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FRIENDS OF FAI - THE ITALIAN ENVIRONMENT
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 133599581 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · friendsoffai.org
revenue
$916K
expenses
$1.0M
net assets
$120K
employees
1
volunteers
6
program ratio
92%
mission · from form 990

SEE PART III LINE 1.

profile · synthesized from sources

American nonprofit that supports the preservation of Italian cultural, architectural, and environmental heritage by raising funds and awareness in the United States for FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano. The organization fosters appreciation of Italy’s historic sites through educational events, exhibitions, and curated tours in the U.S. and Italy. It has contributed over $5 million to restoration projects at significant Italian properties.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Annual Restoration Projects
Provides funding for the restoration of historically significant Italian sites such as Chiesa di San Bernardino, Villa Rezzola, and Giardino della Velarca, in partnership with FAI
Cultural Events and Exhibitions
Hosts conferences, concerts, and exhibitions in the U.S. and Italy, such as the "Josef Albers. Meditations" exhibition at Villa e Collezione Panza, to promote Italian cultural heritage
Exclusive Member Tours
Organizes annual cultural tours to Italy for members, including visits to Rome, Sicily, Florence, and other regions, often centered on FAI properties
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Italian Cultural Heritage Programming 4 activities
    • Operating Chiesa di San Bernardino for public and private events
      Operates the Chiesa di San Bernardino, a 15th-century church with Renaissance frescoes, as a venue for public and private events to support community engagement and cultural programming.
    • Operating cultural access programs at historic sites
      Operates multisensory cultural access programs at historic properties, including evening access, sunset tours, tastings, and immersive festivals such as Ars Sonora at Villa Panza and Villa Rezzola, enhancing public engagement with Italy's heritage.
    • Organizing cultural events and lectures in the United States
      Organizes conferences, seminars, exhibitions, concerts, and theatre performances in the United States to promote Italian cultural heritage and support FAI. These events feature major Italian artists and are held annually.
    • Organizing cultural tours to Italy for members
      Plans and conducts annual cultural tours to Italy for members, including access to historic homes, private collections, gardens, and cultural sites. Tours have taken place in regions including Rome, Florence, Venice, Piedmont, Naples, and Puglia, with future tours scheduled through 2027.
  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Co-presenting special art exhibitions in Italy
      Co-presents major art exhibitions in Italy, such as "Josef Albers. Meditations" at Villa e Collezione Panza, bringing together rarely seen masterpieces from public and private collections across Europe and the United States in collaboration with the Josef & Anni Albers Foundation.
  • Historic Preservation Support Grants 1 activity
    • Funding preservation of Italian cultural and natural heritage
      Provides financial and organizational support to FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano for the protection, preservation, and enhancement of culturally significant properties in Italy. Supporters have contributed over $5 million toward these efforts and global educational outreach.
  • Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
    • Supporting restoration and public access to historic Italian properties
      Facilitates the restoration, protection, and public accessibility of historic Italian properties such as Villa Rezzola, Palazzo Moroni, Castello della Manta, Abbazia di San Fruttuoso, Casa Bortoli, Negozio Olivetti, and Giardino della Velarca, including post-flood recovery and development of visitor amenities.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$916K
Contributions & grants$916K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.03M
Program expenses92%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$138K
Grants paid out$825K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$151K
Cash$144K
Investments$0
Liabilities$30K
Net assets$120K
Liquid reserves1.7 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +8.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
AMANDA KUTNER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $137K
board members · 9
  • CELINE CROSA DI VERGAGNI — BOARD MEMBER, (UNTIL 12/1/ 2024)
  • CHIARA DEREGE — BOARD MEMBER, (UNTIL 12/1/ 2024)
  • DAVIDE USAI — BOARD MEMBER
  • ENRICO BONETTI — BOARD MEMBER
  • JAMES M CAROLAN — PRESIDENT
  • LAUREL BARRACK — BOARD MEMBER
  • MICHELE EDDIE — BOARD MEMBER
  • SHARLEEN COOPER COHEN — VICE PRESIDENT
  • VICTORIA JAMES — BOARD MEMBER, (UNTIL 12/1/ 2024)
relationships · 18

Who they work with

  • Autorità di Bacino del Lario e dei Laghi Minori Government — Supported the restoration of the Giardino della Velarca.
  • FAI Partner — Collaborates with FAI to preserve and manage the Chiesa di San Bernardino.
  • FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano) Network — Friends of FAI supports the work of FAI, the Italian environmental and heritage organization, through membership and programming.
  • FAI - Fondo Ambiente Italiano Partner — Primary partner organization in Italy for property preservation and restoration projects.
  • FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano Partner — Close association and support of FAI's programs and activities for the preservation of Italian cultural and environmental heritage
  • FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano Partner — Supports the work of FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano, the National Trust for Italy, in preserving culturally significant properties.
  • FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano ETS Partner — Co-presents the "Josef Albers. Meditations" exhibition at Villa e Collezione Panza.
  • FAI – The National Trust for Italy Network — Friends of FAI supports the work of FAI – The National Trust for Italy, including site preservation and public access initiatives.
  • FAI – The National Trust for Italy Network — Primary affiliate organization in Italy focused on cultural and environmental preservation
  • FIMESA Partner — Supported the restoration of the Giardino della Velarca.
  • Intesa Sanpaolo Partner — Partner in launching the 13th edition of I Luoghi del Cuore campaign.
  • Josef & Anni Albers Foundation Partner — Co-presents the "Josef Albers. Meditations" exhibition and collaborates on the selection of artworks from public and private collections.
  • Municipality of Tremezzina Government — Provided patronage for the restoration of the Giardino della Velarca.
  • Musée d’Art Moderne Partner — Lends a "Homage to the Square" painting by Josef Albers for the exhibition.
  • Nora McNeely Hurley / Manitou Fund Funder — Provided financial support for the restoration of the Giardino della Velarca.
  • Peggy Guggenheim Collection Partner — Lends the artwork "Orange Front" by Josef Albers for display in the exhibition.
  • Regione Lombardia Government — Supported the restoration of the Giardino della Velarca.
  • Villa e Collezione Panza Partner — Hosts the "Josef Albers. Meditations" exhibition in Varese, Italy, providing the venue and curatorial context.
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.

  • Adaptive Reuse for Cultural Continuity
    methodology: adaptive_reuse
    By repurposing historic religious sites as community event venues, we maintain cultural relevance and physical integrity, because active use in alignment with historical aesthetics prevents decay and strengthens community stewardship.
  • Advocacy Through Cultural Appreciation and Education
    methodology: cultural_appreciation_model
    By using public events, exhibitions as perceptual journeys, and educational programming, we cultivate appreciation for Italian heritage, because understanding and aesthetic engagement drive public will and action to preserve culturally significant sites.
  • Cultural Preservation Through Emotional and Experiential Engagement
    methodology: experiential_engagement_model
    By offering immersive, multisensory, and exclusive access to culturally significant sites, we deepen public emotional connection and personal investment in preservation, because experiential participation fosters stronger and more sustained support than awareness alone.
  • Heritage Preservation Through Faithful Restoration and Integrated Design
    methodology: faithful_historical_restoration
    By restoring sites according to original architectural and landscape intentions and integrating built and natural elements, we preserve the authentic spirit of place, because fidelity to historical and aesthetic context deepens cultural continuity and public connection.
  • Strategic Affiliation and Bequest-Based Preservation
    methodology: affiliation_and_bequest_model
    By aligning with FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano and accepting bequests of historic properties, we ensure long-term conservation and public access, because institutional partnerships and permanent transfers of ownership provide sustainable, legally protected preservation.