Sylvester Manor Educational Farm
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PRESERVE, CULTIVATE, AND SHARE HISTORIC SYLVESTER MANOR.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $2.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 29.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 70%
- Employees
- 80
- Volunteers
- 358
- Highest pay
- $150,000, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 29.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 38% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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 October 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 (3)
- $1.1 million spent. HISTORY & HERITAGE - SINCE THE FOUNDING OF THE ORGANIZATION, SYLVESTER MANOR HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO SHARING THE STORIES AND HISTORIES OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF SYLVESTER MANOR WHO BUILT, WORKED AND SUSTAINED THE MANOR. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES IN-PERSON AND SELF-GUIDED TOURS OF THE 1737 MANOR HOUSE AND SURROUNDING 236 ACRES; CURATION, ARCHIVING AND RESEARCH OF SYLVESTER MANOR'S EXTENSIVE COLLECTION,AND; PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. EFFORTS ARE ALSO ONGOING TO PREPSERVE AND REHABILITATE THE EXISTING MANOR HOUSE AND SURROUNDING CULTURAL LANDSCAPE, AND TO MAKE THE PROPERTY - ITS WATERWAYS, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACES - ACCESSIBLE TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
- $860,649 spent. FARM - SYLVESTER MANOR HAS A DEEP AGRICULTURAL HISTORY DATING BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS WHEN IT WAS FIRST UNDER CULTIVATION BY THE INDIGENOUS MANHASSETT PEOPLE. THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED IN PART TO RE-ESTABLISH AGRICULTURE ON SHELTER ISLAND. THE FARM CONSISTS OF A VEGETABLE AND LIVESTOCK OPERATION ON APPROXIMATELY 60 ACRES USING ORGANIC METHODS. IT SERVES A COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE PROGRAM OF APPROXIMATELY 150 FAMILIES, A FARMSTAND LOCATED ON THE PROPERTY AND OTHER LOCAL/REGIONAL MARKETS. PRODUCE IS ALSO DONATED TO THE LOCAL FOOD PANTRY. SYLVESTER MANOR HOSTS AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS ON THE FARM, INCLUDING A RESIDENTIAL APPRENTICE FARMER TRAINING PROGRAM.
- $419,653 spent. ARTS & EDUCATION - SYLVESTER MANOR OFFERS THE PUBLIC EXTENSIVE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDING SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS, SPEAKER SERIES ON THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF SYLVESTER MANOR, SCULPTURE/ART EXHIBITIONS, A MULTICULTURAL AMERICAN "ROOTS" MUSIC CONCERT SERIES AND OTHER PLACE/BASED PROGRAMMING FOR THE COMMUNITY. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOSTS NUMEROUS TOURS AND FIELD TRIPS FOR SCHOOLS AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THAT EXPLORE THE LAYERED HISTORY OF SYLVESTER MANOR AND THE 236 ACRE PROPERTY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 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 October 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 December 2010.
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.