Longhouse Reserve
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LONGHOUSE RESERVE INSPIRES LIVING WITH ART IN ALL FORMS. FOUNDED BY JACK LENOR LARSEN, ITS COLLECTIONS, GARDENS, ART AND PROGRAMS REFLECT WORLD CULTURES.
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 71%
- Employees
- 16
- Volunteers
- 44
- Highest pay
- $220,000, 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
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 41% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (1)
- $1.6 million spent. IN 2024, LONGHOUSE RESERVE WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM ALL YEAR, WEEKENDS JANUARY-MARCH AND FIVE-DAYS A WEEK APRIL THROUGH DECEMBER. ANNUAL ATTENDANCE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000, INCLUDING SCHOOL GROUPS, GARDEN TOURS, AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS. THE SEASON FEATURED NEW LOANS TO THE ART IN THE GARDEN PROGRAM. LONGHOUSE HELD REGULAR ART AND GARDEN TOURS. OTHER PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN 2024 INCLUDED OUR ANNUAL SUMMER BENEFIT, JACK'S BIRTHDAY CONCERT, OUR ANNUAL LANDSCAPE LECTURE WEEKEND, AND LONGHOUSE ILLUMINATED, OUR WINTER HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW. IN ADDITION TO THESE SPECIAL EVENTS, OUR CALENDAR WAS FULL OF ARTIST TALKS, AUTHOR TALKS, WORKSHOPS, AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES. EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDED DOCENT-LED SCHOOL TOURS, CURRICULAR GUIDES, FAMILY ACTIVITY GUIDES, AND SUMMER INTERNSHIPS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS. IN ADDITION, 2024 CONTINUED THE TRANSITION TO A BOARD AND STAFF LED INSTITUTION (FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF JACK LENOR LARSEN IN 2020), WITH NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS JOINING. LONGHOUSE ENTERED TWO MAJOR PROCESSES: A CHANGE OF USE (RESIDENTIAL TO MULTI-USE) WITH THE TOWN OF EAST HAMPTON WITH THE GOAL OF OPENING THE HOUSE FOR PUBLIC TOURS; AND AN APPLICATION TO BE LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, AN INVITATION WE RECEIVED FROM NEW YORK STATE. WE CONDUCTED TWO STUDIES FUNDED BY THE IMLS: A MUSEUM ASSESSMENT PROGRAM EVALUATION ON OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE, AND A COLLECTIONS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM EVALUATION FOR CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF OUR COLLECTIONS.
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 2004.
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.