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CAUMSETT FOUNDATION INC
HUNTINGTON, NY · EIN 113396186 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE C30 · Environment · Medium ($1M-$10M) · caumsettfoundation.org
revenue
$1.1M
expenses
$669K
net assets
$5.2M
employees
1
volunteers
17
program ratio
78%
mission · from form 990

THE MISSION OF THE CAUMSETT FOUNDATION INCORPORATED IS TO SUPPORT AND ENHANCE CAUMSETT HISTORIC STATE PARK AS A UNIQUE HISTORIC ENTITY THE FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO EDUCATION, LOW-IMPACT RECREATION, HISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION, AND CONSERVATION OF THE SCENIC VALUE, NATURAL HERITAGE AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE SITE.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Caumsett Foundation Inc. supports Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve in Huntington, NY, a 1,500-acre property with significant ecological and cultural value. The foundation focuses on historic preservation, environmental conservation, and public education. It undertakes restoration projects for native habitats and historic structures, promotes low-impact recreation, and enhances visitor experiences through educational programming and infrastructure improvements.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $171K
    BUILDING PRESERVATION: PROVIDES MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CAUMSETT BUILDINGS.
  2. #2 $148K
    LAND AND ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION: PROVIDES CONSERVATION, MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK LANDSCAPE AND ITS GARDENS.
named programs · 15 · from sources

What they call their work

Ailanthus Girdling Project
Manages invasive Ailanthus trees along woodland edges and forest openings through girdling to prevent spread
Artist in Residence Program
Hosts artists at Caumsett through an adaptive reuse of the Van Shed into an Artist Studio, launched in 2023
Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly Colony
Protects and monitors the only known breeding colony of this species on Long Island, discovered in 2009
Berm and Sand Trail Restoration
Restores shoreline infrastructure damaged by Superstorm Sandy to protect the beach and tidal wetland interface
Caumsett Cafe and Seating Shed
Offers seasonal food service through adaptive reuse of the former Spreader Shed, completed in 2020
Grassland Restoration Project
Restores 30 acres of former pasture into native grassland to support grassland-dependent species through invasive plant control and native planting
Historic Dairy Barn Complex and Interpretive Center
Restores and repurposes a 1920s model farm complex for educational and park use
Mugwort Project
Tests the effectiveness of mowing to control invasive mugwort across an 8-acre site
New Entrance Road and Enlarged Parking Lot
Improved park access with a re-engineered entrance road and expanded parking lot, completed in 2020
Park Offices, Restrooms, and Classrooms
Provides modern park facilities through conversion of historic barns, completed in 2019
Phragmites Management Project
Controls invasive Phragmites australis to preserve biodiversity and native plant communities
Pollinator Garden Project
Creates and maintains pollinator-friendly habitats to support declining native bees, butterflies, and moths
Polo Stable Project
Restored the exterior of the historic Polo Stable in 2008, now leased to Lloyd Harbor Equestrian Center
Summer, Winter, and Engineer's Cottages Restoration
Undertook significant restoration of historic estate cottages, including the 1939 Summer Cottage
Visitor Kiosk
Provides park information through a redesigned and refurbished kiosk updated in 2021
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Ecological Habitat Restoration 3 activities
    • Landscape and habitat conservation
      Manages and restores natural landscapes at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve through invasive species control (including porcelain berry, mugwort, Ailanthus altissima, and Phragmites australis), grassland and pollinator habitat restoration, and post-storm ecological recovery such as berm and trail restoration after Superstorm Sandy.
    • Support for rare species and pollinator habitats
      Protects and supports the only known breeding colony of the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly on Long Island through invasive species management on Butterfly Hill and by establishing native pollinator gardens funded by external grants.
    • Tree and garden restoration projects
      Conducts tree restoration following storm damage, including replanting efforts after Hurricane Ida and a microburst in 2021. Redesigned the four-acre Walled Garden in 2001 and planted 100,000 daffodil bulbs to enhance aesthetics and commemorate the State Park system’s centennial.
  • Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
    • Artist in Residence Program and cultural initiatives
      Launched an Artist in Residence Program in May 2023 and is adapting the former Van Shed into an Artist Studio to support cultural programming and artistic engagement at the park.
  • Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
    • Environmental education and public programming
      Offers guided nature tours, low-impact recreation, educational films, a hard-cover history book, and public programs for members and visitors. Provides educational content through newsletters, self-guided interpretive tours, and an interactive mobile app featuring archival images and multilingual support in development.
  • Charity Event Organization 1 activity
    • Grantmaking and fundraising support for partner organizations
      Funds and hosts fundraising events for external organizations, such as a fundraising party for the Long Island Biological Association, demonstrating grantmaking or financial sponsorship activities.
  • Historic Vessel and Equipment Preservation 1 activity
    • Historic artifact and model restoration
      Restores and preserves historic artifacts, including a circa 1920 model of the Corisande, a 50-foot commuter yacht once owned by Marshall Field III.
  • Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
    • Historic building restoration and adaptive reuse
      Conducts restoration, maintenance, and adaptive reuse of historic buildings at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, including the Polo Stables, Summer Cottage, Bottling Plant, and conversion of historic sheds into classrooms, offices, and the Caumsett Café. Projects include roof replacements across 18 buildings and exterior restoration of key structures.
  • Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
    • Visitor access and recreational services
      Operates miles of multi-use trails for walking, biking, bridle use, and skiing; issues permits for fishing and scuba diving; and runs a seasonal café from April to November with weekly service and extended weekend hours. Also provides improved visitor infrastructure including a redesigned kiosk, entrance road, and parking lot.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.12M
Contributions & grants$682K61%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$227K20%
Other revenue$216K
expenses
Total expenses$669K
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$35K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$5.32M
Cash$234K
Investments$2.78M
Liabilities$92K
Net assets$5.22M
Liquid reserves54.1 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -2.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 17
  • ANDREW GIAMBERTONE — MEMBER
  • CATHIE WARDELL — Secretary
  • CHRISTINA BEZAS SNIPAS — MEMBER
  • CHRISTINE PATA — MEMBER
  • DANIEL MILLER — MEMBER
  • JANET BARONE — President
  • JESSICA BRASSLER — MEMBER
  • JOANA STARR — Treasurer
  • JORDY HOWARD — MEMBER
  • KATE SINGER — MEMBER
  • LISA KASPER — MEMBER
  • LYNN GUNDERSEN — Vice President
  • MARC WONG — MEMBER
  • MOLLY LEAVY STOCKINGER — Vice President
  • RICHARD DE LA SOTA — MEMBER
  • SUZANNE FEUSTEL — MEMBER
  • THOMAS CALABRESE — Chairman
relationships · 18

Who they work with

  • Arcadia Publishing Partner — Published and sells the Caumsett history book produced by The Caumsett Foundation.
  • Beyer Blinder Belle Partner — Architectural firm that designed the adaptation of the former Spreader Shed into the Caumsett Café.
  • Caumsett State Historic Preserve Government — Coordinates event logistics and provides visitor information, including weather-related cancellations.
  • Caumsett State Park Government — Manages and conducts improvement projects within Caumsett State Park.
  • Lloyd Harbor Equestrian Center Partner — Leases the historic Polo Stable and collaborates on its preservation.
  • Long Island Biological Association Partner — Recipient of a fundraising event hosted at Caumsett.
  • Long Island Community Foundation Funder — Awarded a grant to the Caumsett Foundation in 2021 to support the Pollinator Garden Project.
  • NYS Parks Regional Environmental Office Partner — Collaborates with the Caumsett Foundation on the 30-acre grassland restoration project.
  • NYS Parks, L.I. Region Government — Works with the regional office of New York State Parks on Long Island.
  • Nadon Trust Funder — Provided grant funding for the redesign and refurbishment of the Visitor Kiosk.
  • New York State Government — Manages Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve after acquiring the property in 1961.
  • New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Government — Collaborates with the state agency responsible for managing Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve.
  • New York State Parks Government — Partner in the stewardship and management of Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve.
  • New York State Parks Partner — Collaborates with the Foundation to support and enhance Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve.
  • New York State Parks Partner — Works closely with New York State Parks toward the shared mission of supporting and enhancing Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve.
  • Parks & Trails New York Funder — Provided grant funding for the redesign and refurbishment of the Visitor Kiosk.
  • Parks & Trails New York Partner — Cofunded the construction of two classrooms and a courtyard garden at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve.
  • Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation Funder — Provided a grant to support the production of three educational films about Caumsett's history.
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.

  • Adaptive Reuse of Historic Structures
    methodology: adaptive_reuse
    By repurposing historic buildings for educational and cultural uses, the foundation preserves architectural heritage while expanding public programming, because adaptive reuse maintains historical integrity and enables functional sustainability.
  • Ecological Restoration Through Invasive Species Management
    methodology: invasive-species-management-for-habitat-restoration
    By implementing targeted control methods like mowing and comprehensive removal, the foundation restores native grassland ecosystems because effective invasive species management enables the recovery of ecologically significant habitats.
  • Friends Group Collaboration Model
    methodology: friends_group_model
    By operating as a collaborative "friends group" with state parks and local communities, the foundation enhances park support and resource mobilization because shared stewardship increases public investment and programmatic reach.
  • Integrated Preservation and Education Model
    methodology: integrated preservation and education
    By integrating education, low-impact recreation, and conservation efforts, the foundation sustains the integrity of Caumsett State Historic Park because combined programming reinforces both visitor engagement and environmental stewardship.