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ELSIE K POWELL HOUSE INC

OLD CHATHAM, NY · EIN 141467967 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE X03 · Religion-Related · Small ($100K-$1M) · powellhouse.org
revenue
$575K
expenses
$535K
net assets
$1.5M
employees
15
program ratio
77%
mission · from form 990

QUAKER ORGANIZATION PROVIDING CONFERENCES AND RETREAT FACILITIES FOR NEW YORK YEARLY MEETING.

profile · synthesized from sources

Quaker retreat and conference center located in Old Chatham, NY, serving the New York Yearly Meeting and affiliated communities. Provides facilities and programming for spiritual retreats, youth conferences, intergenerational gatherings, and adult workshops focused on Quaker values, decision-making, and contemplative practice. Hosts events for regional Meetings and specialized groups within the Yearly Meeting.

named programs · 7 · from sources

What they call their work

Dwelling Deep: A Contemplative Retreat
Adult retreat emphasizing silence, solitude, worship, and spiritual reflection.
EarthSong
Annual youth conference for grades 7–12 celebrating community and marking transitions, including a senior send-off ceremony.
Fall Work-Weekend
Intergenerational event focused on stewardship and maintenance of Powell House facilities.
Falling Into Friendships
Youth conference for grades 4–9 focusing on themes of friendship, games, and shared adventures.
Friends Decision-Making and Clerking
Workshop for adult Quakers to deepen understanding of Quaker business practices and clerking roles.
Listening to My Conscience
Youth conference for grades 10–12 centered on articulating personal beliefs and statements of conscience.
Spinning Circles
Youth conference for grades 4–12 featuring tie-dye, batik, hikes, bonfires, and creative play.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Managed Campground and Retreat Operations 3 activities
    • Hosts conferences and retreats for Quaker and other groups
      Provides conference and retreat facilities for New York Yearly Meeting and other groups, hosting an average of 70 conferences and retreats annually and serving 2,500 people each year. Facilities include Pitt Hall, which accommodates up to 100 people, and offers overnight accommodations, meals, and event support.
    • Maintains retreat facility and natural grounds
      Manages 57 acres of land featuring hiking trails, two ponds, a campground, a pavilion, and fire circles. Maintains facilities including Pitt Hall and the Anna Curtis Center, with recent renovations improving accessibility and environmental sustainability.
    • Provides personal and small group retreat opportunities
      Offers personal and small group retreat accommodations for individuals and families seeking reflection and relaxation, with overnight lodging options including shared rooms and full-cottage rentals such as the Knoll House. Rates are structured per person with shared accommodations available.
  • Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
    • Offers financial assistance for retreat participation
      Provides scholarships and financial assistance to individuals who need support to attend events, ensuring broader access to retreat and conference programs.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Operates youth conferences and programs
      Runs youth conferences for grades 4–12 at the Anna Curtis Center, focusing on themes of friendship, identity, creativity, spiritual development, and community-building. Programs include age-specific retreats, skill-building activities, and annual celebratory events, with accommodations for 46 guests and accessible facilities.
  • Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
    • Organizes seasonal work weekends and community events
      Hosts intergenerational work weekends in spring and fall for community members to engage in stewardship of the Powell House grounds, including maintenance and improvement projects. Also organizes special events such as Winter Wonderland and New Year’s Eve celebrations.
  • Organizational Governance & Leadership Development 1 activity
    • Provides operational and strategic management
      Employs staff to ensure smooth operations and develops strategic initiatives to strengthen programming and operations. Hosts biannual committee meetings and annual retreats for governance coordination with the Yearly Meeting and local Quaker groups.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Provides meals and guest services during stays
      Offers food services during retreats and conferences through a dedicated Food Service Manager, providing all three daily meals at $40 per person when available. Also supplies bed linens, towels, and health-related items such as masks and rapid tests to attendees.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$575K
Contributions & grants$179K31%
Program service revenue$279K49%
Investment income$117K20%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$535K
Program expenses77%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$296K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.70M
Cash$249K
Investments$563K
Liabilities$181K
Net assets$1.52M
Liquid reserves18.2 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +41.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 9
  • AMY WHITE — TREASURER
  • BEATRICE BEGUIN — SECRETARY
  • ELISE BACON — PRESIDENT
  • JIM MILES — DIRECTOR
  • KRISTIN MCGIVER — DIRECTOR
  • LISELI HAINES — VICE PRESIDENT
  • MARK LA RIVIERE — DIRECTOR
  • MARY WILLIAMS — DIRECTOR
  • NEAL MURDOCK — DIRECTOR
relationships · 21

Who they work with

  • ADA Government — Follows ADA guidelines for service animal policies.
  • Binghamton Community Friends Meeting Partner — Participating Quaker meeting in the Butternuts Quarter retreat hosted at Powell House.
  • Bryant Partner — Office Manager responsible for office operations.
  • Butternuts Friends Meeting Partner — Participating Quaker meeting in the Butternuts Quarter retreat hosted at Powell House.
  • Cooperstown Worship Group Partner — Participating Quaker worship group in the Butternuts Quarter retreat hosted at Powell House.
  • Erin Partner — Interim Executive Director responsible for leadership and management.
  • Friends Fiduciary Partner — Processes donations of stock and other financial securities for Powell House
  • Hamilton Friends Meeting Partner — Participating Quaker meeting in the Butternuts Quarter retreat hosted at Powell House.
  • Kim Partner — Food Service Manager overseeing food service operations.
  • Mohawk Valley Friends Meeting Partner — Participating Quaker meeting in the Butternuts Quarter retreat hosted at Powell House.
  • Monya Partner — Youth Conference Co-Facilitator involved in facilitating youth conferences.
  • New York Yearly Meeting Network — Operates as the conference and retreat center of New York Yearly Meeting.
  • New York Yearly Meeting Network — Powell House serves as a retreat and conference center for constituent meetings of the New York Yearly Meeting.
  • New York Yearly Meeting Partner — Provides conference and retreat facilities for New York Yearly Meeting.
  • New York Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends Network — Conference and retreat center affiliated with and operated under the New York Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
  • New York Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends Network — Parent organization that established Powell House and appoints members of the Powell House Committee.
  • Oneonta Worship Group Partner — Participating Quaker worship group in the Butternuts Quarter retreat hosted at Powell House.
  • Shannon Partner — Bookkeeper responsible for financial record-keeping.
  • Unadilla Friends Meeting Partner — Participating Quaker meeting in the Butternuts Quarter retreat hosted at Powell House.
  • Yana Partner — Interim Youth Conference Coordinator responsible for youth conference planning.
  • info@powellhouse.org Partner — Contact point for donation inquiries and potential contributions not listed on the wish list.
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.

  • Living Quakerism through Continuing Revelation
    methodology: living_quakerism
    By fostering a spiritual practice rooted in the belief that divine insight continues to unfold, the organization enables personal and collective transformation because it affirms that all individuals can access ongoing guidance and truth.
  • Participatory Spiritual Community Building
    methodology: community-building-through-participatory-practice
    By engaging individuals in active listening, shared labor, and youth-led reflection, the organization strengthens communal and spiritual bonds because these practices embody Quaker testimonies and nurture mutual accountability and intergenerational growth.
  • Values-Aligned Experiential Programming
    methodology: experiential_spiritual_retreat
    By designing retreats and youth programming that integrate creativity, nature, and spirit-led learning methods, the organization deepens spiritual formation because immersive, experiential settings enable personal re-centering and authentic expression of faith.