irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $118K3RESEARCH LIBRARY - PUBLIC AND EDUCATIONAL REFERENCE LIBRARY PROVIDING HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS AND GENEOLOGICAL/HISTORY PROGRAMS
- #2 $357KMUSEUM- PUBLIC AND EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITS REFLECTING THE HISTORY OF SUFFOLK COUNTY.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
History Alive Grants
Grants awarded to local groups for historical preservation and educational projects
History Through Music Summer Concert Series
Free summer concerts featuring jazz, classical, Beatles tribute, and country music, connecting musical genres to historical periods
Museum Exhibits
Permanent and rotating exhibits including "Suffolk County: A Timeline Experience" and special exhibitions like "Visions of Freedom" and "For the Blessings of Liberty"
Remote Research Services
Research assistance provided by mail, phone, or email for genealogical and historical inquiries, available to members and non-members
Research Library and Archives
Public and educational reference library with over 20,000 volumes and 840 cubic feet of manuscripts, offering genealogical and historical resources including the Daughters of the Revolution of 1776 records
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Historic Preservation Support Grants 1 activity
- Award HISTORY ALIVE Grants to support local historical initiativesFunds local groups through the HISTORY ALIVE Grant program to promote community-based historical projects and programming.
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Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
- Collect, preserve, and interpret contemporary and historical artifacts and storiesMaintains a collection of approximately 20,000 historical objects, including the Hulbert Flag and silver crafted by early Suffolk County silversmiths. Actively collects personal accounts and images from the COVID-19 pandemic for archival preservation.
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Free Outdoor Music Concerts 1 activity
- Deliver educational programs and public eventsHosts a summer concert series with free live music included with admission, sends event invitations to members, and launched a Moveable Museum program that brings exhibits to local schools and communities.
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Professional Membership and Association Benefits 1 activity
- Offer membership benefits including discounts and exclusive contentProvides members with free library access, discounted research and photocopying services, a 10% discount at the Weathervane Gift Shop, and exclusive content such as the weekly Photo of the Week email and event invitations.
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Museum and Historical Gift Shops 1 activity
- Operate book and gift shops offering historical materials and merchandiseRuns the Weathervane Book Shop with over 600 titles on Suffolk County topics including genealogy, Indigenous communities, maritime history, and regional figures, and operates a gift shop offering historically themed items since 1973.
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Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Operate public museum with permanent and rotating exhibits on Suffolk County historyManages a museum open to the public Wednesday through Saturday, featuring permanent exhibits such as 'Suffolk County: A Timeline Experience,' whaling history, early transportation, military history, and rotating displays in multiple galleries. The museum building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes ADA-compliant access.
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Local History Archival Access 1 activity
- Provide public access to research library and archival collectionsOperates a research library and archives with over 20,000 volumes and 840 cubic feet of manuscripts related to Suffolk County history. Offers in-person access Wednesday through Friday and by appointment on Saturdays, remote research services via mail, phone, or email, and supervised access to collections for researchers.
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Local History Publishing 1 activity
- Publish historical and genealogical research through the Journal and other outletsProduces and distributes the annual Journal of the Suffolk County Historical Society, which features peer-reviewed historical and genealogical articles, accepting submissions of unpublished records including Bible and cemetery transcriptions. The Journal is distributed to members and available by subscription to institutions.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$490K
Contributions & grants$447K91%
Program service revenue$2K0%
Investment income$40K8%
Other revenue$1K
expenses
Total expenses$589K
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$347K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.24M
Cash$86K
Investments$656K
Liabilities$105K
Net assets$2.13M
Liquid reserves15.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +17.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS VICTORIA BERGER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $101K |
board members · 3
- MR TIMOTHY CAREW — TRUSTEE
- MS MARYLAURA LAMONT — TRUSTEE
- MS MELANIE CARDONE-LEATHERS — TRUSTEE
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- Facebook Partner — Shares content through a Facebook page.
- Facebook Partner — Uses Facebook for outreach and engagement
- German Genealogy Group Partner — Hosts online access to the index of the Daughters of the Revolution of 1776 membership applications and the Ackerly Collection index on behalf of the Suffolk County Historical Society.
- Instagram Partner — Shares content through an Instagram account.
- Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram for outreach and engagement
- PayPal Partner — Enables credit card donations and membership payments through the PayPal Donate button.
- Robert D.L. Gardiner Foundation Funder — Provided a $400,000 grant for the construction of an ADA-compliant wing.
- Robert David Lion Gardiner Partner — Features exhibits honoring Robert David Lion Gardiner's passion for Suffolk County's history, including content on Gardiner's Island and the Gardiner family.
- Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation Funder — Funds the 'Suffolk County: A Timeline Experience' permanent exhibit.
- Suffolk County Department of Economic Development Government — Sponsors the History Through Music Summer Concert Series.
- Suffolk County Legislature Government — Provides partial sponsorship for the History Through Music Summer Concert Series.
- Suffolk County Water Authority Partner — Hosts an off-site historical exhibit on the Pine Barrens at its Education Center in Hauppauge.
- United States Department of the Interior Government — Listed the society's building on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
- Weathervane Book Shop Partner — On-site bookstore operated in partnership with the Suffolk County Historical Society to sell local history books and related items.
- Women Sharing Art, Inc. Partner — Collaborates on the curation and presentation of the 'Visions of Freedom' multimedia exhibition.
- YouTube Partner — Shares video content through a YouTube channel.
- YouTube Partner — Uses YouTube to share content and engage audiences
- director@schs-musuem.org Partner — Email contact point for receiving submissions and queries related to the Journal.
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.
- Collect, Preserve, and Interpret Frameworkmethodology: collect-preserve-interpretBy systematically collecting, preserving, and interpreting regional historical materials, the organization strengthens public understanding and connection to Suffolk County's identity, because sustained access to authentic, curated history fosters community continuity and educational engagement.
- Contemporary Interpretive Engagementmethodology: contemporary_interpretation_of_historyBy using contemporary interpretive methods and rotating exhibits, the organization makes historical content relevant to evolving audiences, because connecting past narratives to current social themes increases public resonance and visitation.
- Scholarly Quality Controlmethodology: scholarly_peer_reviewBy applying formal editorial standards and peer review to its historical journal, the organization ensures academic credibility and long-term value of its research outputs, because adherence to recognized scholarly norms increases trust and utility among researchers and institutions.