The Long Island Museum of American Art History & Carriages
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 102 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE LONG ISLAND MUSEUM IS DEDICATED TO INSPIRING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WITH AN UNDERSTANDING AND ENJOYMENT OF AMERICAN ART, HISTORY AND CARRIAGES AS EXPRESSED THROUGH THE HERITAGE OF LONG ISLAND AND ITS DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $2.6 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 8.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 71%
- Employees
- 51
- Volunteers
- 74
- Highest pay
- $142,977, co-executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 102 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $1.4 million spent. CHANGING EXHIBITIONS JULY 1, 2024 - JUNE 30, 2025MUSICAL MASTERWORKS: JOHN MONTELEONE'S GUITARS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS MAY 23 - OCTOBER 13, 2024: MUSICAL MASTERWORKS TOLD THE STORY OF ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST TALENTED AND FAMED MAKERS OF ARCHTOP GUITARS. FROM HIS WORKSHOP IN ISLIP, NEW YORK, JOHN MONTELEONE HAS BUILT A WORLD-RENOWNED FOLLOWING AS A SKILLED LUTHIER. CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O MONTELEONE'S GUITARS ARE ONE-OF-A-KIND MASTERPIECES OF FUNCTIONAL ART, AND INSTRUMENTS MADE FOR SOME OF THE LEADING ROCK, JAZZ, AND FOLK GUITARISTS OF THE LATE-20TH AND EARLY-21ST CENTURIES: MARK KNOPFLER, ERIC CLAPTON, JULIAN LAGE, ANTHONY WILSON, AND BEN HARPER, TO NAME JUST A FEW. BEGINNING IN THE EARLY 1970S AS A REPAIRER AND MAKER OF MANDOLINS, MONTELEONE HAS MADE AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFETIME JOURNEY AS A CRAFTSMAN OF HIS SIGNATURE GUITARS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS. ALTHOUGH STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL, THERE ARE NO FEATURES OF HIS INSTRUMENTS THAT ARE ENTIRELY DECORATIVE. ALL ELEMENTS-WHETHER THEY PROVIDE A REFINEMENT IN ACOUSTICS OR IMBUE A SENSE OF STYLE AND INSPIRATION TO THE PERFORMER-ARE DEPLOYED TO CREATE INSTRUMENTS WITH EXCEPTIONAL SOUND THAT HAPPEN TO ALSO BE GREAT-LOOKING. LIM VISITORS WERE ABLE TO ENJOY SEEING THE LARGEST-EVER EXHIBITION OF JOHN MONTELEONE'S MUSICAL ART ASSEMBLED AND DISPLAYED AT A SINGLE VENUE. THIS EXHIBITION FEATURED NEARLY 50 GUITARS, MANDOLINS, AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS BY MONTELEONE, MADE BETWEEN 1971 AND 2023, INCLUDING THE FAMED FOUR SEASONS GUITAR QUARTET (2002-2006), LOANED FROM THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, ALONG WITH OTHER HISTORIC GUITARS FROM GIBSON, JOHN D'ANGELICO, JAMES D'AQUISTO, AND SELMER-MACCAFERRI. FIRE ISLAND: THE ART OF LIBERATION :JULY 18 -DECEMBER 15, 2024: ONLY EIGHT MILES AWAY FROM LONG ISLAND'S SOUTH SHORE, BUT A WORLD APART FROM LONG ISLAND'S SUBURBIA. THIS BARRIER ISLAND SEASHORE OFFERS RESIDENTS AND VISITORS THE FREEDOM TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, BOTH PERSONALLY AND ARTISTICALLY. IT HAS OFFERED A WARM-WEATHER RESPITE TO LONG ISLANDERS AND NEW YORKERS FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, WITH FERRY SERVICE BEGINNING IN THE MID-19TH CENTURY, SOON AFTER THE FIRST HOTELS WERE BUILT. THE HAMLETS OF CHERRY GROVE AND FIRE ISLAND PINES HAVE PROVIDED LGBTQ+ NEW YORKERS THE FREEDOM TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES SINCE THE MID-20TH CENTURY, AND THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN CELEBRATED WORLDWIDE AS A PLACE OF ACCEPTANCE, DRAWING ARTISTS SEEKING INSPIRATION. FEATURING WORKS BY PAUL CADMUS, MERYL MEISLER, JOHN LAUB, JOANNE MULBERG, TM DAVY, DORON LANGBERG, LOUIS FRATINO, AND MORE. A NOBLE ART: A NEW LOOK AT THE PORTRAITS OF WILLIAM SIDNEY MOUNT: JULY 18-DECEMBER 15, 2024: THIS EXHIBITION FEATURED A TOTAL OF 26 PAINTINGS, LITHOGRAPHS, DRAWINGS, AND SEVERAL ARTIFACTS, INCLUDING SEVERAL WORKS BY WILLIAM SIDNEY MOUNT (1807-1868) SHOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AT THE LIM. "PORTRAIT PAINTING IS A NOBLE ART," MOUNT ONCE WROTE, AND THIS EXHIBITION BENEFITTED FROM SOME OF THE NEW RESEARCH COMPILED ON THE IDENTITIES OF SITTERS OF THE ARTIST'S PAINTINGS, PARTICULARLY BLACK AND INDIGENOUS RESIDENTS OF THE STONY BROOK AREA. WILLIAM SIDNEY MOUNT'S FAME AS AN ARTIST CAME LARGELY FROM HIS GENRE PAINTINGS, OR, AS THE ARTIST OFTEN REFERRED TO THEM, "PICTURES." RICHLY APPEALING COUNTRYSIDE SCENES OF DAILY LIFE EMBEDDED WITH MEANING PAINTINGS SUCH AS THE DANCE OF THE HAYMAKERS (1845) BROUGHT HIM NATIONAL ACCLAIM IN THE PRE-CIVIL WAR YEARS. HOWEVER, TODAY, HIS PORTRAITS ENDURE IN MEMORY. IN HIS LIFETIME, THEY WERE THE LARGEST PART OF MOUNT'S INCOME AND PRODUCTION. FROM WELL-KNOWN LOCALS WITH SURNAMES: MILLS, JONES, ONDERDONK, AND SMITH, TO THE REGULAR WORKING PEOPLE, MOUNT'S PORTRAITS CAPTURED THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO SHAPED THE THREE VILLAGES. VOICES AND VOTES: DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA: FEBRUARY 20-APRIL 6, 2025: WHEN AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARIES WAGED A WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE THEY TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH THAT SENT RIPPLE EFFECTS ACROSS GENERATIONS. THEY EMBRACED A RADICAL IDEA OF ESTABLISHING A GOVERNMENT THAT ENTRUSTED THE POWER OF THE NATION NOT IN A MONARCHY, BUT IN ITS CITIZENS. THAT GREAT LEAP SPARKED QUESTIONS THAT CONTINUE TO IMPACT AMERICANS: WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO VOTE, WHAT ARE THE FREEDOMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENS, AND WHOSE VOICES WILL BE HEARD? VOICES AND VOTES: DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA WAS A SPRINGBOARD FOR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THOSE VERY QUESTIONS AND HOW THEY ARE REFLECTED IN LOCAL STORIES. VOICES AND VOTES WAS BASED ON A MAJOR EXHIBITION CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY AT THE SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY. THIS MUSEUM ON MAIN STREET ADAPTATION WILL HAVE MANY OF THE SAME DYNAMIC FEATURES: HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY PHOTOS; EDUCATIONAL AND ARCHIVAL VIDEO; ENGAGING MULTIMEDIA INTERACTIVES WITH SHORT GAMES AND ADDITIONAL FOOTAGE, PHOTOS, AND INFORMATION; AND HISTORICAL OBJECTS LIKE CAMPAIGN SOUVENIRS, VOTER MEMORABILIA, AND PROTEST MATERIAL. OUR DEMOCRACY DEMANDS ACTION, REACTION, VISION, AND REVISION AS WE CONTINUE TO QUESTION HOW TO FORM "A MORE PERFECT UNION." HOW DO YOU PARTICIPATE AS A CITIZEN? FROM THE REVOLUTION AND SUFFRAGE, TO CIVIL RIGHTS AND CASTING BALLOTS, EVERYONE IN EVERY COMMUNITY IS PART OF THIS EVER-EVOLVING STORY - THE STORY OF DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA. THE MUSEUM ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK (MANY) IS THE STATEWIDE ORGANIZER FOR THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION TRAVELING EXHIBITION SERVICE'S MUSEUM ON MAIN STREET PROGRAM. THE MUSEUM ON MAIN STREET PROGRAM OFFERS TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND PROGRAMMING ACROSS AMERICA TO COMMUNITIES THROUGH LOCAL MUSEUMS, HISTORICAL SOCIETIES, AND OTHER CULTURAL VENUES. BUILDING THE BALLOT BOX: LONG ISLAND'S DEMOCRATIC HISTORY: FEBRUARY 20- MAY 18, 2025: THE LONG ISLAND MUSEUM WAS PLEASED TO BE SELECTED BY THE MUSEUM ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK AS ONE OF 12 VENUES IN NEW YORK STATE TO HOST "A NEW AGORA FOR NEW YORK: MUSEUMS AS SPACES FOR DEMOCRACY" A HUMANITIES DISCUSSION SERIES THAT INCLUDES THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION TRAVELING EXHIBITION SERVICE'S MUSEUM ON MAIN STREET EXHIBITION: VOICES AND VOTES: DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA, THAT WAS ON VIEW FEBRUARY 20
- $495,735 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE DEVELOPED AND TAUGHT BY A STAFF OF MUSEUM EDUCATORS, WORKING IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO ENSURE THAT THE PROGRAMS SUPPORT NEW YORK STATE AND NATIONAL LEARNING STANDARDS IN SOCIAL STUDIES, ART AND LANGUAGE ARTS. DURING 2024/2025, STUDENTS FROM 51 SCHOOLS REPRESENTING 42 PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND 9 PRIVATE SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT SUFFOLK AND NASSAU COUNTIES WERE SERVED. THE MUSEUM'S APPROACH IS TO TEACH LEARNING THROUGH OBJECTS; TRAINING STUDENTS IN THE PROCESSES OF INQUIRY AND THINKING RATHER THAN IN THE ACCUMULATION OF PARTICULAR SKILLS. STUDENTS EXAMINE DOCUMENTS, ARTWORK, VEHICLES, COSTUMES AND RELATED OBJECTS TO LEARN ABOUT THE TIME IN WHICH THEY WERE CREATED AND THE PEOPLE WHO MADE AND USED THEM. CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O IN ADDITION, 775 PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO ENJOY OUR IN-PERSON SUMMER AND HALLOWEEN FAMILY FUN EVENTS IN 2024. IN ADDITION, 332 PEOPLE TOOK PART IN OUR SUMMER THURSDAYS AS WELL AS OUR MONTHLY SECOND SATURDAYS IN THE STUDIO, CONNECTING VISITORS WITH OUR COLLECTION THROUGH ART ACTIVITIES, MUSIC AND MORE. THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES OF CLASSES FROM THE SCHOOL PROGRAM. ALL CLASSES ARE BASED ON REAL OBJECTS FROM THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTIONS. - SCHOOL DAYS LETS STUDENTS EXPERIENCE A 19TH CENTURY SCHOOL DAY IN THE MUSEUM'S NASSAKEAG ONE ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE. THIS 'TIME TRAVEL' PROGRAM IS A STUDENT FAVORITE DUE TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO REENACT A TYPICAL 1800S SCHOOL DAY. - MEET THE MUSEUM PROVIDES OUR YOUNGEST VISITORS IN GRADES PRE-K-2 AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MUSEUM THROUGH ROLE-PLAY, ART PROJECTS AND STORIES AS THEY EXPLORE OUR CARRIAGES AND PAINTINGS. - VEHICLES FOR CHANGE: ELIZABETH JENNINGS AND THE FIGHT FOR EQUALITY ON NYC'S STREETCARS, ALLOWS STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT 19TH CENTURY STREETCARS, CARRIAGES, AND WAGONS. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THE TRANSPORTATION SEGREGATION OF THE TIME, AND ELIZABETH'S EFFORTS AND SUCCESS IN ENDING THIS INJUSTICE. - A WORLD BEFORE CARS, EXPLORES WHAT TRANSPORTATION IS AND WHY IT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR LIVES - BOTH TODAY AND IN THE PAST. STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE EXCITING VEHICLES IN THE MUSEUM'S WORLD-RENOWNED COLLECTION AND BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WERE BUILT AND HOW THEY WORKED.
- $244,094 spent. THE MUSEUM'S VISITOR SERVICES ENHANCES AND SUPPORTS THE MUSEUM EXPERIENCE BY GUIDING VISITORS THROUGH EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMS AND OFFERING RELEVANT INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THEIR VISIT. THEY ALSO SAFEGUARD THE EXHIBITIONS AND GROUNDS DURING PUBLIC HOURS.
- $93,132 spent. MUSEUM GIFT AND BOOK SHOP WHICH SELLS BOOKS, AND EXHIBIT AND COLLECTION RELATED ITEMS ABOUT AMERICAN ART, HISTORY AND CARRIAGES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1945.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.