irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $78KPERFORMING ARTS: THE ORGANIZATION PRESENTS MUSICAL, LITERARY, AND DRAAMATIC PROGRAMMING OF ALL GENRES, AS WELL AS WORKSHOPS AND LECTURES ON TOPICS ON INTEREST TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE AUDITORIUM SPACE.
- #2 $63KVISUAL ARTS: THE SPENCERTOWN ACADEMY PRESENTS CURATED, JURIED AND MEMBERS' EXHIBITIONS OF PAINTINGS, PHOTOGRAPHY, SCULPTURE, AND OTHER FINE AND FOLK ART CREATED BY REGIONAL ARTISTS IN TWO BEAUTIFUL GALLERY SPACES.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
All Write, Columbia Nonfiction Writers Conference
Four-day intensive conference for nonfiction writers of all levels, featuring workshops, craft talks, and faculty-led sessions held at the Spencertown Academy
Festival of Books
Annual literary event featuring a large book sale, author talks, and music on vinyl, CDs, and DVDs, supported by community book donations and serving as a major fundraiser
Hidden Gardens Tour & Market on the Green
Annual fundraising event offering community access to private gardens in Columbia County villages, paired with a market featuring plants, garden items, and local food
Performing Arts Series
Live presentations of musical, literary, and dramatic programming, including concerts, author readings, and lectures held in the Academy’s auditorium and other venues
Visual Arts Exhibitions
Ongoing curated, juried, and members' exhibitions of paintings, photography, sculpture, and other fine and folk art by regional artists in two gallery spaces
Young Writers Contest
Annual competition encouraging creative writing among high school students in grades 9–12 from Columbia County, NY, and Berkshire County, MA, with prizes awarded in fiction and nonfiction categories
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Youth Writing Contests & Recognition Programs 1 activity
- Administers youth and community writing programsRuns the annual Young Writers’ Contest for high school students in Columbia and Berkshire Counties, attracting around 40 participants annually and awarding cash prizes of $350, $250, and $200 per category. Also hosts a four-day nonfiction writers conference offering craft workshops, author talks, and individualized manuscript feedback for up to 20 participants.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Hosts art exhibitions and gallery programmingOrganizes curated, juried, and members' exhibitions of paintings, photography, sculpture, and other fine and folk art by regional artists in two gallery spaces at the Spencertown Academy. Programming includes annual events such as the Members' Art Show, regional juried shows like "Art as Memoir," and special exhibitions such as "Gee’s Bend: Next Generation" and "Curator as Artist IV."
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Hosts musical, literary, and dramatic performancesPresents concerts, author talks, lectures, and dramatic programming in its auditorium space for the community. Events include performances by artists such as Mary Gauthier and Jaimee Harris, lectures on figures like Willa Cather, and specialized events such as a nonfiction writers conference with workshops and individualized manuscript reviews.
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Historic Theater and Arts Venue Preservation 1 activity
- Operates a community arts center in a historic buildingManages the Spencertown Academy, a historic Greek Revival building restored and operated as a community arts center since its founding in 1972. The organization maintains the space under an operating lease with the Town of Austerlitz through August 2086, supported by in-kind contributions valued at $15,600 annually.
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Benefit Events for Arts and Culture 1 activity
- Organizes annual fundraising eventsHosts recurring fundraising events including the Hidden Gardens Tour & Market, the Festival of Books, and mid-winter galas featuring dinners and live jazz. The Hidden Gardens Tour offers public access to private landscapes in Columbia County, while the Festival of Books includes a large-scale sale of gently used books, author talks, and children's literacy activities.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Provides public communications and outreachOperates an email mailing list to share updates about events and programming at the Spencertown Academy Arts Center, supporting community engagement and attendance at cultural offerings.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$303K
Contributions & grants$164K54%
Program service revenue$55K18%
Investment income$1420%
Other revenue$85K
expenses
Total expenses$297K
Program expenses55%
Admin / overhead28%
Fundraising17%
Salaries & benefits$53K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.18M
Cash$339K
Investments$104K
Liabilities$1K
Net assets$1.18M
Liquid reserves17.9 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +17.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 14
- CAROL ESSERT — BOARD MEMBER
- CHARLES BAUM — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID CUDABACK — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID HIGHFILL — BOARD MEMBER
- JILL KALOTAY — SECRETARY
- JO-ANNE WILLIAMS — TREASURER
- JUDITH CHOATE — BOARD MEMBER
- LISA BOUCHARD HOE — BOARD MEMBER
- LUCINDA ATKINS — BOARD MEMBER
- MADALINE SPARKS — VICE PRESIDENT
- NICK VAN ALSTINE — PRESIDENT
- PHYLLIS DIAMOND — BOARD MEMBER
- TALY LOURIA HAHN — BOARD MEMBER
- WAYNE GREENE — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 29
Who they work with
- Alice McGowan Partner — Curator on the Spencertown Academy’s Curatorial Committee
- Arthur’s Point Farm Partner — Local farm providing native perennials, shrubs, and trees for sale at the Market on the Green.
- Arthur’s Point Farm Partner — Supplies native perennial shrubs and trees for the Market on the Green during the Hidden Gardens Tour & Market.
- Betsy Jacks Partner — Curator on the Spencertown Academy’s Curatorial Committee
- Casey Scieszka Partner — Featured author participating in the Festival of Books author talks.
- Constant Contact Government — Provides email marketing services for the organization
- David Lesako Partner — Curator on the Spencertown Academy’s Curatorial Committee
- Friends of the Millay Society Partner — Collaborates to provide public access to the grounds and Poetry Trail at Steepletop during the Hidden Gardens Tour.
- Gerri Willis Partner — Featured author participating in the Festival of Books author talks.
- Guiding Green Thumbs Partner — Local Chatham flower farm selling organically grown plants and herbs at the Market on the Green.
- Guiding Green Thumbs Partner — Provides herbs and flowering plants for the Market on the Green during the Hidden Gardens Tour & Market.
- Hawthorne Valley Funder — Provides financial support for the Young Writers’ Contest.
- James Bradley Partner — Featured author participating in the Festival of Books author talks.
- Jessica Berger Gross Partner — Featured author participating in the Festival of Books author talks.
- Joshua Jelly-Shapiro Partner — Featured author participating in the Festival of Books author talks.
- Karen Andrews Partner — Curator on the Spencertown Academy’s Curatorial Committee
- Lisha DeFino Jazz Trio Partner — Provides live music for the Revels 2026 fundraising event.
- Melina Hammer Partner — Featured author participating in the Festival of Books author talks.
- Meryl Enerson Partner — Chair of the Curatorial Committee at the Spencertown Academy Arts Center
- Michelle Young Partner — Featured author participating in the Festival of Books author talks.
- Mud Road Farm Partner — Farm offering cut flowers for sale at the Market on the Green.
- Munya Avigail Upin Partner — Curator on the Spencertown Academy’s Curatorial Committee
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides funding support for Spencertown Academy Arts Center’s programs.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides partial funding support for Spencertown Academy Arts Center’s programs with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
- Nicholas Boggs Partner — Featured author participating in the Festival of Books author talks.
- Norma Cohen Partner — Curator on the Spencertown Academy’s Curatorial Committee
- Pinnacle Trail Design Partner — Design firm that created a curated woodland hiking trail on private property featured in the Hidden Gardens Tour.
- Susan Sabino Partner — Curator on the Spencertown Academy’s Curatorial Committee
- Town of Austerlitz Partner — Provides the use of a historical building under an operating lease through August 2086 as an in-kind contribution.
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.
- Arts-Based Community Buildingmethodology: arts-based_community_buildingBy offering cultural and educational programming through a historic community arts center, the organization strengthens community engagement and belonging, because shared artistic experiences foster social cohesion and local ownership.
- Event-Driven Fundraising with Community Engagementmethodology: event_based_fundraisingBy hosting ticketed cultural events, book sales, garden tours, and seasonal celebrations, the organization raises funds while simultaneously deepening public engagement, because integrating fundraising with accessible, appealing community experiences increases participation and sustained support.
- Volunteer-Powered Sustainability Modelmethodology: volunteer_led_modelBy relying on an all-volunteer staff and volunteer-led curation and fundraising, the organization maintains financial sustainability and deep community investment, because volunteer involvement reduces overhead while increasing local stewardship and commitment.