Save Ellis Island Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SAVE ELLIS ISLAND IS THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NON-PROFIT PARTNER ASSIGNED TO RAISE THE FUNDS AND OVERSEE THE REHABILITATION AND RESTORATION OF TWENTY NINE HISTORIC BUILDINGS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF ELLIS ISLAND. CLOSED AND ABANDONED SINCE 1954, SAVE ELLIS ISLAND WILL REOPEN THE BUILDINGS AND TELL THE STORIES OF MILLIONS OF OUR ANCESTORS FOR THE INSPIRATION, ENJOYMENT AND EDUCATION OF VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 7.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 70%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 14
- Highest pay
- $235,524, president and ceo
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
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 45 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 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
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 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 (2)
- $61,979 spent. THE ELLIS ISLAND HOSPITAL IS A 29 BUILDING, 750 BED HOSPITAL SITUATED ON THE LARGEST OPEN SPACE ON THE ISLAND. SAVE ELLIS ISLAND CURRENTLY LEASES THE HISTORIC HOSPITAL LAUNDRY BUILDING FROM THE NPS AND SUBLEASES IT TO THE FERRY CONCESSION FOR OFFICE SPACE. THE RENT FROM THIS SUBLEASE HELPS TO PAY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY. IN ADDITION TO REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE EXPENSE REPRESENTS UNPLANNED MAINTENANCE OF THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASE HOSPITAL TO UPGRADE THE AREA FOR VISITOR SAFETY. SAVE ELLIS ISLAND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL MAINTENANCE OF THE SOUTHSIDE THAT INCLUDES BOTH BUILDING AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE AND INSURANCE.
- $1.1 million spent. SAVE ELLIS ISLAND DEVELOPS AND ADMINISTERS INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS ON THE THEMES OF ELLIS ISLAND DESIGNED TO DEEPEN PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND EXPAND THE CULTURAL OFFERINGS ON THE ISLAND. THESE PROGRAMS REFLECT OUR COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORMING ELLIS ISLAND INTO A HUB OF INTELLECTUAL EXCHANGE, ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, AND HISTORICAL EDUCATION. OUR PREMIER PROGRAM: THE HARD HAT TOUR, A 90-MINUTE EDUCATOR LED, DESTINATION TOUR HAS PROVIDED VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE US AND AROUND THE WORLD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF IMMIGRATION THROUGH ELLIS ISLAND. PROGRAMS IN HISTORY, SCIENCE, ART, AND PRESERVATION HAVE BROUGHT SCHOOLS INCUDING COLLEGES TO ELLIS ISLAND TO LEARN ABOUT THE MANY STORIES OF THE SOUTH SIDE HOSPITAL.
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
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 December 2024.
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 August 1999.
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.