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Municipal Art Society of New York
New York, NY · EIN 135562288 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE A400 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · mas.org
revenue
$2.8M
expenses
$4.1M
net assets
$7.2M
employees
28
volunteers
20
program ratio
68%
mission · from form 990

THE MUNICIPAL ART SOCIETY OF NEW YORK (MAS) LIFTS UP THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE IN THE DEBATES THAT SHAPE NEW YORK'S BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND LEADS THE WAY TO A MORE LIVABLE CITY FROM SIDEWALK TO SKYLINE. MAS ENVISIONS A FUTURE IN WHICH ALL NEW YORKERS SHARE IN THE RICHNESS OF CITY LIFE - WHERE GROWTH IS BALANCED, CHARACTER ENDURES, AND A RESILIENT FUTURE IS SECURED. IN OVER 130 YEARS OF HISTORY, OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS HAVE LED TO THE CREATION OF THE NEW YORK CITY PLANNING COMMISSION, PUBLIC DESIGN COMMISSION, LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION, AND THE TRIBUTE IN LIGHT; THE PRESERVATION OF GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL, THE LIGHTS OF TIMES SQUARE, AND THE GARMENT DISTRICT; THE CONSERVATION OF MORE THAN 50 WORKS OF PUBLIC ART; AND THE FOUNDING OF CIVIC ARTS ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE PUBLIC ART FUND, THE NEW YORK LANDMARKS CONSERVANCY, P.S. 1, THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS COUNCIL, THE PARK AVENUE ARMORY CONSERVANCY, AND THE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS) advocates for a more livable, equitable, and resilient city by engaging the public in shaping New York's built environment. For over 130 years, MAS has led efforts in historic preservation, urban planning, and public space advocacy across all five boroughs. The organization combines education, policy work, and community mobilization to protect landmarks, promote thoughtful development, and conserve public art.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $1.00M
    MAS WORKS ON THE GROUND IN ALL FIVE BOROUGHS MOBILIZING NEW YORKERS ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR CITY. OUR ANNUAL JANE'S WALK WEEKEND IN 2024 BROUGHT MORE THAN 7,000 NEW YORKERS AND VISITORS TOGETHER FOR AN ANNUAL FESTIVAL CELEBRATING URBAN LIFE. COMMUNITY ADVOCATES USE THESE WALKS AS A WAY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF ISSUES FACING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. OUR RENOWNED WALKING TOURS PROGRAM, WHICH WAS OFFERED VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024, SERVED AN AUDIENCE OF OVER 2,800 EXPLORING THE ART, ARCHITECTURE AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF NEW YORK'S FIVE BOROUGHS. WE ALSO CURATED TWO ART EXHIBITIONS AS PART OF THE VIRTUAL DORIS C. AND ALAN J. FREEDMAN GALLERY ON MAS.ORG. THESE INCLUDED INSIDE OUT, A PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES BY SALLY DAVIES AND THE IRRESISTIBLE PULL, A PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES BY MAUREEN DRENNAN. ALSO IN FY 2024, MAS PRESENTED 34 VIRTUAL PUBLIC PROGRAMS FROM PANEL DISCUSSIONS TO ARTIST SPOTLIGHTS AND BOOK TALKS.
  2. #2 $254K
    SEE SCHEDULE O
named programs · 7 · from sources

What they call their work

Adopt-A-Monument
Partnership with NYC Parks and the Public Design Commission to raise private funds for the conservation and maintenance of outdoor statues and public monuments across New York City’s five boroughs
Adopt-A-Mural
Sister program to Adopt-A-Monument that supports the preservation of public murals in schools, libraries, and hospitals through private funding and community stewardship
Fight for Light Initiative
Advocacy campaign focused on protecting sunlight access in public spaces, including opposition to shadow-casting developments and promoting design guidelines for a more livable urban environment
Greenacre Reference Library
Specialized library collection devoted to urbanism, architecture, and the built environment, serving researchers, professionals, and the public
Jane's Walk
Annual festival of community-led walking tours that engages thousands of New Yorkers and visitors in conversations about urban life, neighborhood history, and local issues
Livable Neighborhoods Program
Network that trains local stakeholders to become land use advocates and supports community-based planning across all five boroughs
Walking Tours Program
Year-round curated tours exploring New York City’s architecture, public art, and cultural history, offered both in person and virtually
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • Professional Excellence Awards Programs 1 activity
    • Administer awards recognizing contributions to NYC’s built environment
      Annually awards the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Medal, the Brendan Gill Prize, and the MASterworks Design Awards to honor individuals, creators, and projects that exemplify excellence and leadership in New York City’s architecture, preservation, and urban culture.
  • Historic Site Designation Advocacy 1 activity
    • Advocate for urban design and preservation policy
      Engages in continuous advocacy for New York City’s built environment, including landmarking efforts, zoning reform, and public space improvements; has influenced the creation of key institutions and protected sites like Grand Central Terminal, Radio City Music Hall, and the Upper East Side Historic District.
  • Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
    • Conduct guided walking tours and public programs
      Offers in-person and virtual walking tours, panel discussions, artist spotlights, and book talks exploring New York City’s architecture, cultural history, and urban life; reached over 2,800 participants in FY2024.
  • Urban Resilience Planning & Advocacy 1 activity
    • Conduct policy research and legal analysis on urban land use
      Produces original research, legal analysis, and strategic advocacy on land use issues including historic preservation, zoning, climate resilience, and public realm governance; includes data analysis on climate risks to historic buildings and projections of flood zone impacts.
  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Curate digital art exhibitions and public programming
      Reimagined the Freedman Gallery as a digital space to highlight artists exploring the built environment; curated virtual exhibitions and presented public programs including panel discussions and artist spotlights.
  • Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
    • Operate Livable Neighborhoods Program
      Trains local stakeholders and community advocates in understanding public review processes, rezonings, and permitting through a cohort-based program; launched in 2007 with ongoing workshops and support for land use advocacy across all five boroughs.
  • Legal Education Scholarships and Fellowships 1 activity
    • Operate Ralph C. Menapace Fellowship in Urban Land Use Law
      Runs a two-year fellowship program for recent law school graduates to gain hands-on experience in urban land use law, policy development, and legal advocacy in New York City.
  • Local History Archival Access 1 activity
    • Operate public reference and archival library
      Maintains the Greenacre Reference Library and archival collections with thousands of books, reports, news clippings, and primary source materials focused on New York City’s urban culture, built environment, and MAS’s historical programs since 1893.
  • Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
    • Preserve public art through Adopt-a-Monument and Adopt-a-Mural programs
      Conserves and restores public monuments and murals across all five boroughs through the Adopt-a-Monument and Adopt-a-Mural initiatives; has conserved over 50 works, including major restorations in the Bronx and Brooklyn.
  • Flexible Grants to Grassroots Organizations 1 activity
    • Run Enduring Culture Community Partners subgrant program
      Funds community organizations to support their access to and programming in public spaces through subgrants.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$2.84M
Contributions & grants$2.37M83%
Program service revenue$77K3%
Investment income$359K13%
Other revenue$32K
expenses
Total expenses$4.06M
Program expenses68%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising20%
Salaries & benefits$2.67M
Grants paid out$40K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$8.59M
Cash$112K
Investments$7.84M
Liabilities$1.34M
Net assets$7.25M
Liquid reserves23.5 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -8.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

paid leadership · 7
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Elizabeth Goldstein President 40 $245K
Robert Libbey Vice President Finance and Administration 40 $203K
Britt Densmore Vice President Development 40 $172K
Thomas Devaney Senior Director Land Use and Planning 40 $158K
Keri Butler Vice President Planning and Policy 40 $139K
Sean Kelliher Web Master 40 $131K
Sarah Celentano Senior Director of Individual Giving 40 $129K
board members · 18
  • Amanda Boston — Director
  • Barbara Koz Paley — Director
  • Calvin Tsao — Director
  • Chris McCartin — Director
  • Earl Weiner — General Counsel
  • Gabriel Calatrava — Director
  • James LaForce — Director
  • Jill Lerner — Vice-Chair
  • Kent Swig — Treasurer
  • Lisa Smith Cashin — Director
  • Manohar Patole — Director
  • Michael Donovan — Director
  • Pamela Mann — Director
  • Richard Olcott — Chair
  • Susan Freedman — Secretary
  • Susan Grimbilas — Director
  • Susan Hinkson Carling — Director
  • Tina Vaz — Director
relationships · 46

Who they work with

  • Alexandra Maruri Partner — Historian and tour guide leading educational programs on Arthur Avenue and Little Italy.
  • Alliance for Public Space Leadership Partner — MAS was a founding member of this alliance focused on public space advocacy and governance reform.
  • Anthony W. Robins Partner — Historian and tour guide leading educational programs on Grand Central Terminal.
  • Brooklyn Botanic Garden Partner — Collaborated on research, modeling, and advocacy to oppose the proposed development at 960 Franklin Avenue.
  • Buro Happold Partner — Joined advocacy efforts for the Make Way for Lower Manhattan plan, developed in collaboration with Buro Happold.
  • CUNY School of Law Partner — Institution affiliated with a Law Committee member and aligned with urban environmental reform, a focus area for MAS.
  • Capalino + Company Partner — Firm led by a Law Committee chair with expertise in land use and real estate, collaborating with MAS on urban development issues.
  • Carnegie Hill Neighbors Coalition — Joint signatory with MAS in advocacy before the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
  • City Lore Partner — Co-established the Place Matters program with MAS to identify and protect culturally significant sites in New York City.
  • City Reliquary Museum Partner — Collaborative relationship evidenced by shared staff roles: Sarah Celentano serves on the City Reliquary Board of Directors and Ted Mineau volunteered there.
  • Cullen Brown Partner — Historian and tour guide leading educational programs on West Harlem’s environmental justice issues.
  • Department of City Planning Government — Collaborates with the Department of City Planning on affordable housing and neighborhood planning initiatives.
  • Department of City Planning Government — Uses DCP's PLUTO dataset and zoning data to analyze building age and land use in climate risk assessment.
  • Department of Environmental Protection Government — Uses stormwater flood projections from DEP to analyze climate risk to historic buildings.
  • FRIENDS of the Upper East Side Coalition — Joint signatory with MAS in advocacy before the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
  • Fordham University School of Law Partner — Host institution where the current Menapace Fellow earned her law degree and participated in legal clinics relevant to MAS’s mission.
  • Forest for All NYC Coalition Partner — Collaborates with MAS to advocate for funding the Urban Forest Plan.
  • Fried Frank LLP Partner — Law firm where a former Menapace Fellow serves as Special Counsel and contributes to MAS through the Law Committee.
  • Historic Districts Council Coalition — Joint signatory with MAS in advocacy before the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
  • Historic Districts Council Network — Co-founded by MAS as a coalition supporting local historic districts across New York City.
  • Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Partner — Namesake of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Medal, honored for her efforts to preserve great architecture in New York City.
  • LANDMARK WEST! Coalition — Joint signatory with MAS in advocacy before the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
  • Landmarks Preservation Commission Government — Engaged through testimony and advocacy on historic preservation issues.
  • Landmarks Preservation Commission Government — Uses LPC data to identify individual landmarks and historic districts in climate risk analysis.
  • Matt Postal Partner — Historian and tour guide leading educational programs on Tribeca’s preservation history.
  • NYC Parks Partner — Partnered with MAS to launch the Adopt-A-Monument program for conserving public art.
  • NYU School of Law Partner — Institution where a Law Committee member serves as adjunct professor and executive director of an environmental law center relevant to MAS’s work.
  • National Endowment for the Arts Partner — Co-sponsored a design competition to generate alternatives to the proposed demolition of the Times Tower.
  • New York City Council Government — Government body where past Menapace Fellows have interned and where MAS engages on land use policy matters.
  • New York Civil Liberties Union Partner — Legal advocacy organization where past Menapace Fellows have interned.
+ 16 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.

  • Civic Engagement as Capacity Building
    methodology: civic_engagement_through_workshops
    By training community members and early-career professionals in land use advocacy and urban planning, we increase public participation and long-term stewardship of the built environment, because sustained civic capacity leads to more equitable and informed decision-making.
  • Integrated Urban Planning for Equitable Resilience
    methodology: integrated urban planning
    By integrating preservation, good design, and holistic park funding into neighborhood planning, we advance equitable and resilient urban development, because interconnected systems (like trees, public space, and historic fabric) must be managed as a unified ecological and cultural whole.
  • Policy Reform Through Collaborative Advocacy
    methodology: policy_reform_through_collaboration
    By collaborating with citywide organizations, we influence urban planning and historic preservation policies to create more equitable, resilient, and livable outcomes, because systemic change is most effective when driven by coordinated stakeholder action.
  • Public Education Through Experiential Engagement
    methodology: education-through-experiential-tours
    By using docent-led tours and educational materials to immerse the public in urban history and design, we foster appreciation and stewardship of the built environment, because experiential learning creates deeper emotional and civic connection than passive information delivery.
  • Values-Based Preservation with Data Integration
    methodology: data-driven advocacy
    By combining values-based advocacy for cultural landmarks and neighborhood character with data-driven analysis of climate risks, we strengthen the case for preservation in policy and infrastructure planning, because empirical evidence enhances the legitimacy and urgency of cultural stewardship.