named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Educational Programs
School and public programs that teach about the Gilded Age, including lifestyles of the wealthy and servants, industrialization, and estate operations
Kitchen Restoration
Restoration of the historic kitchen's tiled walls and ceilings to preserve and interpret the space where estate staff prepared gourmet meals; includes public interpretation of culinary history
Museum Gift Shop
Operates a gift shop offering Gilded Age and Hudson Valley-themed merchandise; supports site funding and offers member discounts
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
- Educational programming and public tours at Staatsburgh State Historic SiteOffers regular one-hour mansion tours, themed tours led by costumed guides, craft and family programs, and specialized servant tours. Provides timed-entry access during the holiday season and supports school group visits and group tours by appointment. Also conducts research on historical figures connected to the site, such as guests who signed the guestbook between 1899 and 1908.
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Historic Preservation Support Grants 1 activity
- Funding development of educational programs and exhibitsProvides financial support for the creation and development of new educational programs and exhibits at Staatsburgh State Historic Site, including underwriting conservation projects and educational initiatives.
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Museum and Historical Gift Shops 1 activity
- Funding preservation and education through gift shop operationsOperates a museum gift shop offering Gilded Age and Hudson Valley-themed items, with proceeds supporting the preservation and educational mission of Mills Mansion. The shop is open during site hours and contributes to funding restoration and educational programs.
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Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
- Preservation and restoration of Mills MansionUndertakes ongoing restoration projects at Mills Mansion, including the kitchen, library, dining room, main hall, drawing room, Mrs. Mills' boudoir and bedroom, and restoration of draperies, furniture coverings, and embroidery. As of July 15, 2025, major progress has been made on kitchen tiling, with work planned next in the china room.
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Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
- Public events and visitor engagementOrganizes and hosts upcoming public events at Staatsburgh State Historic Site and has hosted 35 past public events. Offers membership benefits including unlimited regular and themed tours, gift shop discounts, advance notice of programs, and invitations to events.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$294K
Contributions & grants$209K71%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$6K2%
Other revenue$78K
expenses
Total expenses$178K
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineOther
balance sheet
Total assets$674K
Cash$649K
Investments$0
Liabilities$204K
Net assets$470K
Liquid reserves43.7 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +210.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 12
- AILEEN ROHR — SECRETARY
- CAROL MORAN — TRUSTEE
- DAVE MURRAY — TRUSTEE
- DIANE MATSAKIS — TRUSTEE
- DIANE TOPKIS — PRESIDENT
- GRACIE EDELMANN — TRUSTEE
- KATHRYN WHITMAN — TRUSTEE
- MARY ALDEN — VICE PRESIDENT
- MERCEDES MILLER — TRUSTEE
- NANCY KEENEY — TRUSTEE
- NICK MATSAKIS — TRUSTEE
- SHARON COUGHLAN — TREASURER
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- Bureau of Historic Sites Government — Reviewing and approving grout color choices for the kitchen restoration project.
- Bureau of Historic Sites Conservation Center at Peebles Island Partner — Partner organization that sews restored fabric into draperies and reupholsters furniture.
- Dutchess County Historical Society Partner — Collaborated on publication of research about African American residents in the region through the 2025 Annual Yearbook.
- Friends of Mills at Staatsburgh Network — Organization name indicates affiliation with Mills at Staatsburgh, a historic site.
- MILLS MANSION Partner — Primary beneficiary of the organization's support for educational and preservation goals.
- New York State Government — Partners in maintaining and operating Staatsburgh State Historic Site, with the state managing infrastructure and daily operations.
- North America Reciprocal Museum Association Network — Provides reciprocal museum membership benefits to donors at certain levels.
- Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Funder — Awarded a $30,500 grant through its Environmental Protection Fund for the restoration of the kitchen’s tiled walls and ceilings.
- Parks & Trails New York Funder — Provided a $300,000 grant for the kitchen restoration project.
- Staatsburgh State Historic Site Government — Operates in partnership with the state historic site to provide public access, tours, and educational programming.
- Staatsburgh State Historic Site Partner — Collaborates on restoration priorities, educational programming, and exhibit development.
- Staatsburgh State Historic Site Partner — Manages the museum gift shop to support restoration and educational programs at the site.
- Staatsburgh State Historic Site Partner — Partner in the preservation and restoration of Mills Mansion and support of educational programs.
- State of New York Government — Receives and stewards the mansion and property donated by Gladys Mills Phipps in 1938.
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 Engagement Through Social Experiencemethodology: community-engagement-through-social-experienceBy combining social enjoyment—such as events and holiday tours—with historical interpretation, we cultivate stewardship and membership, because shared positive experiences build emotional connection and sustained support for preservation.
- Experiential Education Through Immersive Interpretationmethodology: experiential_educationBy offering costumed, historically themed tours and interactive exhibits, we deepen public understanding of social and labor history, particularly of underrepresented groups like domestic servants, because immersive experiences foster empathy and retention more effectively than passive observation.
- Inclusive Historical Research to Expand Narrative Authoritymethodology: inclusive-historical-researchBy researching and interpreting the histories of underrepresented communities, such as African American residents, we broaden public understanding of regional history because inclusive narratives increase relevance and engagement across diverse audiences.
- Public-Private Partnership for Sustainable Preservationmethodology: public-private_partnershipBy leveraging public-private partnerships—where the state maintains structural infrastructure while private support restores interior contents—we ensure sustainable preservation because shared responsibility expands funding and expertise beyond public capacity.