irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $322KEXHIBITIONS, TOURS, AND WORKSHOPS - SHAKER MUSEUM IS IN THE PROCESS OF RENOVATING AND BUILDING AN EXPANSIVE NEW FACILITY DESIGNED BY SELDORF ARCHITECTS. THE PHYSICAL BUILDING WILL EMBODY SHAKER VALUES OF INCLUSION, INNOVATION, AND EQUALITY TO CREATE A MUSEUM THAT SHOWCASES SHAKER MUSEUM'S COLLECTION, HOSTS EXHIBITIONS, TELLS THE SHAKER STORY, AND IS RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. WHILE THE MUSEUM IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THE COLLECTIONS ARE ACCESSIBLE ONLINE, THROUGH GUIDED TOURS OF THE STORAGE AREA, AND IN EXHIBITIONS AT TEMPORARY "POP-UP" LOCATIONS. PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS ALSO CONNECT SHAKER MUSEUM WITH THE PUBLIC.
- #2 $129KHISTORICAL SITE PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION - SHAKER MUSEUM STEWARDS THE NORTH FAMILY HISTORIC SITE AT MOUNT LEBANON. FOUNDED IN 1787, MOUNT LEBANON WAS THE FIRST OFFICIAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZED BY THE SHAKERS AND WAS THE LEADER IN ADMINISTRATIVE AND SPIRITUAL MATTERS FOR ALL THE SHAKER COMMUNITIES THAT EMERGED THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND AND SOUTH AND WEST INTO KENTUCKY, OHIO, AND FLORIDA. ITS COMMUNITY PLANNING, ARCHITECTURE, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENDEAVORS, AS WELL AS ITS SPIRITUAL PRACTICES, BECAME MODELS FOR THE OTHER SHAKER VILLAGES. AT ITS PEAK IN THE MID-19TH CENTURY, MOUNT LEBANON SPANNED OVER 6,000 ACRES AND AROUND 600 PEOPLE LIVED AND WORKED IN HUNDREDS OF BUILDINGS. WITHIN THIS CENTRAL COMMUNITY THE SHAKERS DEVELOPED THEIR PROGRESSIVE IDEAS ON GENDER EQUALITY, RACIAL EQUALITY, PACIFISM, COMMUNAL PROPERTY, THE VALUE OF LABOR, AND SUSTAINABILITY. THEY ALSO ESTABLISHED THE NOW FAMOUS SHAKER AESTHETIC OF SIMPLICITY, EXPRESSED IN THEIR OBJECTS, FURNITURE, BUILDINGS, AND VILLAGE PLANNING. TODAY VISITORS TO THE NORTH FAMILY ENCOUNTER 10 ORIGINAL SHAKER BUILDINGS ON 91 ACRES. VISITORS ARE WELCOME YEAR-ROUND, WEATHER PERMITTING, TO STROLL THE GROUNDS, HIKE THE NORTH PASTURE TRAIL, OR HAVE A PICNIC IN THE MEADOW.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Call for Art: In Union Remotely
Community engagement project inviting artists of all ages and backgrounds to create artwork inspired by Shaker collections during the pandemic, culminating in an online exhibition.
Collections Care and Digitization
Preserves and provides access to Shaker manuscripts, photographs, and artifacts; completed a major digitization project making over 16,000 objects publicly available online.
Exhibitions, Tours, and Workshops
Offers public programming including guided tours of storage areas, pop-up exhibitions, virtual and in-person workshops, and craft-based events such as the Knit-Along series, all inspired by Shaker culture and values.
Historic Site Preservation and Conservation
Stewards the 91-acre North Family historic site at Mount Lebanon, the first and central Shaker community, providing year-round public access to grounds, trails, and historic buildings.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Community-Engaged Public Art Projects 1 activity
- Community and virtual engagement initiativesHosts community art projects such as "Call for Art: In Union Remotely," enabling public creation of artwork inspired by Shaker legacy, culminating in online exhibitions. Provided 15 virtual programs, six in-person events, and hosted public engagement on 129 days between January 1 and November 15, 2021, while offering year-round self-led exploration resources.
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Cultural Facility Development and Management 1 activity
- Construction and development of new museum facilityConstructing a four-floor museum facility in Chatham, NY, involving renovation of an historic building, addition of modern space, and development of public gardens. Includes structural bracing, temperature-controlled excavation during winter, and transformation of the site into a permanent cultural destination with over 7,500 square feet of exhibition space.
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Archival Digitization and Preservation 1 activity
- Digital access and collection documentationCompleted a digitization project in 2018 that documented the entire collection online, photographed a significant portion, and launched a publicly accessible website showcasing over 16,000 Shaker objects.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Exhibition programming and curationOrganizes and presents temporary exhibitions, both on-site and off-site, including curated pop-up exhibitions like "Fringe Selects" and "The Commercialization of Shaker Knits," co-organizes major exhibitions such as "A World in the Making" at external institutions, and lends objects and historical context to international exhibitions like those at the Vitra Design Museum and ICA University of Pennsylvania.
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Art Appreciation and Public Engagement 1 activity
- Makers Circle collaboration programOperates the Makers Circle, an advisory group of contemporary artists and designers that collaborates with the museum to advance dialogue on the relationship between historical and contemporary material culture.
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Specialized Research Library Access 1 activity
- Operation of research library and archivesOperates a research library and archives open to scholars and researchers by appointment at its Administrative Campus in Chatham, NY, housing collections storage and library resources year-round. Includes stewardship of the Central Ministry records, such as diaries, business records, and correspondence spanning 150 years.
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Public programming and member engagementOffers members-only behind-the-scenes tours of its collections and library, including access to items never publicly exhibited. Hosts public events such as readings by artists and authors, moderated conversations on faith and artistic practice, evening presentations on Mother Ann Lee, afterparties with music and interactive installations, and open houses for new facilities.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Stewardship of Shaker collections and historic sitesStewards the world's most comprehensive collection of Shaker objects, archives, and books, and manages the historic North Family site at Mount Lebanon, consisting of 10–11 original Shaker buildings on 91 acres. Provides year-round public access to the grounds for walking, hiking, and picnicking, with free self-guided tours available daily.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.33M
Contributions & grants$2.24M96%
Program service revenue$14K1%
Investment income$148K6%
Other revenue$-76K
expenses
Total expenses$1.51M
Program expenses51%
Admin / overhead32%
Fundraising16%
Salaries & benefits$866K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$11.25M
Cash$4.01M
Investments$0
Liabilities$314K
Net assets$10.94M
Liquid reserves31.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +108.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LACY SCHUTZ | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $210K |
| LISA MALONE JACKSON | DEPUTY EXECU | 40 | $182K |
board members · 20
- BEN BISCHOFF — DIRECTOR
- CARL R FISCHER IV — DIRECTOR
- JAMES KOCIS — DIRECTOR
- JD WEINBERG — DIRECTOR
- JEFF BAILEY — DIRECTOR
- JEREMY STYNES — SECRETARY
- JOHN FRISHKOPF — TREASURER
- JOHN SCHOBEL — VICE CHAIR
- JOSEPH KUSNICK — DIRECTOR
- KAREN SUEN-COOPER — DIRECTOR
- KATHLEEN WEISER — DIRECTOR
- KENNETH KRAMER — DIRECTOR
- KIMBERLY DRIESSON — DIRECTOR
- LAEL LOCKE — DIRECTOR
- MATTHEW MALIN — DIRECTOR
- PAUL CASSIDY — CHAIRMAN
- PHIL MEEKS — DIRECTOR
- RACHEL ROBBINS — DIRECTOR
- RAE GILSON — DIRECTOR
- STEPHEN G WILLIAMS SR — FOUNDING DIR
relationships · 39
Who they work with
- Annina Nosei Partner — Gallerist who participates in museum-hosted conversations with artists at studio events.
- Bibhu Mohapatra Partner — Member of the Makers Circle advisory group collaborating with Shaker Museum.
- Bill Arning Partner — Moderator who leads museum-hosted conversations on faith, theology, and art.
- Bode Partner — Member of the Makers Circle advisory group collaborating with Shaker Museum.
- DJ Chris Meier Partner — Musician who provides entertainment at the museum's afterparty events.
- David Nosanchuk Partner — Member of the Makers Circle advisory group collaborating with Shaker Museum.
- Emmett Moore Partner — Member of the Makers Circle advisory group collaborating with Shaker Museum.
- Gladys Knieble Delmas Foundation Funder — Funded a digitization project of Mount Lebanon manuscripts
- Hauser & Wirth Downtown Los Angeles Partner — Hosted the CRADLED exhibition in collaboration with Shaker Museum.
- Henry Luce Foundation Funder — Funded the digitization project and supported the "Shakers: In Community" exhibition through its Theology Program
- Ini Archibong Partner — Member of the Makers Circle advisory group collaborating with Shaker Museum.
- Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania Partner — Collaborates on the exhibition "A World in the Making."
- Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Philadelphia Partner — Co-presented the exhibition The Shakers: A World in the Making.
- Jolie Ngo Partner — Member of the Makers Circle advisory group collaborating with Shaker Museum.
- Katie Stout Partner — Curated the "Fringe Selects" pop-up exhibition and created new chair designs in response to Shaker material culture
- Katie Stout Partner — Member of the Makers Circle advisory group collaborating with Shaker Museum.
- Ladies & Gentlemen Studio Partner — Member of the Makers Circle advisory group collaborating with Shaker Museum.
- Lili Taylor Partner — Actor who stars in performances presented by the museum in collaboration with artists.
- Maggie Taft Partner — Curated the "Shakers: In Community" temporary exhibition
- Maira Kalman Partner — Collaborates with the museum on curated exhibitions including "Shaker Outpost" and the General Store.
- Mark Doty Partner — Poet who reads from his work in conjunction with displays of objects from the Shaker Museum collection.
- Mount Lebanon Government — Stewards the historic North Family site at Mount Lebanon, the founding community of the Shakers.
- Mount Lebanon Shaker Village Partner — Stewards the historic North Family site at Mount Lebanon Shaker Village.
- Nacho Carbonell Partner — Member of the Makers Circle advisory group collaborating with Shaker Museum.
- Neri&Hu Partner — Member of the Makers Circle advisory group collaborating with Shaker Museum.
- Roberto Juarez Partner — Artist who opens his Canaan studio in collaboration with the museum for receptions and conversations.
- Seldorf Architects Partner — Collaborating on the design of the museum's new facility
- Selldorf Architects Partner — Architectural firm designing the new museum facility in Chatham, NY.
- Sheila Hicks Partner — Member of the Makers Circle advisory group collaborating with Shaker Museum.
- Spencertown Academy Arts Center Partner — Hosts joint events such as panel discussions on local Shaker heritage.
+ 9 more
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.
- Cross-Era Cultural Dialogue Through Artistic Collaborationmethodology: cross-era-cultural-dialogueBy engaging contemporary artists and designers in advisory roles and pop-up exhibitions, the museum connects historical Shaker practices with modern artistic and ethical values, because ongoing dialogue between past and present cultures fosters relevance, reinterpretation, and cultural continuity.
- Culture as Catalyst for Contemporary Changemethodology: culture-as-catalystBy using Shaker material culture to animate historical values such as simplicity, equality, and spiritual devotion, the museum inspires modern individuals and communities to address current social, economic, environmental, and spiritual challenges, because tangible cultural expression makes abstract values actionable and relatable.
- Mission-Integrated Museum Designmethodology: mission-integrated designBy designing museum spaces and infrastructure that reflect core Shaker ideals—such as inclusion, community, accessibility, and innovation—the organization aligns its physical environment with its cultural mission, because embodied values in architecture and visitor experience deepen engagement and signal authentic continuity with Shaker principles.