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Historic Cherry Hill

EIN 14-1482741 · Albany, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceGood73 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PRESERVATION, RESEARCH & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF HISTORIC NATURE CENTERED AROUND A PROMINENT ALBANY FAMILY OVER GENERATIONS. PROPERTY PRESERVATION INCLUDES REAL ESTATE AS WELL AS PERSONAL PROPERTY (COLLECTIONS).

Income
$282,305
Spending
$314,726
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
-0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 57%
Employees
9
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$50,602, exec director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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. $53,048 spent. CURATORIAL AND COLLECTION CARE COSTS ARE INCURRED TO CONSERVE, PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE THOUSANDS OF NOTABLE HISTORIC DOCUMENTS AND OBJECTS THAT ARE PART OF THE CHERRY HILL COLLECTION. THESE ITEMS ARE PRESERVED FOR EXHIBITION TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS USED IN HISTORICAL RESEARCH. THE ORGANIZATION OWNS A SEPARATE STRUCTURE THAT WAS DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CHERRY HILL COLLECTION THAT HOUSES ITS CURATORIAL AND COLLECTION ACTIVITIES AND IS MADE AVAILABLE TO VISITING RESEARCH PROFESSIONALS.
  2. $136,298 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE TOURS, EXHIBIT MEDIA AND PUBLICATIONS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC REGARDING THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF LOCAL LIFE OVER MORE THAN 250 YEARS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES TOURS AND DEMONSTRATIONS TO SCHOOL GROUPS, EDUCATORS AND SCHOLARS. SCHOOL GROUPS FROM WITHIN THE CITY OF ALBANY ARE PROVIDED THESE PROGRAMS WITHOUT CHARGE. OTHER SCHOOL GROUPS ARE PROVIDED TOURS AT A REDUCED COST. A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS ARE TRAINED TO PROVIDE TOURS OF THE HISTORIC PROPERTY AND PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THE COLLECTION ITEMS ON EXHIBITION. FOR 2024, APPROXIMATELY 5,000 PEOPLE WERE SERVED THROUGH THE VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS (BOTH ON-SITE AND VIRTUAL)OFFERED BY CHERRY HILL.
  3. $28,944 spent. PROPERTY CARE IS MAINTAINING THE ORIGINAL BUILDING AND GROUNDS THAT ARE THE ORIGINAL CHERRY HILL ESTATE. THE PROPERTY IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND DATES BACK TO THE 18TH CENTURY. THE HISTORIC HOME IS MAINTAINED IN PERIOD CONDITION WITH ONGOING INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR RESTORATION PROJECTS. BEGINNING IN 2009, THE ORGANIZATION, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING, HAS BEGUN A MAJOR HISTORICAL RENOVATION OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS. THESE PROJECTS REMAIN ONGOING.
  4. $21,692 spent. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, RESEARCH SCHOLARS, SCHOOLS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS THROUGH VARIOUS MEDIA AS TO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHERRY HILL. MEDIA IS ON A NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL LEVEL (INCLUDING THE USE OF THE INTERNET). THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROMOTES LOCAL HISTORY THROUGH SPONSORING LOCAL EVENTS EITHER INDEPENDENTLY OR WITH OTHER HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1966.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.