irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $57KSTUDENT SCHOLARSHIP SERVICES - AWARDS TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME TO THEIR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY. A TOTAL OF 8 SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, RANGING IN AMOUNTS FROM $2,500 TO $8,000.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Akin Free Library
Non-circulating library preserving printed materials related to Quaker Hill, Dutchess County, the Hudson River, and the Society of Friends, serving as a cultural and historical resource for the community.
Akin Hall Association Scholarship Program
Annual scholarship program awarding financial aid to top academic students in the Pawling High School graduating class based on achievement, community service, leadership, and financial need.
New Art at the Akin Free Library
Contemporary art exhibition series that brings site-responsive works by regional artists into dialogue with the historic library and natural history collections.
Olive Gunnison Natural History Museum
Permanent museum collection featuring entomological, ornithological, geological, and extinct species specimens, along with a cabinet of curiosities, maintained and conserved for public viewing and education.
Public Lectures and Author Events
Regular public events featuring authors and historians discussing works related to local figures and history, such as Joanne Dobson and Dr. Robert L. Worden.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Museum Volunteer Engagement & Operations Support 1 activity
- Engaging volunteers to support library and museum operationsRecruits and utilizes volunteers to assist with a range of operational needs including docenting, archival processing, digitization, public relations, exhibit maintenance, and facility upkeep at the Akin Free Library and museum.
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Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
- Funding college scholarships for local high school studentsAwards grants to high-achieving and community-engaged graduating seniors from Pawling High School to support undergraduate study in various fields including engineering, biological sciences, business, pharmacy, and political science. Scholarship amounts have ranged from $1,000 to $12,500 per student, with annual award totals reaching at least $50,000. The organization has consistently awarded between 8 and 12 scholarships annually based on IRS 990 reporting.
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Hosting community events, lectures, exhibitions, and author talksHosts a variety of public programs including lectures (e.g., by Dr. Robert L. Worden on naval leadership), author talks (e.g., Joanne Dobson on her book about a Depression-era nurse), film premieres (e.g., a trailer on Lowell Thomas’s role in bringing the Gunnison collection to the library), and art exhibitions such as "New Art at the Akin Free Library," which included a public reception. These events support community engagement and cultural enrichment.
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Public Access to Digital and Physical Library Collections 1 activity
- Operating the Akin Free Library and providing public access to books and resourcesProvides free public access to a circulating collection of books and resources, as well as a non-circulating research collection focused on Quaker Hill, Dutchess County, the Hudson River, Pawling, the Oblong, the Society of Friends, local authors, and personal papers of notable residents. The library is open to the public from May to October on Saturdays and Sundays, 1pm to 4pm.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Operating the Gunnison Museum and maintaining natural history and curio collectionsOperates a free public museum displaying hundreds of entomological specimens, taxidermied birds and mammals, geological specimens, and a cabinet of curiosities including ceramic tiles from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, hunting and cooking implements, and artifacts from ancient ruins. The collection includes rare items such as a 10-pound optical quartz crystal from Brazil, over 175 birds' eggs, about 50 nests, and specimens of extinct species like the passenger pigeon, heath hen, and ivory-billed woodpecker. Conservation efforts have included replacing broken glass and cleaning and stabilizing objects in 30 display cases.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$363K
Contributions & grants$188K52%
Program service revenue$2000%
Investment income$175K48%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$199K
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$30K
Grants paid out$50K
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$2.23M
Cash$306K
Investments$1.55M
Liabilities$0
Net assets$2.23M
Liquid reserves112.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +263.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TERESA ARIANO | CURATOR | 20 | $28K |
board members · 13
- AMIE RENNOLDS — TRUSTEE
- CAROLINE MILBANK — TRUSTEE
- CLARE THOMAS — TRUSTEE
- GLENN CAREY — TRUSTEE
- JAMES LEBENTHAL — TRUSTEE
- JEFFREY STAFFORD — TRUSTEE
- JOSEPH STEINER — TRUSTEE
- KATHERYN BERLANDI — TRUSTEE
- STACEY DELAMERE — TRUSTEE
- TERRY STEWART — TRUSTEE
- TOM SCHROTH — TRUSTEE EMERITUS
- VALERIE BUSBY — TRUSTEE
- WALTER HAUSER — TRUSTEE
relationships · 9
Who they work with
- Akin Community Partner — Collaborates with local residents to support library programs and services.
- Akin Free Library Partner — Housed the "New Art at the Akin Free Library" exhibition and hosted a public reception.
- Christ Church on Quaker Hill Partner — Akin Hall, originally built and used by the Akin Hall Association, now stands as Christ Church on Quaker Hill after being relocated in 1937.
- Eric Lake Partner — Collaborated with the Akin Hall Association to present a film trailer and talk on local history.
- Hudson Valley Writers Center Partner — Collaborates with the Hudson Valley Writers Center through Joanne Dobson, a creative writing teacher there, for an author talk.
- Lowell Thomas Partner — Provided major contributions to the Association’s endowment and helped finance the relocation of Akin Hall.
- Pawling Community Foundation Funder — Awarded a $2000 grant to support stabilization of the Gunnison Museum's Natural History collections.
- Pawling High School Partner — Collaborates with Pawling High School to identify and award scholarships to graduating seniors.
- Pawling Historical Society Partner — Co-sponsors a public lecture on naval history.
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.
- Cabinet of Curiosities Curationmethodology: cabinet of curiositiesBy using a cabinet of curiosities approach that emphasizes unique and unexpected items, the organization sparks visitor curiosity and emotional engagement, because delight and surprise drive deeper inquiry more effectively than systematic classification alone.
- Community-Centered Learning Modelmethodology: community-centered learningBy creating a welcoming space centered on shared interests in literature and programming, the organization fosters lifelong learning and sustained community connection, because inclusive, interest-driven engagement increases participation and knowledge retention.
- Holistic Scholarship Investmentmethodology: holistic scholarship selectionBy using a holistic review process that evaluates academic achievement, leadership, service, and financial need, the organization supports not just individual students but community development, because investing in well-rounded, engaged youth produces long-term civic leaders.
- Local History as Civic Educationmethodology: local_history_archiveBy maintaining a specialized archive on local history and the Society of Friends and connecting historical figures to broader narratives, the organization strengthens community identity and civic engagement, because grounding education in local context increases relevance and public investment in preservation.
- Volunteer-Powered Stewardshipmethodology: community-volunteer-drivenBy relying on community volunteers’ skills and knowledge to support operations and programming, the organization deepens local ownership and ensures culturally informed curation, because community-led stewardship strengthens trust and program sustainability.