irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $904KMARINE OPERATIONSFOUR HISTORIC VESSELS WERE VISITED BY 35,209 INDIVIDUALS, WHO EXPLORED PERMANENTLY MOORED VESSELS 1885 CARGO SHIP WAVERTREE AND 1908 LIGHTSHIP AMBROSE AND SAILED IN NYC'S EAST RIVER ABOARD 1885 SCHOONER PIONEER AND 1930 TUGBOAT W.O. DECKER.
- #2 $358KMUSEUM SHOPAT THE 19TH CENTURY RECREATED PRINT SHOP BOWNE & CO. STATIONERS, MASTER PRINTERS OFFERED PRINTING DEMONSTRATIONS AND WORKSHOPS FOR 20,683 VISITORS.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Bowne & Co. Stationers
Operating a 19th-century-style letterpress print shop offering demonstrations, workshops, and sales of printed goods, continuing historic printing traditions
Curatorial and Exhibitions
Hosts indoor exhibitions such as "Maritime City" and "The Promise of Liberty," showcasing artifacts and documents related to New York’s maritime and national history
Marine Operations
Public access to historic vessels including the 1885 Wavertree, 1908 Lightship Ambrose, 1885 Schooner Pioneer, and 1930 Tugboat W.O. Decker, with guided tours and seasonal sails on New York Harbor
Venue Rentals and Charters
Offers historic spaces including Pier 16, the Wavertree, and A.A. Thomson & Co. building for events, as well as private sails on Pioneer and W.O. Decker
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Historic Vessel and Equipment Preservation 3 activities
- Public sailing programs and historic vessel chartersOffers public sails, rides, and private charters aboard historic vessels including the 1885 schooner Pioneer and 1930 tugboat W.O. Decker from May to October, as well as charter access to the 1908 lightship Ambrose. Hosted 35,209 individuals on vessel visits and sailing excursions in 2023.
- Restoration and maintenance of historic vesselsRestores and maintains a fleet of historic vessels at Pier 16 using traditional maritime skills, including the 1885 tall ship Wavertree, the 1908 lightship Ambrose, and other vessels. Conducts year-round preservation, seasonal rigging and de-rigging, repairs, painting, and varnishing.
- Volunteer engagement in vessel preservationEngages scores of volunteers in the preservation and restoration of the square-rigger Wavertree and other historic vessels.
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Archival Digitization and Preservation 1 activity
- Digital access and archival transcription projectsDigitizes and transcribes archival materials including photographs, handwritten documents, and records, making over 2,000 rarely seen artifacts accessible through an online portal. Supports ongoing transcription projects in the Museum's Archives.
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Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
- Education programs aboard historic vesselsOperates education programs aboard the schooner Pioneer and tugboat W.O. Decker, supporting experiential learning connected to the harbor’s renaissance and maritime history.
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Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
- Historic venue rentals and event operationsOperates multiple historic spaces for events and rentals, including Pier 16 (capacity 3,000), the Wavertree (400 guests), the A.A. Thomson & Co. building with a fourth-floor raw space (350 standing), and the Schermerhorn Row pop-up space at 14 Fulton St. for brand activations.
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Arts and Cultural Workforce Training 1 activity
- Internship and workforce development programsOffers paid internships in Collections, Archives, and Exhibitions departments where students assist on projects, engage in museology discussions, and visit other NYC institutions. Interns are paid $18 per hour bi-weekly. Promotes diversity and inclusivity in museum careers by encouraging applications from underrepresented groups.
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Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
- Preservation and interpretation of New York City's maritime historyPreserves and interprets the history of New York City as a world port through extensive collections of art, artifacts, archival materials, and historic vessels. Maintains a maritime reference library and primary/secondary sources on the Seaport District and maritime history, including photographs, manuscripts, ship plans, and print resources.
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Local History Publishing 1 activity
- Research and expert publication through Collections Chronicles BlogConducts and publishes research via the Collections Chronicles Blog, featuring expert analysis of historical materials such as broadsides from the museum’s collections.
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Uncategorized 3 activities
- Operation of Bowne & Co., Stationers and printing programsOperates a working 19th-century print shop at Bowne & Co., Stationers using historic presses for small-batch letterpress printing, custom services, workshops, and public demonstrations. Engaged 20,683 visitors in printing demonstrations and workshops in 2023.
- Operation of public exhibitions and galleriesOperates public exhibitions across multiple campus locations including galleries at 213 Water Street and 12 Fulton Street, featuring rotating exhibits such as "South Street and the Rise of New York," "Millions: Migrants and Millionaires Aboard the Great Liners, 1900–1914," and "Seaport Discovery: Exploring Our Waters with Eric Carle." Also hosts the three-floor "Maritime City" exhibition with 540 objects and "The Promise of Liberty" featuring rare founding documents.
- Virtual public programs and digital content productionProduces virtual sea chanteys, a webinar series titled "Sea Songs and Sea Lives" highlighting underrepresented sailor histories, and additional on-demand webinars on immigration, tattoo history, and Seaport architecture. Also produces articles and multimedia content about collections, exhibitions, and programs.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$7.96M
Contributions & grants$6.26M79%
Program service revenue$316K4%
Investment income$-4K-0%
Other revenue$1.39M
expenses
Total expenses$5.82M
Program expenses69%
Admin / overhead23%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$3.49M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$28.61M
Cash$1.23M
Investments$1.80M
Liabilities$3.21M
Net assets$25.40M
Liquid reserves6.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +23.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JONATHAN BOULWARE | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $263K |
| MEG FELLERATH | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $162K |
| ANNA FRENKEL | VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL | 40 | $120K |
board members · 8
- BEVIN SAVAGE-YAMAZAKI — SECRETARY
- BJJONES — BOARD MEMBER
- CATHERINE MCVAY HUGHES — BOARD MEMBER
- CHRISTIANA HUUS — CHAIR
- CRAIG PAGE — BOARD MEMBER
- CYRUS GENTRY — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID SHEEHAN — TREASURER
- ERNEST TOLLERSON — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- A.A. Thomson & Co. Partner — Historic building used for museum event rentals and exhibitions.
- Ambrose Partner — Lightship maintained as part of the museum’s historic fleet
- Bowne & Co. Partner — Collaborates on operating a historic printing office and retail space that reflects shared maritime and printing heritage.
- Bowne & Co. Stationers Partner — On-site partner providing printing services and offering employee discounts to interns.
- Bowne & Co., Stationers Partner — Operates as a 19th century-style gift emporium and letterpress print shop on the Museum's campus at 211 Water Street.
- Michelle Tabnick Partner — Press representative handling general media inquiries for the South Street Seaport Museum.
- NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Ex-officio representation on the Board of Trustees
- Pioneer Partner — Historic schooner used for education programs
- Schermerhorn Row Partner — Landmarked 1810 building housing the Pop-Up Space for events and brand activations.
- Seaport District Partner — Located in the historic Seaport District, collaborating to preserve and present the area's maritime heritage.
- Steamship Historical Society of America Partner — Recognized the 1930 wooden tug W.O. Decker as "Tugboat of the Year."
- W.O. Decker Partner — Historic tugboat used for education programs
- Wavertree Partner — Square-rigged ship preserved with volunteer labor
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.
- Immersive Multisensory Interpretation of Maritime Historymethodology: immersive_historical_environmentBy integrating historic vessels, a working print shop, galleries, and collections into a multi-site campus experience, the museum creates an immersive historical environment that deepens public engagement with New York’s maritime heritage because experiential, tactile, and sensory-rich contexts enable deeper understanding and connection than passive observation alone.
- Inclusive Historical Narrative Through Amplified Marginalized Voicesmethodology: inclusive-historical-narrativeBy centering the stories of female, Black, and queer sailors in virtual programming and using sea chanteys and webinars as narrative vehicles, the museum expands the historical record and fosters broader public connection because inclusive storytelling corrects historical omissions and increases relevance for diverse audiences.
- Inclusive Participation Through Accessible Volunteer Trainingmethodology: inclusive_volunteer_trainingBy training volunteers with no prior experience in archival digitization, transcription, and traditional maritime skills, the museum enables broad public participation in preservation work because removing technical barriers to entry fosters community ownership and democratizes access to cultural stewardship.