New York Historical Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FOUNDING MISSION OF THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY ("THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL "TNYH") IS TO COLLECT, PRESERVE, AND INTERPRET, FOR THE BROADEST POSSIBLE PUBLIC, MATERIAL RELEVANT TO THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES IN GENERAL AND OF NEW YORK STATE AND CITY IN PARTICULAR.
- Income
- $43.1 million
- Spending
- $43.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- -30.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 71%
- Employees
- 351
- Volunteers
- 142
- Highest pay
- $1.0 million, president and ceo
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
Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 31% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2540 of 41 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 (3)
- $17.1 million spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING - THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL'S OFFERINGS SPAN GROUNDBREAKING EXHIBITIONS, ACCLAIMED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS NATIONWIDE, AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING CONVERSATIONS AMONG LEADING SCHOLARS, JOURNALISTS, AND THINKERS ABOUT THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT. EDUCATION AT TNYH EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE CLASSROOM TO ENCOMPASS GALLERY EXPERIENCES, ONSTAGE PROGRAMMING, AND COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVES THAT ENGAGE LEARNERS ACROSS THE CITY AND AROUND THE COUNTRY. DRAWING ON EXPERT RESEARCH AND RIGOROUS PEDAGOGY, TNYH DELIVERS ACCURATE AND ACCESSIBLE INTERPRETATIONS OF AMERICAN HISTORY TO A GROWING, MULTIGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY. THROUGH A WIDE ARRAY OF EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS, TNYH DEEPENS PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATION'S PAST AND FOSTERS INFORMED CIVIC PARTICIPATION. ALL TOLD, TNYH PROVIDES HUNDREDS OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT LEARNERS OF ALL AGES, SPANNING THE GENERAL PUBLIC, K-12 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, AND YOUNGER CHILDREN NOT YET IN SCHOOL. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE SCHEDULE O. TNYH'S OFFERINGS SPAN GROUNDBREAKING EXHIBITIONS, ACCLAIMED, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS NATIONWIDE, AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING CONVERSATIONS AMONG LEADING SCHOLARS, JOURNALISTS, AND THINKERS ABOUT THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT. EDUCATION AT TNYH EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE CLASSROOM TO ENCOMPASS GALLERY EXPERIENCES, ONSTAGE PROGRAMMING, AND COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVES THAT ENGAGE LEARNERS ACROSS THE CITY AND AROUND THE COUNTRY. DRAWING ON EXPERT RESEARCH AND RIGOROUS PEDAGOGY, TNYH DELIVERS ACCURATE AND ACCESSIBLE INTERPRETATIONS OF AMERICAN HISTORY TO A GROWING, MULTIGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY. THROUGH A WIDE ARRAY OF EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS, TNYH DEEPENS PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATION'S PAST AND FOSTERS INFORMED CIVIC PARTICIPATION. ALL TOLD, TNYH PROVIDES HUNDREDS OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT LEARNERS OF ALL AGES, SPANNING THE GENERAL PUBLIC, K-12 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, AND YOUNGER CHILDREN NOT YET IN SCHOOL. TO ADVANCE THIS MISSION, TNYH ORGANIZES AND PRESENTS AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS, IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPING AND DISTRIBUTING CLASSROOM RESOURCES. DURING TAX YEAR 2024, APPROXIMATELY 82,000 K-12 EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS WERE SERVED DIRECTLY THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN BOTH TNYH'S BUILDING AND ONSITE IN SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE METROPOLITAN AREA. IN ADDITION, TNYH'S DIGITAL CURRICULUM MATERIALS ARE ACCESSED BY OVER 600,000 USERS PER YEAR AND ARE USED BY SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD. THIS CURRICULA USES VETTED PRIMARY SOURCES AND PRACTICAL TEACHING IDEAS TO INSTRUCT STUDENTS ON TOPICS RANGING FROM SPIRITUALITY AND THE AMERICAN WEST TO THE ROLE WOMEN PLAYED IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. TNYH OFFERS AN AWARD-WINNING PAID HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, AS WELL AS SHORT-TERM SCHOOL-BREAK PROGRAMS FOR TEENS INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING THEIR CAREER AND COLLEGE SKILLS IN THE DIGITAL HUMANITIES. INTERNSHIPS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS PURSUING CAREERS IN HISTORY, MUSEUM WORK, AND EDUCATION. THE ACADEMY FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IS AN INNOVATIVE CIVICS AND HISTORY EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR CLASSES OF 6TH GRADE STUDENTS THAT TAKES PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR CONSECUTIVE SCHOOL DAYS AT TNYH. THIS UNIQUE RESIDENCY MODEL IMMERSES STUDENTS IN THE STUDY OF DEMOCRACY THROUGH GALLERY VISITS, PRIMARY SOURCE-DRIVEN DISCUSSIONS, INTERACTIVE SIMULATIONS, AND ART-MAKING ACTIVITIES. STUDENTS TRACE THE EVOLUTION OF DEMOCRACY BY COMPARING ITS ORIGINS IN ANCIENT ATHENS TO ITS DEVELOPMENT IN THE UNITED STATES, FROM THE FOUNDING ERA TO THE PRESENT DAY. THROUGHOUT THE EXPERIENCE, STUDENTS LEARN NEW HISTORICAL CONTENT, PRACTICE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, AND DEVELOP AN APPRECIATION FOR THE FRAGILITY AND IMPORTANCE OF OUR NATION'S PARTICIPATORY FORM OF GOVERNMENT, WITH THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF MOTIVATING STUDENTS TO TAKE ON THE ROLE OF ACTIVE CIVIC AGENTS NOW AND IN ADULTHOOD. TNYH PROVIDES THIS PROGRAM FREE OF CHARGE TO ALL PARTNER SCHOOLS, COVERING THE COST OF ITS INSTRUCTORS, TNYH CLASSROOM SPACE, TRAVEL TO/FROM TNYH, AND LIGHT SNACKS AND OTHER MATERIALS. FOR THOSE SCHOOLS UNABLE TO TRAVEL TO THE TNYH CAMPUS, VIRTUAL AND IN-SCHOOL VERSIONS OF THE PROGRAM ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR FREE. NEARLY 5,000 STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM THIS PROGRAM IN TAX YEAR 2024. EDUCATION AT TNYH IS NOT JUST LIMITED TO K-12 STUDENTS. IN 2017, TNYH ESTABLISHED THE CITIZENSHIP PROJECT TO HELP GUIDE GREEN CARD HOLDERS AS THEY PURSUE U.S. CITIZENSHIP. GROUNDED IN OUR SIGNATURE MUSEUM- AND OBJECT-BASED PEDAGOGY, THE PROJECT PROVIDES CLASSES ON THE HISTORY AND CIVICS CONTENT COVERED IN THE U.S. NATURALIZATION EXAM AND ACCESS TO IMMIGRANT SERVICES PROVIDERS, WHICH MAY PROVIDE ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSES, AMONG OTHER OFFERINGS. SINCE ITS LAUNCH, TNYH'S CITIZENSHIP PROJECT HAS TAUGHT OVER 10,000 STUDENTS FROM MORE THAN 130 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, REPRESENTING 94 NATIVE LANGUAGES. ON-SITE EXHIBITIONS, BOTH PERMANENT AND ROTATING, AS WELL AS TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS HOSTED BY OUTSIDE INSTITUTIONS, ENABLE TNYH TO INTERPRET AND SHOWCASE OUR SCHOLARSHIP AND EXHIBITION DESIGN TO THE BROADEST POSSIBLE PUBLIC. IN TAX YEAR 2024, TNYH'S EXHIBITIONS SERVED MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE AND INCLUDED ELEVEN (11) TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS ON VIEW AT TNYH AS WELL AS SIX (6) TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS ON VIEW AT EIGHT (8) VENUES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THESE EXHIBITIONS TELL THE STORY OF THE UNITED STATES THROUGH ARTIFACTS AND ART. IN ADDITION, EVERY YEAR, TNYH REGULARLY LENDS INDIVIDUAL OR SMALL GROUPS OF COLLECTION OBJECTS TO OTHER INSTITUTIONS TO FURTHER ITS REACH AND MISSION. TNYH IS ALSO HOME TO THE DIMENNA CHILDREN'S HISTORY MUSEUM, AN INTERACTIVE, EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITION SPACE FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES. HERE, CHILDREN HAVE FUN WHILE LEARNING ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH COLORFUL EXHIBITS, DIGITAL INSTALLATIONS, AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING PROGRAMS INCLUDING LIVING HISTORY AS WELL AS STORY TIMES IN THE BARBARA K. LI
- $13.4 million spent. CARE AND CONSERVATION OF COLLECTIONS - NEW YORK'S FIRST MUSEUM, THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL, IS A LEADING CULTURAL INSTITUTION DOCUMENTING OVER 400 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH A PEERLESS COLLECTION OF ART, DOCUMENTS, AND ARTIFACTS. TNYH'S COLLECTION COMPRISES OVER 80,000 OBJECTS. TNYH'S PATRICIA D. KLINGENSTEIN LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE OLDEST, MOST DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH LIBRARIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND A VITAL CENTER OF RESEARCH INTO THE HISTORY OF NEW YORK AND THE NATION. AMONG ITS EXTENSIVE COLLECTIONS ARE MILLIONS OF BOOKS, NEWSPAPERS, MAPS, MANUSCRIPTS AND ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS, PRINTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND ARCHITECTURAL COLLECTIONS FROM THE 16TH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT. THESE HOLDINGS, MANY OF THEM UNIQUE, REVEAL THE COMPLEXITY OF HISTORY AND INSPIRE ENGAGEMENT, DISCOVERY, AND ORIGINAL SCHOLARSHIP. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE SCHEDULE O. NEW YORK'S FIRST MUSEUM, THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL, IS A LEADING CULTURAL INSTITUTION DOCUMENTING OVER 400 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH A PEERLESS COLLECTION OF ART, DOCUMENTS, AND ARTIFACTS. TNYH'S COLLECTION COMPRISES OVER 80,000 OBJECTS. TNYH HOUSES SIGNIFICANT COLLECTIONS OF ART AND ARTIFACTS RELATING TO THE FOUNDING OF OUR COUNTRY AND TO THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, NEW YORK, AND ITS PEOPLE. AMONG OUR MUSEUM HOLDINGS ARE A WORLD-CLASS COLLECTION OF HUDSON RIVER SCHOOL PAINTINGS, INCLUDING MAJOR WORKS BY THOMAS COLE AND FREDERIC EDWIN CHURCH; ICONIC GENRE AND HISTORY PAINTINGS INCLUDING WORKS BY WILLIAM SIDNEY MOUNT AND EASTMAN JOHNSON; ALL 435 OF JOHN JAMES AUDUBON'S EXTANT WATERCOLORS FOR THE BIRDS OF AMERICA; AND MUCH OF SCULPTOR ELIE NADELMAN'S LEGENDARY FOLK ART COLLECTION. RECENT ACQUISITIONS INCLUDE A PAINTING BY KENT MONKMAN (CREE); AN EMBROIDERED PORTRAIT BY L. J. ROBERTS; JEWELRY BY WINIFRED MASON CHENET AND ART SMITH; AND THE EDIE S. WINDSOR AND THEA C. SPYER COLLECTION, WHICH DOCUMENTS THE PERSONAL AND POLITICAL LIVES OF THESE ACTIVISTS IN THE STRUGGLE FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY. HISTORIC ARTIFACTS IN TNYH'S COLLECTION SERVE AS POWERFUL BRIDGES BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT, OFFERING VISITORS TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF PIVOTAL MOMENTS IN HISTORY. AMONG THE COLLECTION'S MANY HIGHLIGHTS ARE GEORGE WASHINGTON'S CAMP COT FROM VALLEY FORGE; A VENETIAN BLIND RETRIEVED FROM ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD IN THE DAYS AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, 2001; STAINED GLASS DATING BACK TO 1650 FROM THE TIME OF NEW AMSTERDAM; A DRAFT WHEEL USED IN THE LOTTERY THAT SPARKED THE DRAFT RIOTS IN CIVIL WAR-TORN NEW YORK IN JULY 1863; AND A SILVER SUBWAY CONTROLLER HANDLE USED BY MAYOR GEORGE MCCLELLAN TO DRIVE THE FIRST SUBWAY CAR ON ITS MAIDEN VOYAGE FROM CITY HALL IN 1904. TNYH'S PATRICIA D. KLINGENSTEIN LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE OLDEST, MOST DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH LIBRARIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND A VITAL CENTER OF RESEARCH INTO THE HISTORY OF NEW YORK AND THE NATION. AMONG ITS EXTENSIVE COLLECTIONS ARE MILLIONS OF BOOKS, NEWSPAPERS, MAPS, MANUSCRIPTS AND ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS, PRINTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND ARCHITECTURAL COLLECTIONS FROM THE 16TH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT. THESE HOLDINGS, MANY OF THEM UNIQUE, REVEAL THE COMPLEXITY OF HISTORY AND INSPIRE ENGAGEMENT, DISCOVERY, AND ORIGINAL SCHOLARSHIP. COLLECTION STRENGTHS INCLUDE EXPLORATION AND VOYAGES; THE COLONIAL, REVOLUTIONARY, AND EARLY REPUBLIC ERAS; THE MERCANTILE HISTORY OF NEW YORK AND THE EXPANDING NATIONAL; AMERICAN MILITARY AND NAVAL HISTORY; THE ANGLO-AMERICAN SLAVE TRADE AND THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF THE ENSLAVED PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES; THE CIVIL WAR, RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS; NEW YORK CITY SOCIAL SERVICES AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS; AND NEW YORK CITY ARCHITECTURE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. AS A PUBLIC INSTITUTION MANDATED TO COLLECT, PRESERVE, AND INTERPRET MATERIAL HISTORY, THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING AND PROVIDING BROAD ACCESS TO THE COLLECTIONS UNDER OUR STEWARDSHIP. OUR ACTIVITIES ARE ROOTED IN THE CONVICTION THAT THE INSTITUTION'S UNIQUE COLLECTIONS OFFER A REMARKABLE PLATFORM FROM WHICH TO EXAMINE THE PEOPLE, IDEAS, AND INSTITUTIONS THAT SHAPED OUR COUNTRY AND CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE CONTEMPORARY LIFE. OUR PEERLESS COLLECTIONS ARE STEWARDED BY A TEAM OF FOUR STAFF CONSERVATORS SUPPORTED BY A COLLECTION MANAGER, DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR, AND A TEAM OF REGISTRARS. IN ADDITION TO STAFFING COSTS, EXPENDITURES INCLUDE COSTS TO SAFEGUARD AND STORE THE COLLECTIONS ONSITE AND IN OFFSITE SECURED FACILITIES.
- $4.0 million spent. Other Programmatic Activities - THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL HAS A MUSEUM STORE WHICH SELLS MERCHANDISE PRIMARILY RELATED TO THE SOCIETY'S MISSION, CURRENT EXHIBITIONS OR COLLECTION; OFFERS SPACE RENTALS TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS; AND RECEIVES ROYALTIES FROM PUBLISHERS, WEB DESIGNERS AND INDIVIDUALS FOR THE USE OF ITEMS IN THE COLLECTION.
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 October 13, 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 1938.
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 October 21, 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.