irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $645KTHE CONSERVANCY'S PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAM -THE CONSERVANCY'S ADVOCACY PROTECTS AND CELEBRATES THE BUILDINGS, STREETSCAPES AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DEFINE NEW YORK. WE SUPPORT LANDMARK DESIGNATIONS, SPEAK OUT ON PROPOSALS THAT AFFECT LANDMARKED BUILDINGS AND ENGAGE IN CAMPAIGNS TO IMPROVE THE REGULATIONS AND PROCESSES THAT GOVERN HOW OUR CITY GROWS AND EVOLVES.
- #2 $503KTHE CONSERVANCY'S NEW YORK CITY HISTORIC PROPERTIES FUND -ESTABLISHED IN 1982, THE NEW YORK CITY HISTORIC PROPERTIES FUND IS THE CONSERVANCY'S MAIN FINANCING VEHICLE FOR RESTORATION WORK THROUGHOUT NEW YORK CITY. WITH ALMOST $10 MILLION IN ASSETS, IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN THE NATION. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE FUND HAS MADE OVER $33 MILLION IN INVESTMENTS.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Emergency Preservation Grants
Provides emergency grants to address immediate threats to landmark buildings.
New York City Historic Properties Fund
Provides low-interest loans and project management assistance for the restoration of historic buildings in New York City.
Nonprofit Technical Assistance Grant Program
Offers grants and technical support to nonprofit organizations in lower-income communities for the preservation of their historic buildings.
Queens Historic Properties Fund
Provides grants and project management assistance for historic restorations in Queens.
Sacred Sites
Offers matching grants to congregations across New York State for planning and restoring historic religious properties.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Historic Site Designation Advocacy 6 activities
- Advances policy positions on landmarking and development decisionsAdvances policy positions that shape landmarking, planning, and development decisions, including public support for the Section 106 Review process and opposition to changes that would weaken historic preservation protections.
- Advocates for landmark designations and improved urban planning regulationsAdvocates for landmark designations, comments on development proposals affecting historic buildings, and campaigns to improve urban planning regulations in New York City.
- Lobbies for preservation policy at city, state, and federal levelsTestifies before the City's Landmarks Preservation Commission, lobbies in Albany and Washington D.C., and rallies constituents to influence preservation laws and policies; participates in federal and state review processes such as Section 106 consultations.
- Long-term advocacy for preservation of specific landmarksHas worked for 25 years to save and restore the landmarked West Park Presbyterian Church on the Upper West Side.
- Supports reuse and redevelopment of major historic structuresHelped form a Friends group, lobbied for federal funding, opposed relocation of Madison Square Garden, and advocated consistently for the construction of Moynihan Train Hall over multiple decades; highlighted role of Section 106 review in enabling reuse of the TWA Terminal at JFK and development of Moynihan Train Hall.
- Warns against weakening of federal historic preservation processesWarns against proposed elimination of public review and input in federal historic preservation processes and opposes changes that would undermine Section 106 protections, particularly in the context of Penn Station and other major developments.
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Historic Preservation Support Grants 4 activities
- Funds emergency preservation and restoration of historic buildingsEstablished the Lower Manhattan Emergency Preservation Fund after September 11th to support repair and restoration of historic buildings damaged in the attacks.
- Funds historic preservation projects through the New York City Historic Properties FundOperates the New York City Historic Properties Fund, a revolving loan fund that has invested over $31 million (per IRS-990) or $33 million (per IRS-990) in restoration projects across New York City since 1982.
- Funds preservation work at religious and community sitesProvided a Sacred Sites Grant to support preservation work at St. Patrick’s Church in Brooklyn.
- Provides grants for historic preservation in Upper ManhattanProvides grants to community-based organizations for preserving historic buildings in Harlem, East Harlem, and Upper Manhattan through the Upper Manhattan Historic Preservation Fund.
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Historical and Genealogical Research 1 activity
- Offers fee-based preservation planning and research servicesProvides historical research reports, National Register nominations, maintenance plans, and feasibility studies on a fee basis to support preservation projects.
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Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
- Provides technical assistance for historic building preservationOperates a Preservation Hotline to respond to inquiries about building repair, project management, and contractor referrals; conducts site visits and meets with building owners, architects, and contractors to address complex preservation issues; and serves as project advisor by assisting with requests for proposals, budgets, grant applications, National Register nominations, and local and state design review approvals.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$5.43M
Contributions & grants$3.68M68%
Program service revenue$78K1%
Investment income$1.56M29%
Other revenue$115K
expenses
Total expenses$4.49M
Program expenses73%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising16%
Salaries & benefits$2.07M
Grants paid out$864K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$25.05M
Cash$3.31M
Investments$17.92M
Liabilities$4.69M
Net assets$20.36M
Liquid reserves56.8 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -13.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEG BREEN | PRESIDENT | 41 | $341K |
| JOSEPH LEURQUIN | DIRECTOR, FUNDRAISING | 40 | $175K |
| JAMES MAHONEY | DIRECTOR, NYC HISTORIC PROPERTIES | 40 | $159K |
| ANDREA GOLDWYN | DIRECTOR, PUBLIC POLICY | 40 | $158K |
| BLAIRE WALSH | DIRECTOR, PRESERVATION SERVICES | 40 | $148K |
| ROBERT IRVING | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE | 30 | $120K |
board members · 19
- ADAM JOHNSON — BOARD DIRECTOR
- ADRIAN TAYLOR — BOARD DIRECTOR
- AYUSH KAPAHI — BOARD DIRECTOR-TERM ENDED 5/16/24
- BARRIE RINGELHEIM — BOARD DIRECTOR
- CLAUDIA MARMOLEJO — BOARD DIRECTOR-TERM ENDED 5/16/24
- EDMUND MEADE — SECRETARY
- ERNEST M VON SIMSON — BOARD DIRECTOR
- FRANK J SCIAME JR — BOARD DIRECTOR-TERM ENDED 5/16/24
- JAMES MALLOCH TAYLOR — BOARD DIRECTOR
- JOAN O CAMINS — BOARD DIRECTOR
- JOHN CANTARELLA — BOARD DIRECTOR
- JOHN P CASALY ESQ — BOARD DIRECTOR
- JOHN P DARBY — BOARD DIRECTOR-TERM ENDED 5/16/24
- JONATHAN HOGG — BOARD DIRECTOR
- JUSTIN ABELOW — TREASURER
- KARLA RENEE WILLAMS ESQ — BOARD DIRECTOR
- KEITH MARSTON — BOARD DIRECTOR
- KELLY D NEWSOME — BOARD DIRECTOR
- LEWIS GLEASON — BOARD DIRECTOR
relationships · 22
Who they work with
- Congregation Tifereth Israel Partner — Recipient of preservation support through the Conservancy's programs.
- Constant Contact Partner — Used for managing mailing list signups and distributing newsletters
- Emergency Grant Program Partner — Provides emergency grants to address immediate hazards threatening landmark buildings.
- Federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Government — Subject of opposition by the Conservancy regarding proposed changes to Section 106 protections.
- Federal Archive Building Partner — Building that has benefited from the Conservancy's preservation initiatives.
- Federal Railroad Administration Government — Engages with the Conservancy in the Section 106 Review process for Penn Station.
- Fraunces Tavern Block Partner — Area where the Conservancy has supported historic preservation efforts.
- God’s Love We Deliver Network — Nonprofit organization that was founded in the kitchen of West Park Presbyterian Church, a site the Conservancy is working to preserve.
- James Lima Planning + Development Partner — Collaborated with the New York Landmarks Conservancy President Peg Breen on a public advocacy effort regarding the West Park Presbyterian Church.
- Landmarks Preservation Commission Government — Testifies before the City's Landmarks Preservation Commission to influence preservation decisions.
- Madison Square Garden Partner — Opposed a proposal to relocate Madison Square Garden to the rear of the Farley Post Office during development of Moynihan Train Hall.
- National Trust for Historic Preservation Partner — Collaborates by referencing a National Trust fact sheet on Section 106 changes.
- NetNY.Tv Partner — Covered the Conservancy's Sacred Sites Grant project at St. Patrick’s Church in Brooklyn.
- New York 1 News Partner — Featured the Conservancy's 2026 Sacred Sites Open House and interviewed President Peg Breen.
- New York City Government — Primary geographic focus and regulatory context for preservation advocacy and financing activities.
- New York City Historic Properties Fund Partner — Provides low-interest loans and project management assistance for historic restorations in New York City.
- New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission Government — Government agency whose decision on the West Park Presbyterian Church demolition request is being influenced through advocacy by the New York Landmarks Conservancy.
- Nonprofit Technical Assistance Grant Program Partner — Works with nonprofit organizations to retain affordable spaces in lower-income communities through technical and financial support.
- Pier A Partner — Historic site that has received preservation support from the Conservancy.
- Queens Historic Properties Fund Partner — Offers grants and project management assistance for historic restorations in Queens.
- Sacred Sites Program Partner — Provides matching grants to congregations across New York State for planning and restoration of sacred properties.
- U.S. Custom House on Bowling Green Partner — Site of preservation work supported by the Conservancy.
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.
- Community-Based Granting to Support Equitable Preservationmethodology: community_based_preservation_grantingBy directing grant funding to community-based organizations in underserved neighborhoods, the organization promotes equitable preservation and local stewardship of historic buildings, because empowering local actors increases community ownership and long-term sustainability of preservation efforts.
- Frontline Preservation with Cultural Significance Emphasismethodology: frontline preservationBy operating directly in at-risk communities and emphasizing the cultural and emotional value of landmarks, the organization strengthens public attachment and support for preservation, because connecting preservation to identity and place increases public engagement and project legitimacy.
- Integrated Financing and Technical Assistance Modelmethodology: integrated financing and technical assistanceBy combining financial support with expert technical guidance, the organization increases the success and sustainability of preservation projects, because access to both capital and specialized knowledge empowers building owners to make informed, effective decisions.
- Multi-Level Advocacy and Federal Review Engagementmethodology: multi-level government advocacyBy engaging in formal government review processes and advocating across city, state, and federal levels, the organization influences policy and project outcomes to protect historic structures, because systemic change is most effectively achieved through coordinated policy intervention and public mobilization.
- Revolving Loan Fund for Sustainable Preservationmethodology: revolving_loan_fundBy providing low-cost, reusable financing through a revolving loan fund, the organization enables the restoration of historic buildings and ensures long-term capital availability for future projects, because sustainable financing increases the feasibility and continuity of preservation efforts.