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Ostrander Family Association Inc

Rochester, NY · EIN 271649393 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · NTEE P20 · Human Services · Micro (<$100K) · ostrander.org
revenue
$10K
expenses
$9K
net assets
$49K
employees
mission · from form 990

Genealogical & Historical Education & Re

profile · synthesized from sources

The Ostrander Family Association Inc is a genealogical and historical organization founded in 1984 to research, preserve, and publish the lineage of descendants from Pieter Pietersen Ostrander, the progenitor of the Ostrander surname in North America. The association connects family members through reunions, maintains a comprehensive genealogical database, and publishes research findings. It serves Ostrander descendants across the United States and Canada.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Find A Grave Project
Manages and links Ostrander graves on Find A Grave to preserve burial records and family connections.
Genealogy Research
Conducts genealogical, biographical, and historical research to connect unconnected Ostrander lines to Pieter Pietersen and maintain the OFA database.
OFA Journal
Publishes a journal featuring genealogical findings, family stories, and historical content for members.
Ostrander Family Reunion
Organizes international family reunions, alternating between Kingston, New York, and other locations in the U.S. and Canada, to foster family unity and share research.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Cemetery Records and Genealogical Research 2 activities
    • Maintains and provides access to Ostrander genealogical records
      Preserves and manages comprehensive genealogical data through the Ostrander "Big Book" and a database using The Master Genealogist (TMG) software, including over 17,500 documented descendants. The collection includes member submissions, historical records, and published research.
    • Provides genealogical research and membership services
      Offers direct support to members and unconnected individuals seeking to establish lineage connections to Pieter Pieterson, including technical assistance, login support, and resource guides for gravesite and ancestral research.
  • Historical and Genealogical Research 1 activity
    • Genealogical and historical research on the Ostrander surname
      Conducts and supports genealogical, biographical, and historical research related to the Ostrander family, including documentation of progenitor Pieter² Pietersen and Rebecca³ Traphagen, their origins, residency in New York, and lineage connections. Research is published in OFA journals and newsletters.
  • Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
    • Manages organizational history and outreach
      Maintains the Ostrander Family Association’s institutional memory through a designated historian, manages social media outreach, and collaborates on preserving reunion-related materials.
  • Local History Publishing 1 activity
    • Produces and distributes OFA publications
      Produces, edits, and distributes the OFA Journal, newsletters, and genealogical books, including a 944-page family heritage book (1999) and the "Genealogy Corner" section. Printed materials were distributed to libraries and historical societies, with 1,500 copies of the heritage book printed between 1999 and 2016.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Organizes family reunions and historical events
      Plans and organizes international and regional family reunions and historical gatherings, including the First International Ostrander Family Reunion in 1984 and a family picnic in 1979, to bring together descendants and preserve family history.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$10K
Contributions & grants$1912%
Program service revenue$6K57%
Investment income$1K11%
Other revenue
expenses
Total expenses$9K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits
Grants paid out
balance sheet
Total assets$52K
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$49K
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +101.6%
relationships · 10

Who they work with

  • Boy Scouts of America Partner — Vinton Ostrander was a long-serving executive and maintained organizational values influenced by his Scouting career.
  • Find A Grave Partner — Collaborates to manage Ostrander graves and link family members in the Find A Grave database.
  • New York Public Library Partner — Submitted a guide on researching Dutch ancestors for publication.
  • Rebecca Traphagen Partner — Marriage connection between Ostrander progenitor Pieter² Pietersen and Rebecca Traphagen, linking genealogical lines.
  • TIME magazine Government — Recognized Vinton Ostrander as an early user of computers in genealogical research.
  • The Master Genealogist Partner — Uses The Master Genealogist (TMG) software to maintain and preserve family history databases.
  • Wild Apricot Partner — Third-party membership management system used by the Ostrander Family Association.
  • Yosemite Association Partner — Operates the Ostrander Hut in Yosemite, which is referenced in a publication supported by the Ostrander Family Association.
  • historical societies Partner — Distributed copies of the family heritage book to historical societies across the country
  • libraries Partner — Distributed copies of the family heritage book to libraries across the country
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.

  • Collaborative Genealogical Research Network
    methodology: collaborative_genealogy
    By engaging a decentralized network of family researchers to collect, verify, and update genealogical data, the organization produces more comprehensive and accurate lineage records because collective participation increases data volume, enables peer validation, and sustains long-term research momentum.
  • Genealogical Education for Heritage Preservation
    methodology: genealogical_education
    By using genealogical and historical education to teach descendants about their lineage, the organization strengthens family identity and ensures intergenerational continuity because understanding one’s heritage fosters emotional connection and motivates active participation in preservation efforts.
  • Integrated Genealogical Methodology
    methodology: integrated_genealogical_research
    By combining traditional documentary research with modern tools such as genetic analysis and online databases, the organization produces more accurate and verifiable lineage reconstructions because triangulating multiple data sources reduces error and fills historical gaps.