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PAUL SMITHS COLLEGE

PAUL SMITHS, NY · EIN 150533545 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B420 · Education · Large ($10M-$50M) · paulsmiths.edu
revenue
$41.8M
expenses
$43.0M
net assets
$59.6M
employees
634
volunteers
125
program ratio
96%
mission · from form 990

HIGHER EDUCATION: "THE REAL VALUE OF A PSC EDUCATION IS IN THE EMPHASIS ON NOT JUST LEARNING SOMETHING, BUT IN ACTUALLY DOING IT." THE PAUL SMITH'S COLLEGE COMMUNITY PROVIDES A DYNAMIC EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT WHICH ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THEIR OWN LEARNING EXPERIENCE BY FOSTERING CREATIVE, ETHICAL AND INTELLECTUAL GROWTH.

profile · synthesized from sources

Paul Smith's College is a four-year institution located within the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, offering hands-on, experiential education in fields such as environmental science, forestry, hospitality, and natural resources. The college emphasizes real-world learning, integrating classroom study with fieldwork on its 14,000-acre campus and surrounding ecosystems. It also supports student engagement through competitive athletics, sustainability initiatives, and applied research via programs like the Adirondack Watershed Institute.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $8.61M
    POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, GENERAL/OTHER: AUXILLIARY ENTERPRISES - THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE RESIDENCE HALLS, CAFETERIA AND CAMPUS STORE THAT SERVE THE STUDENTS.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI)
Conducts scientific research and stewardship to protect clean water, conserve habitat, and support community well-being in the Adirondacks through monitoring, advocacy, and public education
Draft Horse Program
Hands-on educational program featuring campus-owned Haflinger draft ponies used for teaching and demonstration in sustainable forestry and recreation practices
Nordic and Cross Country Athletics
Competitive NCAA-affiliated programs with national championship success in cross country and Nordic skiing, emphasizing endurance, technique, and academic-athletic balance
Student-Run Sawmill
On-campus facility where students gain practical experience in forestry operations, timber processing, and sustainable wood product management
Woodsmen Jack & Jill Team
Student-run timbersports program that competes nationally in lumberjack sports, including chopping, sawing, and climbing events
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • Interscholastic and Inclusive School Sports Programs 1 activity
    • Compete in intercollegiate athletics
      Fields competitive athletic teams in skiing, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, cross country, canoeing, and timbersports, achieving national recognition including USCAA and USCSA championships and tournament appearances.
  • Lake and Watershed Monitoring & Assessment 1 activity
    • Conduct environmental research and provide scientific expertise
      Conducts long-term research on lakes, climate change, and ecological systems in the Adirondacks and beyond, and provides scientific consultation to external entities such as The New York Times on freshwater ecosystems and algae growth.
  • Higher Education Degree Programs 1 activity
    • Deliver undergraduate and graduate academic programs
      Offers associate, bachelor's, and graduate degree programs across disciplines including environmental sciences, forestry, culinary arts, business management, disaster response, and hospitality. Programs include experiential learning integrated with the Adirondack environment and serve approximately 750 students.
  • Alumni Community Building 1 activity
    • Host alumni and community engagement events
      Organizes alumni reunion events, such as the July 2026 gathering for class years ending in 1 and 6, and hosts the Adirondack Lake Mixer and Awards Celebration to recognize leadership in watershed protection and foster collaboration among lake associations, scientists, and community leaders.
  • Student Milestone Ceremonies & Events 1 activity
    • Host student orientation and academic welcome events
      Hosts an overnight orientation program for incoming fall students to build connections and familiarize them with campus resources, alongside a formal Convocation ceremony marking the start of the academic year.
  • Campus Facility Operations and Management 1 activity
    • Operate specialized campus facilities and programs
      Maintains unique on-campus facilities including a student-run sawmill, biathlon range, armory, lumberjack sports arena, draft horse program with Haflinger ponies, and a student-built forestry cabin used by the Forestry Club and lumber sports team.
  • Admissions and Enrollment Support Services 1 activity
    • Recruit students and manage admissions
      Manages a comprehensive admission process for prospective students and conducts targeted recruitment efforts, including at military installations through the Troops to Timber Workforce Initiative.
  • Student Housing and Residential Services 1 activity
    • Support student life through campus operations and services
      Operates and maintains residence halls, cafeteria, campus store, and other facilities to support student living and learning, including overnight housing during orientation in Lydia Martin Smith Hall.
  • Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
    • Support veteran workforce training in forestry
      Prepares veterans for careers in forestry through the Troops to Timber initiative, offering hands-on training, industry-recognized credentials, job placement support, and expanded Micro-Credential and Forestry Certificate programs.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Provide academic minors and specialized certificate programs
      Offers minors in biology, chemistry, brewing, entrepreneurship, environmental writing, environmental humanities, GIS, sustainable communities, wildland firefighting, and forestry, along with a certificate in Aquatic Resource Management, to complement major fields of study and support career development.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$41.83M
Contributions & grants$7.43M18%
Program service revenue$27.52M66%
Investment income$5.63M13%
Other revenue$1.25M
expenses
Total expenses$43.04M
Program expenses96%
Admin / overhead3%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$13.45M
Grants paid out$12.13M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$73.87M
Cash$714K
Investments$33.47M
Liabilities$14.27M
Net assets$59.61M
Liquid reserves9.5 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +21.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 11
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
DR DANIEL KELTING PRESIDENT/CE 40 $239K
KATHY BONAVIST VP ENROLLMEN 40 $176K
JOHN BRADLEY DIRECTOR OF 40 $160K
BRETT MCLEOD DEAN OF FACU 40 $143K
JAMES GOULD VP COLLEGE A 40 $140K
ZEBULON JACKSON ED OF STUDEN 40 $138K
JORIE FAVREAU DEAN OF CURR 40 $129K
JEFFREY WALTON DIRECTOR INS 40 $129K
ZOE SMITH VP STATEGIC 40 $117K
BRENDAN WILTSE ED OF AWI 40 $116K
MICHAEL MATHIS DIRECT FINAN 40 $106K
board members · 13
  • BERNARD GRACY JR — TRUSTEE
  • CHARLOTTE NEWBURY — TRUSTEE
  • DAN PALLADINO — TRUSTEE
  • DAVID BLYE — TREASURER -
  • ELIZABETH THORNDIKE PHD — TRUSTEE
  • FRED BELTZ — TRUSTEE
  • JAMES CANTWELL — TRUSTEE
  • JAMES DAWSON — TRUSTEE
  • JAMES MCKENNA — TRUSTEE
  • KAREN REGEN-BAUM — SECRETARY
  • KATHARINE H WELLING — CO-VICE CHAI
  • KENNEITH RAYMOND — TRUSTEE
  • LISA BARON — TRUSTEE
relationships · 12

Who they work with

  • Alumni Office Partner — Office responsible for coordinating reunion events and alumni communications.
  • Fort Drum Partner — Site for recruitment efforts by the Troops to Timber Workforce Initiative.
  • High Point University Partner — Women's ice hockey team defeated High Point University 7-2 in the national tournament.
  • Mirror Lake Watershed Association Partner — Recognized through the Adirondack Watershed Impact Awards for collaborative, science-based watershed protection efforts.
  • Northern Border Regional Commission Funder — Provides funding support for the Troops to Timber Workforce Initiative.
  • Quinnipiac University Partner — Women's ice hockey team defeated No.2 seed Quinnipiac 3-1 to advance to the national semifinals.
  • State of New York Government — Collaborates through research that informs natural resource policy and management decisions.
  • Syracuse University Partner — Women's ice hockey team faced Syracuse University in the AAU College Hockey Women’s Frozen Four semifinals.
  • The New York Times Partner — Collaborated with Paul Smith's College faculty to communicate scientific insights on freshwater ecology.
  • U.S. Forest Service Government — Reference to U.S. Forest Service wildfire spending and risk context in development of wildland firefighting minor.
  • University at Albany Partner — Men's basketball team competed against University at Albany to gain experience against elite competition.
  • Upper Saranac Foundation Partner — Recognized through the Adirondack Watershed Impact Awards for leadership in watershed protection.
strategies · 3

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 Model
    methodology: experiential_learning
    By integrating hands-on practice with academic instruction in real-world environments such as forests, lakes, labs, and workplaces, the college enhances student engagement and learning outcomes because experiential immersion deepens understanding and professional readiness.
  • Integrated Sustainability and Interdisciplinary Education
    methodology: sustainability_integrated_education
    By embedding sustainability, climate advocacy, and cultural-historical context into technical and business education, the college prepares students for complex environmental challenges because interdisciplinary framing fosters adaptive, socially aware professionals.
  • Place-Based and Applied Environmental Research
    methodology: place_based_research
    By conducting research situated in the local ecological and policy context, the college generates actionable knowledge that informs natural resource management and public understanding because real-world relevance strengthens community impact and educational rigor.