irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0OVER 75 MONUMENTS LISTED IN DANGEROUS CONDITION WERE REPAIRED AND STABILIZED.
- #2 $0THE CEMETERY CELEBRATED ITS 175TH ANNIVERSARY IN OCTOBER 2025. HUNDREDS OF VISITORS ATTENDED SPECIAL EVENTS AND TOURS MARKING THE EXTRAORDINARY OCCASION, INCREASING FUNDRAISING REVENUE AND INCREASING AWARENESS OF THE LONG HISTORY OF THE CEMETERY.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Events
Public events including twilight tours, bird walks, sound meditations, fishing contests, and seasonal celebrations like the Winter Luminary Walk
Historic Tours
Guided walking and driving tours focusing on Civil War history, family mausoleums, baseball figures, and architectural highlights like the Earl and Warren Chapels
Monument Preservation
Ongoing repair and stabilization of historic monuments and infrastructure, including roadways, landscaping, and chapel buildings
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Cemetery Records and Genealogical Research 1 activity
- Genealogical and archival servicesMaintains burial records from 1850 to present, including plot ownership, interment details, and familial relationships. Provides genealogical lookup services for $10 per name, typically fulfilled within 4–6 weeks.
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Memorial and Veteran Honor Services 1 activity
- Hosting public events and ceremoniesHosts weddings, concerts, seasonal events (including Christmas wreath and Memorial Day plant placements), tea events, and annual commemorations such as Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day flag placements on military graves. Organized a 175th-anniversary celebration in October 2025 attended by hundreds.
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Cemetery Operations and Public Access 1 activity
- Operation and maintenance of Oakwood CemeteryOperates and maintains a 280-acre historic rural cemetery in Troy, New York, including approximately 60,000 graves, roadways, landscaping, and infrastructure such as the main office heating system. Provides year-round groundskeeping, monument foundation construction, and repairs to monuments in dangerous condition.
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Cemetery and Cremation Services 1 activity
- Provision of burial and cremation servicesProvides dignified and affordable burial and cremation services to families regardless of faith or income level, including more than 450 cremations annually at the Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel and Crematorium. Offers free burial services to indigent military veterans and issues interment permits in compliance with state law.
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Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
- Public education and guided tour programsOffers a range of educational programs and guided tours for schools, individuals, and groups, including walking and driving tours focused on local history, Civil War figures, architecture, sports history, and notable residents like Uncle Sam. Also conducts twilight and seasonal bird walks for public engagement.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Volunteer and workforce development programsEngages volunteers in groundskeeping, preservation, tour hosting, event support, research, archiving, and administrative tasks. Partners with correctional departments to provide employment, training, and community service opportunities.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.20M
Contributions & grants$28K2%
Program service revenue$739K62%
Investment income$393K33%
Other revenue$41K
expenses
Total expenses$972K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$400K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$7.70M
Cash$283K
Investments$5.52M
Liabilities$106K
Net assets$7.59M
Liquid reserves71.6 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +27.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 5
- DEBORAH BENNETT — TRUSTEE
- JOHN G WAITE — TRUSTEE
- JUSTIN C MAGGS — TRUSTEE
- NANCY IANNUCCI — TRUSTEE
- SUZANNE SPELLEN — TRUSTEE
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- Albert Fuller Partner — Albany-based architect commissioned to design the Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel, giving it a Romanesque style with artistic and structural integrity.
- Americans with Disabilities Act Government — Works to comply with ADA standards for website accessibility.
- Cultural Landscape Foundation Partner — Co-hosts free public tours of Oakwood Cemetery as part of the What’s Out There Weekend event series.
- Earl Chapel Partner — Architectural feature located within Oakwood Cemetery grounds, highlighted as a world-class treasure.
- Friends of Oakwood Cemetery Partner — Collaborates on event programming and receives financial support from event registrations for grounds maintenance and preservation efforts.
- Friends of Oakwood Cemetery Partner — Collaborates to support grounds care, marker restoration, and public access.
- Friends of Oakwood Cemetery Partner — Volunteer group that conducts guided tours on topics including nature, wildlife, history, and thematic graves.
- Gardner Earl Partner — Family funded the construction of the Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel and crematorium in memory of their son, enabling the creation of a major historic structure within the cemetery.
- J. C. Sydney Partner — Philadelphia landscape engineer commissioned to design the original layout of Oakwood Cemetery, including curvilinear roads, plots, and water features.
- John Boetcher Partner — Landscape architect who introduced rare shrubs and plants to enhance the botanical diversity of Oakwood Cemetery after the 1871 land expansion.
- New York State Cemetery Board Government — Approves amendments to cemetery rules and regulations.
- New York State Department of Corrections Partner — Collaborates to provide employment, training, and community service opportunities for individuals reentering society.
- Rensselaer County Department of Corrections Partner — Collaborates to provide employment, training, and community service opportunities for individuals reentering society.
- Veterans of Lansingburgh Partner — Collaborates with Veterans of Lansingburgh to host annual Memorial Day recognition celebration.
strategies · 3
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.
- Cemetery as Public Historic and Contemplative Spacemethodology: cemetery-as-public-historic-spaceBy operating the cemetery as a multi-functional historic site that integrates burial services with public access to nature, art, architecture, and regional history, the organization fosters public engagement and emotional well-being, because shared cultural and natural landscapes strengthen community connection and provide spaces for reflection.
- Community-Engaged Stewardship through Volunteerism and Educationmethodology: community-engaged-stewardshipBy involving volunteers in preservation, education, and outreach, the organization enhances stewardship of the site and deepens public investment, because active community participation builds ownership, awareness, and long-term sustainability of historic resources.
- Eco-Friendly and Pre-Planned End-of-Life Servicesmethodology: eco-friendly-burialBy offering eco-friendly burial options and promoting advance planning, the organization reduces environmental impact and alleviates family stress during grief, because sustainable practices and proactive decision-making improve both ecological outcomes and emotional resilience for bereaved families.