named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Annual Student Poetry Contest
Receives approximately 5,000 student entries annually and culminates in the Walt Whitman Birthday Celebration held near May 31.
Children's Virtual and In-Person Parties
Interactive educational programs including art, poetry, tea etiquette, and pottery, available both on-site and virtually.
Guided Historic Site Tours
Visitors tour the authentically furnished 19th-century farmhouse where Whitman was born and the modern Interpretive Center with exhibits on his life and legacy.
Living History with "Walt Whitman" Personator
Darrel Ford portrays Walt Whitman in storytelling and reminiscing sessions for adult groups, enhancing the historic site experience.
Monthly Poetry Readings and Special Events
Includes events such as the marathon reading of Leaves of Grass, Revolutionary Voices, and Pride Month celebrations featuring guest poets.
Poet-in-Residence Program
Each year, a nationally recognized poet is selected to lead public readings and master writing classes for aspiring writers.
Scout Programs
90-minute workshops for Girl Scouts covering art, history, poetry, calligraphy, and 19th-century life, aligned with badge-earning requirements.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
- Awarding the Gwenn A. Nusbaum ScholarshipFunds and administers the Gwenn A. Nusbaum Scholarship, an annual grant program that supports students through awards presented at a public event featuring discussions on Walt Whitman’s legacy and related themes.
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Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
- Hosting public events and cultural programmingHosts a range of public events including themed tours (e.g., "Revolutionary Voices"), living history performances with actor Darrel Ford portraying Walt Whitman, poetry readings (including monthly sessions and a marathon reading of Leaves of Grass), art classes (watercolor, acrylic painting inspired by lilacs and Whitman’s poetry), afternoon tea programs, and special events for Pride Month, garden poetry, and family celebrations. Events often combine education, artistic expression, and historical immersion.
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Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Operating the Walt Whitman Birthplace Museum and Historic SiteOperates a restored historic house and Interpretive Center to provide public access and education about Walt Whitman’s early life, family history, and poetry. The site includes exhibition panels, audio-visual materials (including a video with the U.S. Poet Laureate and recordings of Whitman), classroom space, library, gift shop, and collections storage. Daily guided and self-guided tours are offered year-round, with seasonal variations in hours and special programming.
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Storytelling and Literacy Resource Development 1 activity
- Producing and sharing educational media contentProduces and shares educational videos about Walt Whitman’s life and work, including lesser-known facts and his influence on contemporary topics like AI. Also provides digital resources such as virtual tours and online art and poetry programs for children and students.
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Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
- Providing educational programs for students and youth groupsOffers field trip programs for secondary students and virtual or in-person educational activities for children and youth groups such as Girl Scouts. Programs include orientation videos, guided and self-guided tours, poetry workshops led by published poets, art creation, historical reenactments, and hands-on learning about 19th-century life, tea customs, pottery, calligraphy, and social etiquette. Virtual programs extend these offerings to remote participants.
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Youth Writing Contests & Recognition Programs 1 activity
- Supporting literary engagement through residencies and contestsSelects a national Poet-in-Residence annually who leads public readings and master writing classes. Hosts an annual student poetry contest that receives approximately 5,000 entries per year, fostering youth engagement with poetry and Whitman’s literary legacy.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Managing and exhibiting the Walt Whitman Music CollectionCurates and presents a public exhibit showcasing the Walt Whitman Birthplace Music Collection, which includes over 300 musical scores, 86 compact discs, vinyl records, composer biographies, and historical documentation of more than 490 composers who created music inspired by Whitman. The exhibit features QR codes for audio access and highlights Whitman’s influence on musical composition.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$427K
Contributions & grants$377K88%
Program service revenue$26K6%
Investment income$2K0%
Other revenue$22K
expenses
Total expenses$414K
Program expenses37%
Admin / overhead63%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$280K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$278K
Cash$60K
Investments$0
Liabilities$42K
Net assets$237K
Liquid reserves1.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +15.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAITLYN SHEA | Executive Dir. | 40 | $49K |
| CYNTHIA SHOR | Executive Dir. | 30 | $22K |
board members · 12
- DANIEL WILSON — Trustee
- GWENN A NUSBAUM — Trustee
- JEFFREY S GOULD — Trustee
- JO-ANN RAIA — Trustee
- JOHN COULEHAN MD — President
- MARIA BASILE MD — Vice President
- MARK C NUCCIO — Trustee
- RICHARD BRONSON MD — Trustee
- ROBERT SAVINO — Trustee
- SANDI BREWSTER- WALKER — Trustee
- STEVE GITTELMAN PHD — Trustee
- WILLIAM H FROHLICH — Trustee
relationships · 20
Who they work with
- American Academy of Poets Network — Board member Gwenn A. Nusbaum is a member of the Marie Bullock Society of the American Academy of Poets, indicating affiliation with the organization.
- Andrew Finnel Partner — Artist collaborating with the museum.
- Douglas Love Partner — Photographer documenting museum activities.
- Farmingdale State College Partner — Collaborates with Dr. Laurie Rozakis, a professor at Farmingdale State College, for educational content on Walt Whitman.
- Frederic Berndt Partner — Donated a major collection of over 300 musical scores and a catalog of 490 composers of Whitman-inspired music to the Birthplace.
- Gardiner Partner — Displays the Gardiner logo in connection with the 250th anniversary events, indicating a partnership or sponsorship.
- George Mallis Partner — Donated 86 compact discs and contributed updated biographical information and portraits of composers of Whitman-inspired music.
- Girl Scouts Partner — Collaborates with Girl Scout troops to deliver educational and creative programs at the museum.
- Henry Saunders Partner — Created early catalogs of Whitman-inspired music; his 1938 "List of Whitman Music" is held by the Birthplace.
- Jack Canfora Partner — Playwright who leads a guided tour and discussion program on Walt Whitman’s life and work at the Birthplace.
- Kenneth P. Neilson Partner — Donated a collection of musical scores, recordings, and audio equipment to the Birthplace in the 1960s.
- Long Island Poetry Collective Partner — Collaborates with the Long Island Poetry Collective to expand regional writing opportunities.
- NYS Senator Carl L. Marcellino Government — Provided support for the Walt Whitman Family Reunion and related preservation initiatives.
- Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) Partner — Partnered with OPRHP on planning the Interpretive Center, restoring the Birthplace farmhouse, and ongoing preservation and interpretation efforts.
- Peebles Island Resource Center (PIRC) Partner — Received technical assistance from PIRC for the restoration of the Birthplace exterior and development of a new furnishing plan.
- Senator Ralph J. Marino Government — Secured state funding for the Interpretive Center through a member item in the state budget introduced by Senator Ralph J. Marino.
- Suffolk County Government — Collaborates on the 250th anniversary programming, as indicated by the display of the Suffolk County 250th logo.
- Town of Huntington Partner — Participates in joint programming by offering commemorative stamping at the Town of Huntington Liberty 250 Celebration.
- Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site Government — Co-manages or is formally affiliated with the state historic site.
- Whitman Initiative Partner — Shared board membership through Gwenn A. Nusbaum, who serves on both the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association and the Whitman Initiative in lower Manhattan.
strategies · 2
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 Historical Interpretation to Deepen Literary and Civic Engagement 239 orgsmethodology: immersive_historical_interpretationBy using historically accurate settings, living reenactments, and immersive timed tours voiced by historical figures, the organization deepens public engagement with Walt Whitman’s life and poetry because experiential authenticity fosters emotional and intellectual connection to literary and revolutionary ideals.shared approach: Immersive Engagement →
- Poetry as Pedagogical Bridge for Creative and Interpersonal Learning 10 orgsmethodology: poetry-as-pedagogyBy using Whitman’s poetry and legacy as a foundation for writing workshops, arts-integrated education, and youth programs that connect historical themes with modern expression, the organization fosters creative confidence and social skill development because poetic self-expression in an inclusive, non-hierarchical setting promotes personal relevance and agency.shared approach: Storytelling for Empowerment →