named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Field Trips
Grade- and age-specific educational visits for school and homeschool groups, tailored to integrate automotive history with science, art, and engineering through hands-on activities.
Guided Group Tours
Hour-long docent-led tours for organized groups of 10 or more, including families, clubs, seniors, and tourists, available by reservation.
Mercedes-Benz 140 Years Exhibition
A feature exhibition tracing the history of Mercedes-Benz from the invention of the automobile to modern engineering, highlighting design and innovation over 140 years.
Simulator Racing Room
An interactive space with high-performance racing simulators that allows guests of all skill levels to experience virtual driving on iconic tracks, host events, and participate in leagues.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Organized Vehicle Show Events 2 activities
- Facilitates vehicle consignment and collector engagementHosts in-person events for prospective consignors to discuss consignment, receive value estimates, take professional photographs, and execute contracts for vehicle exhibitions.
- Hosts annual and recurring car shows and automotive eventsOrganizes large-scale public events including the annual Summer Auto Show and Tuners Car Show at Saratoga Spa State Park, featuring classic, vintage, modern, supercars, and exotic vehicles, with structured programming such as timed registration, judging, awards, and 50/50 raffles.
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Historic Aviation and Transportation Museums 2 activities
- Operates permanent and rotating exhibitions on automotive history and engineeringHosts landmark and rotating exhibitions such as the 140-year history of Mercedes-Benz, the history of the Mercedes-Benz SL, automobile racing in New York State, and the museum’s own building history, displayed in dedicated gallery spaces.
- Preserves and exhibits historic automobiles and automotive artifactsPreserves, interprets, and exhibits automobiles and automotive artifacts, including maintaining a collection of thousands of items related to New York's automotive and racing history through responsible collections management, conservation, and documentation practices.
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Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
- Offers educational programs and guided tours for schools and groupsProvides grade-specific field trip programs for school and homeschool groups integrating history, art, science, and design, along with guided tours for organized groups of 10 or more, serving families, seniors, tourists, and community organizations led by staff or volunteer docents.
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Museum and Historical Gift Shops 1 activity
- Operates museum gift shop and visitor amenitiesRuns a gift shop offering automobile-themed merchandise such as posters, books, and model cars for children and enthusiasts to support visitor engagement and museum revenue.
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Regional Arts Advocacy & Promotion 1 activity
- Partners on cultural and educational programming within Saratoga Spa State ParkCollaborates with SPAC, Spa Little Theater, and the Children’s Museum to host joint cultural and educational programming within the Saratoga Spa State Park campus.
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Digital Visitor Engagement via Mobile App 1 activity
- Provides interactive visitor experiences including simulator racing and digital guidesOffers an interactive Racing Room experience with simulator racing rigs and force-feedback steering for visitors to practice or compete on iconic tracks, and provides a free interactive digital guide via the Bloomberg Connects app to enhance engagement with exhibits.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.26M
Contributions & grants$213K17%
Program service revenue$441K35%
Investment income$15K1%
Other revenue$587K
expenses
Total expenses$1.13M
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$598K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.59M
Cash$782K
Investments$0
Liabilities$128K
Net assets$3.46M
Liquid reserves8.3 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +28.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Megan Hennessey | Executive Director | 40 | $100K |
board members · 17
- Alan J Rosenblum — Trustee
- Anthony Ianniello — Trustee
- Bob Bailey — Vice Chair & Trustee
- Cannon Bailey — Trustee
- D Lee Miller — Trustee
- David DePaulo — Chairman & Trustee
- Derek Miller — Trustee
- Dr Martin Ferrillo — Trustee
- Gary Brown — Trustee
- Gary Siepser — Trustee
- Kair Weimer — Trustee
- Kelly Tobin — Secretary & Trustee
- Ronald Hedger — Trustee
- Scott Lansing — Treasurer & Trustee
- Steven Coons — Trustee
- Steven Harris — Trustee
- Zachary Haggas — Trustee
relationships · 24
Who they work with
- Andrew Hennessey Partner — Staff member assisting with consignment appointments and vehicle evaluation
- Bill Windham Partner — Auction Director involved in consignment discussions and vehicle evaluation
- Bloomberg Connects Partner — Partner organization providing the interactive digital guide platform for the museum's collections and exhibitions.
- Board of Regents of the State of New York Department of Education Government — Chartered by the Board of Regents as a 501(c)3 non-profit institution.
- Children’s Museum Partner — Partner organization providing hands-on learning experiences for families in the Lincoln Bath Building.
- DJ Andy Narzynski Partner — Provides musical entertainment at the Summer Auto Show.
- Empire State Museums Reciprocal Program Network — Offers reciprocal admission privileges through the Empire State Reciprocal Privileges program.
- Empire State Museums Reciprocal Program Network — Participates in the Empire State Museums Reciprocal Program.
- Hartmut Feyhl with RENNtech Partner — Provides loaned vehicles for museum exhibits, including the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GT4 AMG.
- Kyle Hennessey Partner — Auction Specialist involved in consignment discussions and vehicle evaluation
- Megan Hennessey Partner — Contact person for event coordination and information
- Megan Hennessey Partner — Contact person for guided tour reservations and group visit coordination.
- NARM Association Network — Participates in the North American Reciprocal Museum Program through NARM Association.
- NARM Association Network — Participates in the North American Reciprocal Museums program, offering membership privileges to members.
- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Government — Administers the Connect Kids to Parks Grant, which can cover field trip bussing and admission fees for school groups visiting the Saratoga Automobile Museum.
- Nicholas & Shelley Schorsch and the Audrain Collections Partner — Provides loaned vehicles for museum exhibits, including the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II.
- Piston Foundation Partner — Co-hosts fundraising initiatives with the Saratoga Automobile Museum, including a raffle for a 2026 Porsche 911 and $10,000 cash.
- ROAM Network — Member of the Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums, providing reciprocal benefits to members.
- ROAM Network — Participates in the Reciprocal Organizations of Associated Museums Program (ROAM).
- Saratoga Automobile Museum Government — Designated as the steward of New York State's automotive and racing heritage
- Saratoga Performing Arts Center Partner — Co-located cultural partner hosting music festivals and children's programs within Saratoga Spa State Park.
- Saratoga Spa State Park Partner — Hosts the Supercars in the Park event in collaboration with the Saratoga Automobile Museum.
- Spa Little Theater Partner — Co-located performing arts venue offering intimate theatrical performances within the park.
- The Dunne Family Partner — Provides loaned vehicles for museum exhibits, including the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing.
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.
- Cultural Preservation through Thematic and Geographic Focusmethodology: cultural_preservation_and_exhibitionBy focusing on vehicles and artifacts tied to New York State’s automotive and racing heritage, the museum strengthens regional identity and educational relevance, because geographically grounded collections create stronger community ties and contextual authenticity in public interpretation.
- Docent-Led and Personalized Educational Engagementmethodology: docent-led_educationBy using trained volunteer docents and staff to lead guided tours, the museum enhances visitor understanding and connection to exhibits, because personalized, human-led interpretation increases engagement and knowledge retention more than passive viewing.
- Experiential Learning via Interactive and Simulator-Based Engagementmethodology: experiential_learningBy using hands-on activities, interactive driving simulations, and immersive racing experiences, the museum fosters deeper learning and sustained engagement, because experiential formats bridge classroom concepts with real-world applications in science, design, and history while increasing motivation and retention.
- Immersive Cultural Experience through Integrated Heritage and Environmentmethodology: heritage-immersive_exhibitionBy combining automotive exhibitions with historic and natural surroundings, the museum creates an immersive cultural experience that links car culture to local heritage and enhances public engagement, because contextual integration deepens visitor connection and meaning-making.
- Story-Driven Digital and Visitor Participationmethodology: digital-engagementBy providing interactive digital guides and encouraging visitor photography, the museum deepens engagement and promotes organic outreach, because accessible, story-based content and personal documentation foster emotional investment and social sharing that extend the museum experience beyond the visit.