named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Art + Design Residency
Program showcasing contemporary art and design installations in dialogue with Russel Wright's spaces and philosophy
Guided Public Tours
90-minute guided tours of Dragon Rock, the House, Studio, and Woodland Garden, available mid-May through mid-November by advance reservation
Russel & Mary Wright Design Gallery
Exhibition space featuring over 200 objects tracing the Wrights' influence on modern American lifestyle and design
Woodland Trails Access
Self-guided hiking on Manitoga’s trails during daylight hours with a suggested donation, including picnic areas and scenic views
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Co-production of public eco-themed cultural eventsCo-produces the climate and eco-themed festival "Soon is Now" in Long Dock Park in Beacon, NY, as part of its public programming to connect design, nature, and sustainability.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Community engagement and volunteer stewardship programsOrganizes annual landscape workdays for volunteers to maintain the Manitoga site and planted fifty pinxter flower azaleas along woodland trails to honor the fiftieth anniversary of Russel Wright's landscape work.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Curated art and design exhibitions and residenciesCo-presents solo exhibitions such as that of glass artist Jeff Zimmerman and hosts the annual Art + Design Residency exhibition featuring works by contemporary artists, curated in-house. The 2025 exhibition included works by Zach Hadlock, Natalia Woodward, and Erin Rouse, curated by Alyson Baker.
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Digital Visitor Engagement via Mobile App 1 activity
- Digital access and interpretation via mobile appProvides digital access to the history of Manitoga, Dragon Rock House and Studio, Russel & Mary Wright’s design work, current and upcoming events, the Art + Design Residency Program, and interactive trail maps through the Bloomberg Connects app.
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Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Operation of self-guided woodland trails and public accessMaintains and provides year-round public access to two miles of self-guided hiking trails designed by Russel Wright, open daily during daylight hours and connected to the Appalachian Trail. Includes seasonal trolley access via the Cold Spring Trolley on weekends and select holidays, with advance coordination required for hiking groups larger than 10 people.
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Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
- Preservation and public interpretation of Russel Wright’s Manitoga estatePreserves and shares the legacy of designer Russel Wright, including his home, landscape, products, archives, and philosophy, through guided tours, educational programs, and public access to the historic site. Offers guided tours of Dragon Rock, the House, Studio, and Woodland Garden from mid-May through mid-November, including a moderate hike through the landscape featuring the Quarry Pool, Waterfall, moss rooms, and interiors of Dragon Rock.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Acquisition and management of intellectual property rightsAcquired the trademarks, licensing rights, and intellectual property of Russel and Mary Wright in 2024 to support stewardship of their design legacy.
- Public exhibition and display of Russel and Mary Wright’s design legacyOperates the Russel & Mary Wright Design Gallery, opened in 2021, to provide a permanent onsite display of the Wrights’ designs for the American home. Displays over 200 design objects illustrating the evolution of their influence on modern American lifestyle and operates the Manitoga Design Collection + Shop in Cold Spring, NY, with rotating displays from a collection of over 3,500 design objects and curated vintage and contemporary design items.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$875K
Contributions & grants$525K60%
Program service revenue$194K22%
Investment income$124K14%
Other revenue$32K
expenses
Total expenses$958K
Program expenses66%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising15%
Salaries & benefits$620K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.45M
Cash$237K
Investments$2.52M
Liabilities$161K
Net assets$4.29M
Liquid reserves34.5 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -9.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALLISON CROSS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 60 | $136K |
board members · 10
- ANN WRIGHT — CO-FOUNDER
- DAVID DIAMOND — TREASURER
- DAVID M MCALPIN — VICE PRESIDENT
- DENNIS MYKYTYN — DIRECTOR
- GARY MAURER — DIRECTOR
- JOE CHAPMAN — EMERITUS
- LYN FISCHBACH — SECRETARY
- MELANIE DODSON — VICE PRESIDENT
- TOM KRIZMANIC — PRESIDENT
- TOM LEE — DIRECTOR
relationships · 31
Who they work with
- Appalachian Trail Partner — Manitoga's trail system is physically linked to the Appalachian Trail, offering integrated access for hikers.
- Bloomberg Connects Partner — Collaborates with Bloomberg Connects to provide a digital guide for visitors to access information about Manitoga's history, architecture, and programs.
- Carol and Raymond Krizmanic Partner — Provided a gift supporting Landscape Workdays.
- David L. Klein Jr. Foundation Funder — Provides lead annual support to Manitoga.
- David L. Klein Jr. Foundation Partner — Member of the Leadership Circle, providing support to MANITOGA INC.
- Dorothy Dunn / Sara Little Turnbull Foundation Partner — Member of the Leadership Circle, providing support to MANITOGA INC.
- Emily Phillips Partner — Landscape Curator responsible for managing group visit notifications.
- Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Funder — Grants support for Landscape Workdays.
- I Love NY Government — References I Love NY's interactive foliage map to inform visitors about fall color conditions in the Hudson Valley.
- Lostand Foundation Partner — Member of the Design Circle, contributing to design-related initiatives at MANITOGA INC.
- MJS Charitable Foundation Funder — Provides lead annual support to Manitoga.
- MJS Foundation Charitable Fund Partner — Member of the Leadership Circle, providing support to MANITOGA INC.
- Malcolm Gordon Charitable Fund Funder — Grants support for Landscape Workdays.
- Melissa Meyers & Wilbur Foster Funder — Provides lead annual support to Manitoga.
- New Era Creative Space Partner — Collaborates on art education programming in the Hudson Valley, with shared staff involvement.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Funds Manitoga's programs with support from the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Government — Supports Manitoga's programs through the ZBGA Program and Environmental Protection Fund.
- PCLB Foundation Funder — Provides lead annual support to Manitoga.
- PCLB Foundation Partner — Member of the Leadership Circle, providing support to MANITOGA INC.
- Putnam County Partner — Provides the Cold Spring Trolley service, with Manitoga as a regular stop.
- R & Company Partner — Co-presents exhibitions, including Jeff Zimmerman: Glass Light Nature, at Manitoga.
- Sara Little Turnbull Foundation Funder — Provides lead annual support to Manitoga.
- Sarah Pansy Partner — Visitor Experience Manager at MANITOGA INC who coordinates youth group visits and community program inquiries.
- Sarah Pansy Partner — Visitor Services & Retail Operations Manager at MANITOGA INC who receives job applications and coordinates hiring.
- Scenic Hudson Partner — Co-presents public programming at Long Dock Park in Beacon, including the "Soon is Now" climate festival.
- Susan T. Rodriguez & Charles F. Lowrey Jr. Funder — Provides lead annual support to Manitoga.
- W.I.L.D. Foundation Funder — Provides lead annual support to Manitoga.
- Wild Waters Foundation Partner — Member of the Leadership Circle, providing support to MANITOGA INC.
- Wild Woods Foundation Funder — Provides lead annual support to Manitoga.
- Wild Woods Foundation Partner — Member of the Leadership Circle, providing support to MANITOGA INC.
+ 1 more
strategies · 5
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-Engaged Access to Cultural Resourcesmethodology: community-engaged_accessBy offering free access to local residents, the organization increases community ownership and engagement with design and nature, because removing financial barriers fosters inclusive participation and long-term stewardship.
- Cultural Heritage Preservation as Public Scholarshipmethodology: cultural_heritage_preservationBy preserving and interpreting Russel Wright’s physical and intellectual legacy, the organization advances both public and professional understanding of American design, because sustained access to original contexts and artifacts enables deeper scholarly and creative engagement.
- Design-Based Cultural Storytellingmethodology: design-based_cultural_storytellingBy curating historical design objects and integrating them into visitor experiences, the organization advances public understanding of mid-century American modernism and its cultural impact, because material culture makes abstract design movements tangible and relatable.
- Immersive Landscape-Integrated Design Educationmethodology: immersive_experiential_educationBy guiding visitors through a deliberately sequenced path of natural and architectural features, the organization fosters deep engagement with design and ecology, because embodied experience in place creates lasting understanding of integrated design principles.
- Place-Based Inspiration for Sustainable Designmethodology: sustainable-design_educationBy presenting Manitoga as a living model of sustainable design and ecological restoration, the organization inspires broader adoption of innovative design practices, because immersive exposure to successful integration of nature and architecture motivates behavioral and creative change.