named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Featured Artist Program
Annual selection of a Roycroft Master or Artisan to create official festival posters and receive special recognition, promoting their work to collectors.
Goodie Box Fundraiser
Annual fundraising initiative centered on a curated wooden trunk filled with handcrafted items by Roycroft artisans, culminating in a winner-take-all raffle.
Roycroft Summer Festival
Annual multi-day festival in East Aurora, NY featuring live artist demonstrations, juried exhibitions, and the debut of collectible art posters by featured Roycroft artisans.
Roycroft Winter Festival
Annual winter event showcasing Roycroft Masters, Artisans, and Emerging Artists with live demonstrations, art sales, and member-exclusive benefits.
The Chronicle
Members-only publication mailed nationally, providing updates on RALA activities, artist features, and organizational news.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Art Appreciation and Public Engagement 1 activity
- Advancing the Arts & Crafts Movement through education and public programmingProvides education and inspiration to artisans and the public through presentations on Roycroft history, culture, and artistic philosophy, supporting the broader Arts & Crafts Movement.
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Historic Site Designation Advocacy 1 activity
- Designating and preserving the Roycroft Campus as a National Historic LandmarkAdvocated for and supported the designation of the Roycroft Campus as a National Historic Landmark, and organizes special events centered on the campus to preserve its history and philosophy.
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Community Event Fundraising 1 activity
- Operating the Goodie Box annual fundraising raffleOrganizes and conducts an annual Goodie Box fundraiser, a tradition for over 20 years, featuring a curated collection of artisan-made goods valued at over $7,000–$8,000, including a centerpiece by a Roycroft Master. Raffle tickets are sold at $5 each or three for $10 at festivals and events, with the final drawing held at the National Arts and Crafts Conference in Asheville, NC.
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Architecture and Design Public Education Programs 1 activity
- Operating the Little Journeys speaker seriesRevives and runs the Roycroft Little Journey Speaker Series, featuring presentations by master artisans, art collectors, and Roycroft artists on topics related to the Arts & Crafts Movement. Events are held at The Roycroft Inn Complex and include a cocktail hour, lecture, and opportunities for public engagement with artisans.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Organizing and presenting annual Roycroft Summer and Winter FestivalsHosts two major annual festivals—the Roycroft Summer Festival on the final full weekend of June and the Roycroft Winter Festival on the first full weekend of December—featuring juried artisans across all mediums, live demonstrations, and sales of handcrafted goods. The festivals include reserved booths for emerging artists selected through a competitive application process.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Producing and distributing promotional and educational content for membersProduces and mails The Chronicle, a members-only publication continuously issued since the organization's founding, and features juried artisans in the RALA Newsletter with photos and resumes to promote their work.
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Artist Support Grants 1 activity
- Providing grants to Master Artisans for professional developmentFunds Master Artisans to attend craft-oriented classes or seminars, supporting their continued artistic growth and skill development.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Supporting emerging artists through dedicated programs and opportunitiesOffers the Emerging Artists Program and reserves four booths at the Roycroft Summer Festival for emerging artists through a competitive application process. Plans new educational and mentorship opportunities tied to the Summer and Winter Festivals to support early-career artisans.
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Uncategorized 4 activities
- Administering artisan jurying and status advancement processesConducts an annual jurying process composed of master artisans to evaluate and approve new Roycroft Renaissance Artisans. Requires annual re-jurying for new artisans and re-jurying every five years for Master Artisans. Provides a pathway to Master Artisan status after four consecutive years of approval and peer nomination with endorsement from three master artisans.
- Conducting trademark advocacy and brand protectionMaintains ownership of the U.S. Reg 3358572 Double R Logo trademark and actively polices its use to prevent unauthorized use or modifications that could cause confusion, ensuring brand integrity.
- Distributing membership premium gifts and festival door prizesProvides handcrafted premium gifts such as a leather card wallet to new Patron-level members who join during the festival and awards one-of-a-kind door prizes like the "Silver Snowflake" silversmith piece at the Winter Festival to enhance member engagement.
- Releasing limited-edition festival artwork and collectiblesProduces limited runs of collectible festival posters by Roycroft Artisans, such as the 2025 Winter poster by Laura Wilder, and selects a Featured Artist annually through a competitive submission process to highlight artistic excellence.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$97K
Contributions & grants$7K8%
Program service revenue$57K59%
Investment income$9501%
Other revenue$19K
expenses
Total expenses$81K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$20K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$79K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$77K
4 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue +28.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TAMI SELPH | COORDINATOR | 2 | $20K |
board members · 6
- BILL PICTOR — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID TUNDO — BOARD MEMBER
- JULIE LEIDEL — BOARD MEMBER
- MICHAEL CANCILLA — BOARD MEMBER
- PATTY CANCILLA — BOARD MEMBER
- RON VANOSTRAND — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 26
Who they work with
- Aurora Historical Society Partner — Collaborates on historical programming and events such as the annual political roast fundraiser.
- Aurora Historical Society New York Partner — Provides an original Goodie on loan for display and use in the Goodie Box raffle.
- Burchfield Penney Art Center Partner — Collaborates with RALA on programming, holds the largest public collection of Roycroft objects, and represents contemporary Roycroft Renaissance Artisans in its collections.
- Charles Hamilton Partner — Historian and founding member who contributed expertise on Elbert Hubbard and the Roycroft movement.
- Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Funder — Provided funding support, as indicated by the logo and "Make The Most of Your Generosity" branding
- Erie County Government — Supported by Erie County, as indicated by the presence of the Erie County seal on the website
- Hampton Inn Partner — Hosts the Roycroft Winter Festival at its location on Olean Rd., East Aurora, NY.
- Hampton Inn of East Aurora Partner — Host venue for the 2025 Roycroft Winter Festival
- Joe Kirchmeyer Partner — Collaborated with RALA to publish an article on Laura Wilder in The Chronicle in 2015 through Kirchmeyer Media, LLC.
- Kitty Turgeon Partner — Key figure in RALA's early efforts to preserve the Roycroft Campus and achieve National Historic Landmark status.
- Master Artisan Partner — Master Artisans serve on the jury, sponsor prospective artisans, and provide nominations and endorsements for advancement to Master Artisan status.
- Mission Guild Studio Partner — Contributed items to the 2026 Goodie Box as Masters in Clay
- Nancy Hubbard Partner — Granddaughter of Elbert Hubbard and founding member of RALA, providing familial and historical connection to the Roycroft legacy.
- Parkdale Elementary School Partner — Former venue for the Roycroft Summer Festival during the 2010 campus renovations in East Aurora, NY.
- Rixford Jennings Partner — Local artist and founding member who redesigned the Roycroft mark for RALA to signify the Roycroft Renaissance.
- Roycroft Campus Partner — Collaborates on community and educational initiatives, linked through shared history and mission.
- Roycroft Master Artisans Partner — Collaborates with the Roycroft Master Artisans to conduct an annual review and selection of RALA artisans.
- Scherenschnitte Originals Partner — Contributed items to the 2026 Goodie Box through Suzanne Handel Mair, Master in Paper
- The Bungalow Craft Partner — Contributed items to the 2026 Goodie Box through Julie Leidel, Master in Painting
- The Classic Rink Partner — Current venue for the Roycroft Summer Festival, providing a partially protected space in East Aurora, NY.
- The Clinker Press Partner — Contributed items to the 2026 Goodie Box through Andre M. Chaves, Artisan in Letterpress/Book Arts
- The Roycroft Inn Partner — Co-hosts the Roycroft Little Journey Speaker Series with RALA
- The Roycroft Inn Partner — Co-presents the Little Journeys speaker series and hosts events at its complex in East Aurora.
- The Roycroft Inn Partner — Generous sponsor of the Little Journeys speaker series, with ongoing support since 2024.
- The Roycroft Inn Partner — Provides venue space and ongoing sponsorship for the Little Journey speaker series.
- aMEUSEments Studio Partner — Contributed items to the 2026 Goodie Box through Leah Corey, Master in Beadwork
strategies · 4
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.
- Artist-Centered Community Programmingmethodology: artist-community engagement through educational programmingBy centering festivals and public events around original artwork and intimate artist talks modeled on Elbert Hubbard’s Little Journeys, the organization sustains public engagement because direct access to artisans’ processes builds personal connection and supports the visibility of living craft traditions.
- Guild-Based Artisan Developmentmethodology: guild-based mentorshipBy using a guild-like community model with rigorous jurying, mentorship, and quality standards, the organization ensures high artistic integrity and continuous improvement among artisans because structured peer validation and tradition-based excellence reinforce craftsmanship as a living practice.
- Head, Heart, and Hand Philosophymethodology: head-heart-hand philosophyBy integrating intellectual, emotional, and manual labor in craftsmanship, the organization fosters meaningful artistic engagement and counters the dehumanizing effects of industrialization, producing higher-quality work and deeper artisan commitment.
- Heritage-Based Education and Engagementmethodology: heritage-based educationBy connecting contemporary art and music programming to the historical legacy of Elbert Hubbard and the Roycroft Movement, the organization deepens public engagement and educational impact because shared history creates continuity and authentic connection to the modern movement.