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GENESEE COUNTRY MUSEUM
MUMFORD, NY · EIN 160918567 · Form 990 · FY2025 · NTEE A540 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · gcv.org
revenue
$5.4M
expenses
$6.1M
net assets
$25.0M
employees
243
volunteers
249
program ratio
77%
mission · from form 990

THE GENESEE COUNTRY MUSEUM WAS CHARTERED IN 1966 FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRESERVING AND INTERPRETING THE CULTURAL, SOCIAL, ARCHITECTURAL, HORTICULTURAL AND NATURAL HISTORY OF WESTERN NEW YORK AND THE GENESEE VALLEY REGION FOR THE EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PUBLIC. THE MUSEUM OPENED ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC IN MAY 1976. THE MUSEUM INCLUDES A COLLECTION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS, A NATURE CENTER AND AN ART GALLERY.

profile · synthesized from sources

Genesee Country Village & Museum is a living history museum in western New York dedicated to preserving and interpreting the cultural, architectural, and natural history of the Genesee Valley region. Spanning 600 acres, it features 68 historic buildings, a nature center, and an art gallery. The museum offers immersive educational experiences through interactive exhibits, seasonal events, and hands-on programming for the public.

named programs · 7 · from sources

What they call their work

Flint Hill Dance Troupe
Volunteer dance group demonstrating 19th-century rural dances in period clothing, offering audience participation and educational performances.
Genesee Country Nature Center
Educational programs focused on local ecology, trail maintenance, wildlife, and seasonal activities such as maple sugar production and summer camps.
Historic Village Interpretation
Interactive experiences in 68 restored historic buildings where visitors engage with costumed interpreters, participate in hands-on activities, and explore 19th-century rural life.
John L. Wehle Gallery Exhibits
Rotating art and history exhibitions, including the 50th-anniversary exhibit "An Extraordinary Attraction," showcasing regional history, art, and nature.
Special Event Programming
Seasonal events including "Spirits of the Past" (a spooky October tour), "Yuletide in the Country" (a holiday December tour), Independence Day celebrations, and theatrical productions.
Vintage Base Ball
Recreation of 19th-century base ball played at Silver Base Ball Park using period rules, equipment, and uniforms, with opportunities for public participation and spectator engagement.
Youth Camp Assistant Program
Leadership training for youth ages 15+ to assist with nature and history camps, providing mentorship and hands-on experience in museum education.
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
    • Maintenance and restoration of historic infrastructure and collections
      Conducts ongoing maintenance and restoration of historic buildings, fences, and period costumes; procures materials for rebuilding structures such as grandstands; and acquires historical artifacts and supplies to support authenticity in exhibits and farm operations.
  • Museum Volunteer Engagement & Operations Support 1 activity
    • Management of museum facilities and visitor services
      Operates on-site amenities including The Depot Restaurant, The Freight House Pub, D.B. Munger Confectionery, and the Pavilion Garden Restaurant, offering food, beverages, and historic confections during seasonal and special events. Also manages The Flint Hill Store and provides wheelchair-accessible trolley service for visitor access.
  • Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
    • Operation of public educational programs and events
      Offers year-round programming including guided tours, workshops, talks, and special events such as vintage base ball games, Hosmer & MacKay Dinners, and nature-based weekend activities. Programs include historical interpretation, animal encounters, and themed tours like 'Toward Freedom & Fairness' on enslavement and freedom.
  • Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
    • Preservation and interpretation of regional history
      Preserves and interprets the cultural, social, architectural, horticultural, and natural history of Western New York and the Genesee Valley region through a 600-acre campus featuring 68 historic buildings, a nature center, art gallery, and working farm. The museum provides context for 19th-century American and New York State history via living collections, artifacts, and interactive exhibits.
  • Equitable Access Admission Programs 1 activity
    • Provision of accessible and inclusive admission programs
      Offers reduced or free admission through initiatives such as Museums for All ($5 admission for EBT cardholders), Blue Star Museums (free for active-duty military), senior and student discounts, and accommodations for visitors with disabilities, including audio tours, sensory guides, and braille materials.
  • Summer Camp Access Scholarships 1 activity
    • Support for educational access and community engagement
      Provides scholarships for campers in need, accepts planned and matching gifts, and uses grant funding to expand access to educational programs. Also supports volunteer engagement, with over 12,000 hours contributed annually by a 250-member volunteer corps.
  • Wildlife Conservation and Sustainable Hunting Management 1 activity
    • Sustaining animal care and farm operations
      Supports a working farm program by providing animal feed, fencing for rotational grazing, bird seed, and other supplies to maintain livestock and wildlife habitats, ensuring sustainability and educational programming.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Production and dissemination of historical educational content
      Creates and shares educational materials on historic crafts, recipes, and holiday traditions, including instructions for making pomanders and the acquisition of 19th-century cookbooks and utensils to support authentic cooking demonstrations.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$5.38M
Contributions & grants$2.30M43%
Program service revenue$1.30M24%
Investment income$1.08M20%
Other revenue$717K
expenses
Total expenses$6.07M
Program expenses77%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$3.76M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$25.47M
Cash$386K
Investments$13.97M
Liabilities$428K
Net assets$25.04M
Liquid reserves28.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +1.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ELIZABETH A WEHLE PRESIDENT & CEO 40 $170K
ELIZABETH MARR CFO 40 $115K
board members · 23
  • A THOMAS HILDEBRANDT — TRUSTEE
  • ALISA BURNS HOY — TRUSTEE
  • ANDREW J VILLA — TRUSTEE
  • ANNE BATEMAN — TRUSTEE
  • ASHLEY E CHAMPION — SECRETARY
  • DAVID R CIURZYNSKI — TRUSTEE
  • GAYLE A G STILES — TRUSTEE
  • GRANT HOLCOMB — TRUSTEE
  • JENNIFER L BERRIOS — TRUSTEE
  • JONATHAN CHASE — TRUSTEE
  • JOSEPH SCHAAL — TRUSTEE
  • LAUREL YARTZ — TRUSTEE
  • MARK KULZER — TRUSTEE
  • MARY BETH WALKER — TRUSTEE
  • MATTHEW V CARRIGG — TRUSTEE
  • MEGAN HENRY-STUART — CHAIR
  • PATRICIA UTTARO — TRUSTEE
  • PETER M GREENDYKE — VICE CHAIR
  • PIETRO GIOVENCO PE — TRUSTEE
  • RICK GARRETT — TRUSTEE
  • ROBYN BROOKHART — TRUSTEE
  • SCOTT M TURNER — TRUSTEE
  • SCOTT R INGALLS — TRUSTEE
relationships · 17

Who they work with

  • Blue Star Museum Network — Participates in the Blue Star Museum program, providing free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families.
  • Camp Hard Hat Partner — Collaborates on rebuilding the grandstands at the Base Ball Field.
  • ESL Government — Receives support for the Museums for All program from ESL.
  • Empire State Reciprocal Museum Program Network — Participates in the Empire State Reciprocal Museum Program, offering admission discounts to members of participating New York State museums.
  • Human Resources department Partner — Employer HR departments facilitate corporate matching gifts for employee donations.
  • John L. Wehle Gallery Partner — Hosts rotating art exhibitions including 'An Extraordinary Attraction' and 'Perceived Realities'.
  • Kim Smith Partner — Vice President of Development who assists donors with planned giving arrangements.
  • Museums for All Network — Member of the Museums for All initiative, offering reduced admission to EBT cardholders.
  • Museums for All Network — Member organization participating in the Museums for All initiative to provide reduced admission to SNAP EBT card holders.
  • New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Provides support for museum programs, with additional backing from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
  • New York State Legislature Government — Supports museum programs through funding administered via the New York State Council on the Arts.
  • OSB Ciderworks Partner — Provides seasonally rotating hard cider for The Freight House Pub.
  • Office of the Governor Government — Supports museum programs through funding administered via the New York State Council on the Arts.
  • PBS Partner — Hosted the filming of Antiques Roadshow, a PBS program, at the museum.
  • Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Partner — Hosted a concert by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations.
  • Rohrbach Brewing Co. Partner — Supplies Fat Ox Ale and Stocking Hill Ale for The Freight House Pub.
  • United Way of Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes Partner — Hosts a Day of Caring project site annually in partnership with United Way of Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes.
strategies · 4

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.

  • Experiential Learning Through Historical Reenactment
    methodology: experiential_learning
    By engaging visitors in hands-on replication of historic crafts, period-specific skills, and participatory performances, the museum deepens public understanding of history because experiential immersion increases retention, emotional connection, and engagement more than passive observation alone.
  • Immersive Multi-Sensory Engagement
    methodology: immersive_experience
    By using costumed interpreters, historic buildings, and sensory-rich environments to simulate 19th-century life, the museum creates emotional and cognitive connections to history because immersive experiences enable visitors to "live" the past, deepening understanding and impact.
  • Inclusive Representation in Historical Narratives
    methodology: inclusive_representation
    By expanding representation in staffing, storytelling, and programming to include underrepresented voices, the museum builds broader community relevance and connection because inclusive narratives increase visitor identification, validate diverse experiences, and correct historical omissions.
  • Research-Based Interpretive Authenticity
    methodology: research-based_interpretation
    By grounding exhibits, costuming, and programming in rigorous historical research, the museum ensures credibility and educational value because authenticity fosters trust, enhances learning outcomes, and honors the complexity of the past.