named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Annual Conference
International gathering featuring scholarly panels, lectures, and networking events for researchers in Renaissance studies
Digital Humanities Initiatives
Supports innovative, multidisciplinary research projects using digital tools and methodologies in Renaissance studies
Renaissance Quarterly
Peer-reviewed academic journal publishing research on all aspects of Renaissance studies, published in partnership with Cambridge University Press
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Member-Exclusive Resource Access 1 activity
- Distribute digital resources and publications to membersProvides members with unlimited online access to the full run of Renaissance Quarterly and Renaissance News, along with themed bibliographies, teaching resources, best practices in digital scholarship, and a monthly electronic newsletter highlighting RSA activities and research opportunities.
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Mentorship and Professional Development Programs 1 activity
- Facilitate mentorship and collaborative networksOperates a mentoring program that connects members and supports collaboration, resulting in co-organized conference panels and professional growth within the field of Renaissance studies.
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Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 1 activity
- Organize annual and specialized academic conferencesHosts an annual academic conference in U.S. cities with attention to accessibility and proximity to cultural sites, featuring named lectures, conference sessions, and opportunities for scholarly exchange. Also organizes or co-sponsors specialized symposia and international conferences on focused topics in Renaissance studies, such as George Gascoigne, Arcangela Tarabotti, sound in early modern Europe, and Stuart drama.
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Library Staff Professional Development 1 activity
- Provide professional development programming for scholarsOffers live and recorded webinars, discussion groups, and resources on career development, publishing, grant writing, digital humanities, archival research, and conference proposal preparation. Programming is available to members and supports ongoing skill-building in Renaissance studies.
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Academic Journal and Scholarly Publication 1 activity
- Publish scholarly research in Renaissance studiesProduces and disseminates peer-reviewed scholarly research through the journal Renaissance Quarterly, publishing approximately twenty articles and 400 reviews annually. The journal has served as a venue for original research and interpretation in Renaissance studies since 1948.
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Advanced Literary Scholarship and Advocacy 1 activity
- Recognize achievements in Renaissance studiesAwards annual prizes and honors, including the William Nelson Prize for the best article in Renaissance Quarterly and other awards recognizing excellence and innovation in scholarship, teaching, and digital humanities within the field.
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Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
- Support member scholarship through grants and fellowshipsFunds research and participation in academic activities by awarding need-based travel, diversity, and on-site care grants for the annual conference; research fellowships for active members; and scholarships for high school teachers and digital humanities programs like DHSI. Also funds public engagement and digital innovation through targeted fellowships and awards.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.16M
Contributions & grants$439K38%
Program service revenue$640K55%
Investment income$78K7%
Other revenue$19
expenses
Total expenses$1.36M
Program expenses77%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$595K
Grants paid out$86K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.96M
Cash$242K
Investments$3.57M
Liabilities$183K
Net assets$3.77M
Liquid reserves33.6 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +10.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 7
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARLA ZECHER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 35 | $156K |
| JOHN DECKER THRU 1224 | DIRECTOR | 1 | $12K |
| BRIAN MAXSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $4K |
| MARJORIE RUBRIGHT | DIRECTOR | 1 | $4K |
| ANGELICA DURAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $2K |
| BARBARA FUCHS | OFFICER | 5 | $2K |
| CECILE FROMONT | DIRECTOR | 1 | $2K |
board members · 13
- BRONWEN WILSON — VICE PRESIDENT
- CORNESHA TWEEDE — DIRECTOR
- ELIZABETH PENRY — DIRECTOR
- HERMAN BENNETT — PRESIDENT
- JAMES SHULMAN — TREASURER
- JENNIFER DESILVA — DIRECTOR
- JULIA TOMASSON — DIRECTOR
- NICHOLAS TERPSTRA — IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
- OWEN WILLIAMS — SECRETARY
- RAY SIEMENS — DIRECTOR
- RICARDO PADRN — DIRECTOR
- SUREKHA DAVIES — DIRECTOR
- VERA KELLER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 27
Who they work with
- 365 Fifth Avenue Government — Hosts the RSA at Room 5405 in New York, NY
- ACLS Humanities E-Book Partner — Offers RSA members discounted access to a curated collection of high-quality humanities e-books.
- ACLS Humanities E-Book Partner — Offers discounted access to its online collection of humanities books for RSA members.
- Brill Partner — Collaborates with the RSA on the RSA-Brill Renaissance Texts and Studies Series.
- Brill Partner — Offers RSA members discounts on titles in the RSA-Brill Renaissance Texts and Studies Series.
- Cambridge University Press Partner — Collaborates to publish Renaissance Quarterly and Renaissance News for member access.
- Cambridge University Press Partner — Collaborates with Cambridge University Press to publish Renaissance Quarterly
- Cambridge University Press Partner — Publishes Renaissance Quarterly and Renaissance News on behalf of the RSA.
- Digital Humanities Summer Institute Partner — Partners with RSA to offer tuition scholarships for its programs.
- Dumbarton Oaks Partner — Co-organizes mentorship program for East-Central European Scholars.
- European Association for Urban History Network — Participates in the EAUH 2026 conference with a session on narrated cityscapes.
- Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation Funder — Provides generous support for the RSA Public Engagement Fellowship.
- Hannah and Edward W. Carter Endowment for Programming in Early Modern Art Funder — Sponsors the Josephine Waters Bennett Lecture at the RSA 2027 Annual Meeting.
- Intention Foundation Funder — Provided a microgrant supporting the RSA Nonprofit Governance Fellowships.
- JSTOR Partner — Provides RSA members access to JPASS, enabling discounted access to over 1,500 journals in JSTOR’s archival collections.
- JSTOR Partner — Provides discounted access to JPASS for RSA members.
- Leibniz Institute of European History Partner — Partners on organizing a conference about African Christian pasts in Renaissance Europe.
- PlumBenefits Partner — Provides RSA members with entertainment discounts, preferred seating, and travel planning benefits.
- PlumBenefits Partner — Provides entertainment discounts, preferred seating, and travel planning benefits to RSA members.
- ProQuest Partner — Featured in an advertisement on the RSA website, indicating a promotional or sponsorship partnership.
- Sixteenth Century Society Partner — Collaborates with RSA on a joint microgrant from the ACLS Intention Foundry Program.
- Société Française Shakespeare Partner — Collaborates on the "Multiple Hands: Shakespeare and Collaborative Creation" conference.
- Swiss Institute of Comparative Religion Partner — Collaborates on hosting the REFORC Conference on Early Modern Christianity.
- University of Chicago Press Partner — Publishes Renaissance Quarterly on behalf of the Renaissance Society of America starting with volume 79 (2026).
- Université de Caen Normandie Partner — Co-organizes the international conference "From Imagination to Remains, From Remains to Imagination."
- YourMembership Partner — Platform provider for membership software
- YourMembership Partner — Uses membership software provided by YourMembership.
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.
- Digital and AI-Enhanced Scholarly Accessmethodology: digital_and_educational_resource_sharingBy leveraging digital platforms, virtual programming, and AI tools to expand access to archives and scholarly exchange, the organization increases inclusivity and innovation in research because technological augmentation lowers barriers to entry and reimagines traditional modes of humanistic inquiry.
- Income-Based Self-Determined Membership Modelmethodology: sliding_scale_duesBy allowing members to self-determine dues based on income, the organization ensures equitable access to participation in scholarly activities because financial inclusivity strengthens community diversity and broadens engagement across economic circumstances.
- Interdisciplinary Scholarly Integrationmethodology: interdisciplinary_scholarshipBy convening scholars across disciplines and publishing cross-cutting research, the organization advances Renaissance studies because interdisciplinary dialogue generates richer theoretical and methodological innovation than single-field approaches.