irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $3.11MAUDIO TOUR: UNDER AN AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, THE FOUNDATION OPERATES A AUDIO TOUR PROGRAM WITH CONTENT COVERING LIBERTY ISLAND AND THE ELLIS ISLAND MUSEUM. THE AUDIO TOUR IS AVAILABLE IN 12 LANGUAGES, AS WELL AS AN ASL AND AUDIO DESCRIPTOR TOUR. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, AUDIO TOURS WERE AVAILABLE TO THE APPROXIMATELY 3.6 MILLION VISITORS TO LIBERTY AND ELLIS ISLANDS.
- #2 $753KTHE AMERICAN FAMILY IMMIGRATION HISTORY CENTER (AFIHC) AT ELLIS ISLAND WELCOMES TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS ANNUALLY. FOUNDATION STAFF OPERATE THE FAMILY HISTORY CENTER, WELCOMING VISITORS TO SEARCH FOR THEIR FAMILY'S RECORDS. THE FOUNDATION'S 65-MILLION-RECORD ELECTRONIC DATABASE CONTAINS THE ARRIVAL RECORDS OF IMMIGRANTS, PASSENGERS, AND CREW MEMBERS WHO ENTERED THE UNITED STATES THROUGH THE PORT OF NEW YORK/ELLIS ISLAND BETWEEN 1820-1957. THE DATABASE, WHICH IS MANAGED BY THE FOUNDATION, IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR FREE AT WWW.LIBERTYELLISFOUNDATION.ORG. REVENUES ARE GENERATED BY RESERVATION FEES FOR TERMINALS AT THE CENTER, AS WELL AS SALES FROM HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS AND OTHER MISSION-RELATED PRODUCTS ON THE WEB AND AT THE CENTER.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
American Family Immigration History Center (AFIHC)
Provides public access to a 65-million-record database of immigrant arrival records from 1820–1957, with research support and online tools for family history exploration.
American Immigrant Wall of Honor
A commemorative monument on Ellis Island celebrating immigrant stories, with expansion efforts to include more individuals and families.
Self-Guided Audio Tour
Audio tours available in 12 languages, plus ASL and audio descriptor versions, covering Liberty Island and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.
Statue of Liberty Museum
A LEED-certified museum on Liberty Island offering exhibits on the history and significance of the Statue of Liberty, including the original torch and immersive educational experiences.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Digital Visitor Engagement via Mobile App 1 activity
- Development and distribution of digital educational resourcesProvides free digital educational tools including a mobile app via Bloomberg Connects, augmented reality experiences, video vignettes, a map of NYC immigration landmarks, real-time camera views of the Statue of Liberty, and other online content to enhance public understanding of immigration history and promote national heritage.
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Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
- Operation of the American Immigrant Wall of HonorMaintains and expands the American Immigrant Wall of Honor on Ellis Island, a permanent tribute featuring nearly one million names of immigrants, with on-site kiosks for name searches and ongoing expansion to accommodate new names due to public interest.
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Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Operation of the Statue of Liberty Museum and Ellis Island National Museum of ImmigrationOperates the Statue of Liberty Museum, which opened in 2019 as a LEED-certified, freestanding facility providing universal access to exhibits including the statue’s original torch, and oversees the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, engaging the public in stewardship and education around American immigration history.
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Oral History Collection and Preservation 1 activity
- Preservation of oral histories and cultural narrativesConducts and maintains an oral history project featuring nearly 2,000 interviews that preserve personal stories and diverse perspectives on the Ellis Island immigrant experience, contributing to a more inclusive historical record.
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Uncategorized 3 activities
- Delivery of multilingual audio tours and accessibility servicesOperates an audio tour program at Liberty Island and Ellis Island available in 12 languages, American Sign Language (ASL), and audio descriptor formats, serving approximately 3.6 million visitors during fiscal year 2025.
- Provision of digital and on-site access to passenger arrival recordsMaintains and operates the American Family Immigration History Center at Ellis Island and provides online and on-site access to databases containing over 65 million (and up to 100 million) passenger arrival records from 1820 to 1954/1957, enabling individuals to trace their family immigration histories through advanced search tools, kiosks, and an Arrival Search platform.
- Restoration and preservation of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis IslandPartners with the National Park Service to restore, preserve, and maintain the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, including major restoration projects such as the 1985 installation of a replica torch and the 1990 re-opening of Ellis Island. The organization has raised hundreds of millions of dollars from private donations to support these efforts.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$36.40M
Contributions & grants$20.00M55%
Program service revenue$12.53M34%
Investment income$3.46M10%
Other revenue$411K
expenses
Total expenses$34.02M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$3.48M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$103.82M
Cash$7.24M
Investments$88.05M
Liabilities$2.64M
Net assets$101.18M
Liquid reserves33.6 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +8.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 9
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JESSE BRACKENBURY | DIR/PRES/CEO | 40 | $455K |
| RENEE WOOD | CFAO & SECRETARY | 40 | $258K |
| THOMAS TOLENTINO | SENIOR VP & COO | 40 | $256K |
| RICHARD P FLOOD | VP & CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER | 40 | $251K |
| ANDREA BLAIR SAMUEL | CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER | 40 | $225K |
| SHERRENETTE TINAPUNAN | DIRECTOR OF SOFTWARE DEV & DATABASE MGMT | 40 | $168K |
| DIANE TOLAND | PROJECT DIRECTOR | 40 | $157K |
| SUZANNE MANNION DIRECTOR | OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (UNTIL 6/28/24) | 40 | $132K |
| MONICA ACQUAVIVA DIR OF IT | INFRASTRUCTURE & MUSEUM EX | 40 | $132K |
board members · 16
- ALBERT BELLAS — DIRECTOR
- ANDREW TISCH — DIRECTOR
- BRUCE KELLER — DIRECTOR
- CHRISTOPHER FORBES — DIRECTOR
- DEBORAH SIMON — DIRECTOR
- EMILIO ESTEFAN — DIRECTOR
- HENRY LOUIS GATES JR — DIRECTOR
- JEFFREY GURAL — DIRECTOR
- JOSIE NATORI — DIRECTOR
- KAREN JURGENSEN — DIRECTOR
- LISA SHALETT — DIRECTOR
- LUIS UBINAS — CHAIRMAN
- MASSIMO FERRAGAMO — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL DONOVAN — TREASURER
- MICHAEL O'BANNON — DIRECTOR
- MIGUEL BEZOS — DIRECTOR
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- American Immigrant Wall of Honor Partner — Collaborates on maintaining a permanent tribute featuring nearly one million names of immigrants on Ellis Island.
- American Immigrant Wall of Honor Partner — Collaborates on the operation and commemoration efforts of the American Immigrant Wall of Honor at Ellis Island.
- Bloomberg Connects Partner — Provides the digital platform for the Foundation's free visitor guide.
- Lee Iacocca Government — Founded the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation at the request of President Ronald Reagan to lead the private-sector restoration effort.
- National Park Service Government — Collaborates on visitor information and guided tours for Ellis Island.
- National Park Service Government — Collaborates on visitor information and site management for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
- National Park Service Government — Operates the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island in partnership with the Foundation.
- National Park Service Government — Works in a private-public partnership with the National Park Service to maintain the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
- National Park Service Partner — Collaborates under agreement to operate audio tours and jointly approve use of generated revenues for shared projects at Liberty and Ellis Islands.
- National Park Service Partner — Collaborates with the Foundation on the restoration and preservation of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
- Statue City Cruises Partner — Authorized concessionaire providing ferry access and ticketing to Liberty and Ellis Islands.
- Statue City Cruises Partner — Authorized ferry service provider for transportation and ticketing to Liberty and Ellis Islands.
- Statue Cruises Partner — Authorized ferry operator providing access to Ellis Island for visitors.
- Statue of Liberty Museum Partner — Operates the museum where the original torch is displayed.
- Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation Network — Organization responsible for preserving the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and advancing educational programs about American immigration.
- Steward of the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration Partner — Recognizes individuals as Stewards who support the mission of the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.
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.
- Cultural Heritage Engagement Through Immigrant Narratives 54 orgsmethodology: civic-engagement-through-immigrant-narrativesBy centering immigrant stories and personal tributes in museum revitalization and digital access initiatives, the organization strengthens national identity and public connection to history, because personal narrative fosters emotional engagement and collective remembrance more effectively than institutional history alone.shared approach: Preservation Through Access and Engagement →
- Digital Access as a Tool for Inclusive Historical Engagement 54 orgsmethodology: remote-heritage-engagementBy expanding digital access to historical collections and educational tools, the organization enables broader and more equitable public engagement with American immigration history, because removing geographic and physical barriers allows individuals worldwide to form personal connections to heritage regardless of location.shared approach: Preservation Through Access and Engagement →
- Public-Private Partnership for National Monument Preservation 5 orgsmethodology: public-private_partnershipBy partnering with the National Park Service and leveraging private funding, the organization ensures the long-term preservation and restoration of national monuments, because combining public stewardship with private resources enables sustainable investment in infrastructure and programming that neither sector could fully support alone.shared approach: Public-Private Partnership for Preservation →