Friends of Alice Austen House Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ALICE AUSTEN HOUSE FOSTERS CREATIVE EXPRESSION, EXPLORES PERSONAL IDENTITY, AND EDUCATES AND INSPIRES THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE INTERPRETATION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS, LIFE AND HISTORIC HOME OF PIONEERING AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER, ALICE AUSTEN (1866-1952).
- Income
- $550,244
- Spending
- $772,873
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 4.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 63%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 120
- Highest pay
- $128,800, executive di
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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 40% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 55% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (1)
- $645,148 spent. THE ALICE AUSTEN HOUSE OFFERS DIVERSE PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR VISITORS. THE ALICE AUSTEN HOUSE PROVIDES EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR APPROXIMATELY 6,000 SCHOOL STUDENTS PER YEAR PRIMARILY IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL, FOCUSING ON SUCH TOPICS AS ALICE AUSTEN, PHOTOGRAPHY, IMMIGRATION, WOMEN'S HISTORY AND COALITION OF THEATERS OF COLOR. THE MUSEUM HOSTS PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS AND PROGRAMS SUCH AS WORLDWIDE PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY DAY, FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND VINTAGE CAMERA DAY. THE MUSEUM OFFERS A ROBUST CONTEMPORARY EXHIBITION PROGRAM WITH THREE EXHIBITIONS PER YEAR. SUNDAY SALONS ARE PRESENTED TO ACCOMPANY THE CONTEMPORARY EXHIBITS DURING THE SPRING SUMMER AND FALL TO ALLOW A FORUM FOR CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHERS TO SHOW THEIR WORK AND HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC. THESE TALKS THAT ARE HELD AT THE MUSEUM ARE ALSO VIEWED VIA FACEBOOK LIVE BY UP 400 ONLINE ATTENDEES. THE ALICE AUSTEN HOUSE STRONGLY PROMOTES ITS EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMS THROUGH A MULTIPLE- CHANNEL COMMUNICATION PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES DIGITAL AND PRINT OUTREACH. A SEASONAL PUBLIC PROGRAMS BROCHURE PUBLISHED THREE TIMES PER YEAR SERVES AS A CENTRAL MARKETING TOOL AND IS DISTRIBUTED TO 5,000 HOUSEHOLDS. THE MUSEUM ISSUES PRESS RELEASES AND FREQUENTLY RECEIVES COVERAGE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES AND THE STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE, AS WELL AS IN A NUMBER OF ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY BLOGS AND PERIODICALS. THE MUSEUM'S OWN SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING IS STRONG, WITH 5,000 "LIKES" ON FACEBOOK. THE MUSEUM ISSUES BI-WEEKLY E- BLASTS TO A MAILING LIST OF 5,000 PEOPLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE MUSEUM'S WEBSITE IS CONSTANTLY UPDATED WITH EVENTS, NEWS, AND CONTENT. ALICE AUSTEN HOUSE IS ALSO PART OF COLLABORATIVE MARKETING EFFORTS WITH THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND HISTORIC HOUSE TRUST. THE ALICE AUSTEN HOUSE OFFERS DIVERSE PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR VISITORS. THE ALICE AUSTEN HOUSE PROVIDES EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR APPROXIMATELY 6,000 SCHOOL STUDENTS PER YEAR PRIMARILY IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL, FOCUSING ON SUCH TOPICS AS ALICE AUSTEN, PHOTOGRAPHY, IMMIGRATION, WOMEN'S HISTORY AND COALITION OF THEATERS OF COLOR. THE MUSEUM HOSTS PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS AND PROGRAMS SUCH AS WORLDWIDE PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY DAY, FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND VINTAGE CAMERA DAY. THE MUSEUM OFFERS A ROBUST CONTEMPORARY EXHIBITION PROGRAM WITH THREE EXHIBITIONS PER YEAR. SUNDAY SALONS ARE PRESENTED TO ACCOMPANY THE CONTEMPORARY EXHIBITS DURING THE SPRING SUMMER AND FALL TO ALLOW A FORUM FOR CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHERS TO SHOW THEIR WORK AND HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC. THESE TALKS THAT ARE HELD AT THE MUSEUM ARE ALSO VIEWED VIA FACEBOOK LIVE BY UP 400 ONLINE ATTENDEES. THE ALICE AUSTEN HOUSE STRONGLY PROMOTES ITS EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMS THROUGH A MULTIPLE- CHANNEL COMMUNICATION PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES DIGITAL AND PRINT OUTREACH. A SEASONAL PUBLIC PROGRAMS BROCHURE PUBLISHED THREE TIMES PER YEAR SERVES AS A CENTRAL MARKETING TOOL AND IS DISTRIBUTED TO 5,000 HOUSEHOLDS. THE MUSEUM ISSUES PRESS RELEASES AND FREQUENTLY RECEIVES COVERAGE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES AND THE STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE, AS WELL AS IN A NUMBER OF ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY BLOGS AND PERIODICALS. THE MUSEUM'S OWN SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING IS STRONG, WITH 5,000 "LIKES" ON FACEBOOK. THE MUSEUM ISSUES BI-WEEKLY E- BLASTS TO A MAILING LIST OF 5,000 PEOPLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE MUSEUM'S WEBSITE IS CONSTANTLY UPDATED WITH EVENTS, NEWS, AND CONTENT. ALICE AUSTEN HOUSE IS ALSO PART OF COLLABORATIVE MARKETING EFFORTS WITH THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND HISTORIC HOUSE TRUST.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1985.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.