research dossier

THE PORTAGEVILLE CHAPEL

PORTAGEVILLE, NY · EIN 205979804 · Form 990EZ · FY2025 · NTEE A68 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Micro (<$100K) · portagevillechapel.org

revenue

$28K

expenses

$30K

net assets

$49K

employees

—

mission · from form 990

TO CREATE AND PROVIDE A PLACE OF REAST & RELAXATION FOR PROESSIONAL ORGANISTS. A PRIVATE REHERSAL FACITILITY IS MAINTAINED WHERE ORGANISTS CAN COME DURING THE

profile · synthesized from sources

Retreat center in Portageville, NY, providing professional organists with dedicated time and space for practice, study, and renewal. Maintains a historic chapel with a Schantz organ and a cottage equipped with pianos, serving as a quiet sanctuary for musical development. Located near Letchworth State Park, it supports organists in preparing for exams, liturgical seasons, and personal growth through uninterrupted access to instruments and resources.

named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

Chapel and Cottage Residency

Offers short-term stays in a historic chapel and adjacent cottage equipped with Schantz organ, Knabe and Kawai pianos, and a library for research and composition

Organist Retreat Program

Provides professional organists with lodging and access to practice instruments at the chapel and cottage for focused study, preparation, and personal renewal

activities · 4 groups

What they do

Spiritual Development & Meditation Programs 1 activity
- Operate organist retreat program
  
  Provides week-long retreats for professional organists and musicians, offering a quiet environment for rest, musical practice, spiritual renewal, and artistic development. Activities include access to instruments, shared meals, prayer, nature walks, and support for recording music and planning worship programs.
Public Access to Digital and Physical Library Collections 1 activity
- Provide guest access to music library and children’s programming
  
  Offers guests access to a library with resources for organists and musicians, as well as children's programming via Roku during their stay.
Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
- Restore and preserve historic chapel building
  
  Conducts ongoing restoration and preservation of the historic Portageville Chapel building, beginning in 2007, to maintain the site for use by visitors and retreat participants.
Uncategorized 2 activities
- Maintain musical instruments at the Chapel
  
  Maintains and services a 1982 two-manual Schantz organ and a refurbished 1915 Knabe Grand piano for use by visiting musicians and organists at the Portageville Chapel.
- Provide rental accommodations for retreat guests
  
  Offers weekly rentals of a chapel and a fully equipped three-bedroom cottage for retreats during summer months, including linens, kitchenware, and cooking facilities. Rent is $1,100 per week with an additional $150 per week for each extra bedroom.

financials · form 990EZ · fy2025

revenue

Total revenue$28K

Contributions & grants$13K47%

Program service revenue$15K53%

Investment income$00%

Other revenue—

expenses

Total expenses$30K

Program expenses—

Admin / overhead—

Fundraising—

Salaries & benefits—

Grants paid out—

balance sheet

Total assets$49K

Cash—

Investments—

Liabilities—

Net assets$49K

4 years on record · 2022–2025 · YoY revenue -7.3%

leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 1

TIMOTHY EDWARD SMITH — EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

relationships · 17

Who they work with

Christ Church Partner — Attendees visit for Sunday services and engage with liturgical music.
ELCA NJ Synod Funder — Provided a clergy continuing education grant enabling a guest to attend the Portageville Chapel retreat.
Genesee Country Village Partner — Retreat participants visit for cultural and historical engagement during their stay.
Grand Teton Music Festival Partner — Donated the 1915 Knabe Grand piano to the Chapel.
Helen Partner — Individual involved in hosting or managing retreats at Portageville Chapel.
Helen Smith Partner — Individual contact responsible for managing reservations and communications for chapel and cottage rentals.
Helen Smith Partner — Manages reservations for the chapel's rehearsal facility.
Helen Smith Partner — Primary contact for reservations and scheduling at The Portageville Chapel.
Helen Smith Partner — Staff member providing support and hospitality at the chapel retreat
Letchworth State Park Partner — Visiting organists engage in hikes and nature walks at Letchworth State Park during their retreat.
Niagara Falls Partner — Participants visit as part of their recreational experience during the retreat.
PCUSA Funder — Provides sabbatical grants that subsidize retreats at Portageville Chapel.
Portageville Chapel Board Partner — Governing body responsible for overseeing operations and retreats at Portageville Chapel.
SMU Perkins Chapel Partner — Guest affiliated with SMU Perkins Chapel participated in a retreat at Portageville Chapel.
Sacred Heart Cathedral Partner — Attendees attend Sunday services and experience liturgical music.
Tim Partner — Individual involved in hosting or managing retreats at Portageville Chapel.
Tim Smith Partner — Family member and steward involved in the ongoing care and operation of the chapel retreat

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.

Contemplative Environment in Nature

methodology: contemplative_retreat_in_nature
By offering a nature-integrated, contemplative alternative to traditional religious settings, the Chapel fosters spiritual renewal, because immersion in natural beauty and silence supports reflection and emotional restoration.
Low-Cost Operational Model for Mission Focus

methodology: low_overhead_model
By operating without paid staff and minimizing overhead, the Chapel maximizes resources for building restoration and retreat programming, because a lean structure enables sustainable investment in core artistic and spiritual renewal goals.
Retreat-Based Artistic Renewal

methodology: retreat_based_renewal
By providing uninterrupted time, solitude, and a distraction-free environment in a natural setting, the Chapel supports professional organists in overcoming burnout and rekindling their artistic passion, because immersive conditions enable deep focus and personal reconnection with music.