named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Environmental Education Outreach
Supports educational initiatives that use Roger Tory Peterson's legacy to teach bird identification, conservation, and natural history to students and the general public.
Peterson Field Guide System
Develops and promotes a method of bird identification using simplified illustrations and comparative layout, enabling beginners to identify birds in the field with minimal training.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 2 activities
- Hosting rotating exhibitions on art and naturePresents multiple changing exhibitions annually that highlight bird art, field guides, and nature-themed works, including past exhibitions on the Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Western North America, bird carvings by Ralph Sandquist, NANPA Environmental Impact Award winners, Dennis Bowen’s artwork, en plein air art, portraits of endangered birds, and historical tools like Peterson’s cameras.
- Operating an online interactive exhibition on birdsOffers an online interactive mural exhibition featuring birds, expanding access to its educational and artistic content beyond physical visitors.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Engaging the public in birding and nature through events and outreachHosts an annual community event featuring a 10K run, 5K run/walk, kids' run, music, food trucks, games, and nature-themed activities to promote birding and nature education; also offers guided bird walks and bluebird nest box monitoring opportunities through volunteer engagement.
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Environmental Conservation Grantmaking 1 activity
- Funding operations of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural HistoryProvides financial support to the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, enabling its programming and operations as a grantmaker.
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Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Operating a nature preserve with public trails and wildlife habitatsManages a 27-acre nature preserve featuring two half-mile trails with carved sculptures and QR code signposts that link to online artwork and nature information; maintains wildflower gardens, a bluebird trail, and bird feeders to support wildlife observation and public engagement.
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Artist Legacy Preservation and Documentation 1 activity
- Preserving and showcasing Roger Tory Peterson's legacy and collectionsMaintains the largest collection of Roger Tory Peterson’s original artworks, films, photographs, archival materials, and personal equipment such as cameras, and uses them in exhibitions and educational programming to promote understanding of natural history.
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Annual Impact and Evaluation Reporting 1 activity
- Producing public reports on art and environmental stewardshipProduces an annual report titled "Art That Matters to the Planet" to document and communicate its efforts in connecting art and nature for environmental conservation and public education.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Providing hands-on art and nature education programsOffers art classes, workshops, and family-friendly programs such as a handmade paper workshop using local plant materials, a multimedia workshop with illustrator Will Hillenbrand, and opportunities for visitors to create drawings in Roger's Art Studio, all designed to connect art and nature.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Supporting and nurturing emerging nature artistsHosts artist residencies and provides capacity-building support to emerging nature artists to foster the creation of environmentally meaningful art and advance the intersection of art and conservation.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$185K
Contributions & grants$50K27%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$135K73%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$193K
Program expenses100%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$165K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$1.67M
Cash$0
Investments$1.66M
Liabilities$0
Net assets$1.67M
Liquid reserves103.2 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +70.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 4
- DOUGLAS L SCHUTTE — CHAIR
- KENT FRANCOIS — TREASURER
- THOMAS SCHMIDT — MEMBER
- TORY PETERSON — SECRETARY
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- Chautauqua Striders Partner — Roger’s Bird-Day Dash is part of the Chautauqua Striders Runner of the Year Series.
- Deb Eck Partner — Local artist leading the papermaking workshop, sharing expertise in plant-based papermaking and eco-printing.
- Facebook Partner — Follows RTPI on Facebook
- Houghton Mifflin Government — Lifelong publisher of Roger Tory Peterson's field guides, including the third edition of A Field Guide to the Birds released in 1947.
- Instagram Partner — Follows RTPI on Instagram
- Jeanne Fralick Partner — Development Director serving as contact for membership inquiries and organizational memberships.
- NANPA Partner — Collaborated on an exhibition featuring Environmental Impact Award winners.
- Penn Creative Strategy Partner — Engaged strategic planning consultant Molly Penn of Penn Creative Strategy to guide RTPI's strategic planning process.
- ROGER TORY PETERSON INSTITUTE OF NATURAL HISTORY Partner — Primary recipient of financial support.
- Stacey Otte-Demangate Government — CEO of RTPI who handles inquiries about planned giving.
- Vimeo Partner — Hosts RTPI content on Vimeo
- Will Hillenbrand Partner — Collaborated with author and illustrator Will Hillenbrand for a talk and workshop event.
- YouTube Partner — Hosts RTPI content on YouTube
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.
- Art-Based Environmental Engagementmethodology: art-based_educationBy integrating art with natural history, the institute inspires emotional connection and public engagement with nature, because aesthetic and creative experiences make environmental education more accessible and memorable than scientific information alone.
- Community Festival Model for Nature Engagementmethodology: community-festival-engagementBy combining running events, music, food, and interactive nature activities in a community festival format, the institute lowers barriers to participation and broadens public engagement in birding and environmental education, because inclusive, celebratory events attract diverse audiences who might not otherwise seek out conservation programming.
- Experiential Environmental Educationmethodology: experiential-environmental-educationBy engaging participants in hands-on, nature-based workshops that involve direct interaction with local plant materials and craft processes like paper-making, the institute fosters a tangible relationship with place, because embodied experiences deepen ecological understanding and stewardship behavior more effectively than passive learning.
- Legacy-Driven Conservation Stewardshipmethodology: legacy-stewardshipBy stewarding the legacy of Roger Tory Peterson and his field guide methodology, the institute sustains public interest in nature and conservation, because his authoritative and accessible approach continues to resonate with new generations as a trusted entry point to environmental engagement.
- Peterson Identification Method as Educational Toolmethodology: peterson_identification_methodBy teaching visual "shape seeing" and using simplified, comparative illustrations that highlight key distinguishing features, the institute enables rapid and accurate bird identification, because this method reduces cognitive load and makes field identification accessible to beginners.