, river-inspired art, and maritime heritage. The "Follow the River Lecture Series" includes recorded sessions available on the museum’s YouTube channel.
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Early Literacy Promotion 1 activity
- Hosting children's story hour and family programsHosts a free monthly story hour for children ages five and younger at the museum, designed to engage young visitors with history and learning in an interactive setting.
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Campus Facility Operations and Management 1 activity
- Maintaining a working waterfront education campusOperates a multi-functional education hub and working waterfront campus that includes the Wooden Boat School, sailing school, marina, solar-powered tour boat, and event spaces. The campus also includes the co-built Kingston Home Port and Education Center (The Barn) and supports year-round educational and public programming.
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Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Operating public museum exhibits and galleriesDisplays hundreds of artifacts, artworks, and historic vessels in permanent and semi-permanent exhibits covering the maritime, industrial, and ecological history of the Hudson River, including dedicated spaces on lighthouses, the Mary Powell, Henry Hudson’s exploration, the American Revolution, climate change, and traditional industries like brickmaking and ice harvesting. The museum maintains a collection of over one million artifacts and offers updated interactive displays, such as a model canal lock system and reconstructed historical environments.
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Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
- Providing guided museum and historic site toursOffers regular guided museum tours three times per week, 50-minute interpretive sessions on Hudson River maritime history, and immersive combined tours that include both museum and boat components. Also conducts monthly historic walking tours of the Rondout and Kingston waterfront areas from April through October, focusing on local architecture and history.
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Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
- Providing school and field trip programsOffers immersive school programs including field trips, hands-on workshops, boat tours, and in-class presentations focused on the maritime history of the Hudson River and related industries, serving thousands of students annually.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Producing maritime history documentaries and publicationsCommissioned and produced the 2024 documentary 'Seven Sentinels: Lighthouses of the Hudson River' exploring the history and preservation of the river’s seven lighthouses. Also published and sells the book 'Hudson River Lighthouses,' with proceeds supporting museum operations.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.26M
Contributions & grants$494K39%
Program service revenue$702K56%
Investment income$41K3%
Other revenue$19K
expenses
Total expenses$1.36M
Program expenses62%
Admin / overhead26%
Fundraising12%
Salaries & benefits$888K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.19M
Cash$154K
Investments$298K
Liabilities$498K
Net assets$2.69M
Liquid reserves4.0 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +9.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LISA CLINE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $95K |
board members · 9
- ALLAN BOWDERY — BOARD MEMBER
- BILL RYAN — BOARD MEMBER
- JOSH MANDEL — BOARD MEMBER
- LIZ MCENANEY — BOARD MEMBER
- MARK HELLER — BOARD MEMBER
- MARK PECKHAM — BOARD MEMBER
- MATTHEW DAVIDSON — BOARD MEMBER
- NICK ROTHLEIN — BOARD MEMBER
- STEPHEN DIGILIO — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 32
Who they work with
- American Merchant Marine Museum Network — Peter K. Eagleton's paintings are included in the American Merchant Marine Museum's collection.
- Bank of Greene County Partner — Sponsor of the 'Tides of War' exhibit
- Buffalo Maritime Center Partner — Collaborates to host the Seneca Chief during its Bicentennial Voyage, a replica vessel built by the Buffalo Maritime Center to commemorate the Erie Canal's 200th anniversary.
- CDPHP Partner — Sponsors the "Walkie Talkie with Us" historic walking tours.
- CDPHP Partner — Sponsors the Walkie Talkie with Us Historic Walking Tours held monthly from April through October.
- City of Kingston Government — Owns the Rondout Lighthouse and collaborates with the Hudson River Maritime Museum on its preservation and public interpretation.
- Clearwater Partner — Partnered with the museum to build the Kingston Home Port and Education Center (The Barn).
- Community Playthings Partner — Cosponsors the Museum Mates Free Story Hour program held on the third Thursday of each month.
- Community Playthings Partner — Sponsors the Museum Mates Free Story Hour program.
- Council of American Maritime Museums Network — HRMM is a member organization, offering reciprocal free admission to CAMM members.
- Dockwa Partner — Partners with Dockwa to process all transient docking reservations.
- Intrepid Museum Network — Peter K. Eagleton's paintings are included in the Intrepid Museum's collection.
- J.M. Kaplan Fund Funder — Funder of the 'Tides of War' exhibit
- MHV Federal Credit Union Partner — Sponsor of the 'Tides of War' exhibit
- Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Government — Funder of the 'Tides of War' exhibit
- Mystic Seaport Museum Network — Peter K. Eagleton's paintings are included in the Mystic Seaport Museum's collection.
- National Coast Guard Museum Network — Peter K. Eagleton's paintings are included in the National Coast Guard Museum's collection.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Provides support for the "Warning Signs" exhibit through its Hudson River Estuary Program.
- Reher Center Partner — Co-hosts the "Brunch and Learn" event with HRMM, offering joint tours of both institutions.
- Rough Draft Partner — Cosponsors the Museum Mates Free Story Hour program held on the third Thursday of each month.
- Rough Draft Partner — Sponsors the Museum Mates Free Story Hour program.
- Senate House State Historic Site Partner — Loans the pilot wheel of the Mary Powell for display in the museum's exhibit.
- Siren Theatre Company Partner — Collaborates with HRMM's Education Department to present immersive historical performances as part of the lecture series.
- Stewart's Shops Partner — Sponsor of the 'Tides of War' exhibit
- Trolley Museum of NY Partner — Partners with the Trolley Museum of NY to offer a combined trolley ride and museum tour program focusing on Hudson Valley transportation and industrial history.
- US Sailing Partner — Accredited US Sailing school offering sailing instruction and certification programs.
- US Sailing Partner — Collaborates with US Sailing through certified instructors teaching in youth programs.
- Ulster County Rev250 Partner — Sponsor of the 'Tides of War' exhibit
- Ulster Savings Bank Partner — Sponsor of the 'Tides of War' exhibit
- Woodland Pond at New Paltz Partner — Sponsors the Guided Museum Tours offered every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 1:00 PM.
+ 2 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Integrated Historical Storytellingmethodology: community-engaged-educationBy embedding community knowledge and personal narratives into guided and walking tours, the museum fosters deeper public connection to local history, because participatory storytelling increases emotional resonance and promotes inclusive, multi-perspective understandings of the past.
- Experiential Maritime Education for STEM and Social Skillsmethodology: experiential-educationBy combining hands-on activities in boatbuilding, sailing, and rowing with interdisciplinary learning, the museum teaches teamwork and STEM-related skills to youth and adults, because active participation in authentic maritime practices deepens engagement and understanding of scientific and historical concepts.
- Place-Based Environmental Stewardship Through Maritime Educationmethodology: environmental-stewardship-through-educationBy using the Hudson River as a living classroom and integrating historical and scientific perspectives, the museum fosters environmental stewardship, because place-based experiential learning increases public investment in local ecological sustainability and climate resilience.
- Preservation of Traditional Maritime Skills Through Intergenerational Learningmethodology: skills-preservation-through-educationBy offering progressive, hands-on education in traditional boatbuilding and woodworking, the museum ensures the transmission of endangered maritime crafts across generations, because skill-based apprenticeship models strengthen cultural continuity and deepen technical understanding.