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Genesee Country Museum

EIN 16-0918567 · Mumford, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGH IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES, WE ENRICH LIFE TODAY BY CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH HISTORY, ART, AND NATURE.

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$6.1 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
35.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 37%
Employees
243
Volunteers
249
Highest pay
$170,476, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 35.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 25

    27 of 27 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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)
  1. $4.7 million spent. THE GENESEE COUNTRY VILLAGE & MUSEUM (THE MUSEUM), CHARTERED BY THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, WAS FOUNDED WITH THE GOAL OF PRESERVING PRIME EXAMPLES OF ARCHITECTURE FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK TO PROVIDE HISTORICAL CONTEXT FOR THE TELLING OF THE HISTORY OF NEW YORK STATE AND AMERICA IN THE 19TH CENTURY.THROUGH INTERACTIVE PROGRAMS, EVENTS AND EXHIBITS, THE MUSEUM HELPED APPROXIMATELY 79,790 VISITORS UNDERSTAND THE LIVES AND TIMES OF 19TH-CENTURY AMERICA. THIS UNIQUE LIVING HISTORY EXPERIENCE PROVIDES MEANINGFUL INSIGHTS INTO THE ORIGINS OF CUSTOMS, TRADITIONS, SOCIAL VALUES, AND THE EVOLUTION OF OUR CONTEMPORARY LIFESTYLES.THE MUSEUM IS THE LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM IN NEW YORK STATE AND MAINTAINS THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN AMERICA. THE 500-ACRE COMPLEX CONSISTS OF 68 HISTORIC STRUCTURES FURNISHED WITH 15,000 ARTIFACTS TO PROVIDE AN AUTHENTIC 19TH-CENTURY ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH VISITORS CAN INTERACT WITH KNOWLEDGEABLE, THIRD-PERSON HISTORIC INTERPRETERS IN PERIOD-APPROPRIATE DRESS. AMONG THE BUILDINGS PRESERVED IN THE HISTORIC VILLAGE ARE COLONEL NATHANIAL ROCHESTER'S HOUSE AND GEORGE EASTMAN'S CHILDHOOD HOME. WE CONSIDER EACH OF THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS, HISTORIC GARDENS, AND FARM LANDSCAPES (INCLUDING DOMESTIC ANIMAL ENCLOSURES) AN EXHIBIT IN AND OF ITSELF. TRADE, CRAFT, COOKING, AND AGRICULTURAL DEMONSTRATIONS OCCUR EVERY DAY. WHEREVER POSSIBLE, WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR VISITORS TO TOUCH, USE, SMELL OR OTHERWISE SHARE THE EXPERIENCE.THE MUSEUM'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS SERVED APPROXIMATELY 17,000 STUDENTS AND CHAPERONES DURING 2025 AND INCLUDED HISTORIC AND NATURE-THEMED TOURS, CLASSES, AND DAY CAMPS FOR CHILDREN AGES 4-16; ADULT CLASSES; AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS, FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN AND OTHER GROUPS, OUR MOVEABLE MUSEUM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFER EDUCATION OFF-SITE AND SERVED APPROXIMATELY 2,800 INDIVIDUALS DURING 2025. THE JOHN L. WEHLE GALLERY WAS COMPLETELY RENOVATED IN 2012 TO INCLUDE STATE OF THE ART STORAGE EQUIPMENT AND A GEOTHERMAL HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM. THE GALLERY NOW SHOWCASES SOME 3,300 RARE 19TH-CENTURY GARMENTS FROM THE SUSAN GREENE COSTUME COLLECTION AS WELL AS A WORLD-CLASS COLLECTION OF WILDLIFE AND SPORTING ART. THE MUSEUM IS ALSO HOME TO THE GENESEE COUNTRY NATURE CENTER, PROVIDING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND THE ECOLOGICAL HISTORY OF NEW YORK STATE AND THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION. THE CENTER FEATURES OVER FIVE MILES OF HIKING TRAILS AND 175 ACRES OF WILDLIFE HABITAT INTERPRETED THROUGH SIGNAGE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 February 1967.

    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.