Hancock Shaker Village

What it reported doing in 2025

On-site interpretive programs are provided by education staff for all visiting children, adults, and groups. Topics showcase how the Shakers relate to 21st century hot button issues, e.g. green environment, sustainable agriculture, and equality, and also delve into the history of Shaker life, beliefs and practices. Among daily offerings are guided tours, an acapella music performance, water powered operation of machines and tools, craft and trade demonstrations (oval box construction, blacksmithing, bee keeping, etc.), and hands-on farm and craft making experiences. Special topic tours, demonstrations, and lectures change daily with a schedule posted in the Visitors Center. Periodic large scale events include Themed Workshop Weekends, Baby Animals on the Shaker Farm, Spirit Houses and Woodland Wonders, Free Fun Friday, and Country Fair. Daily self-guided experiences include an orientation film/site map/ and audio curators tour, provided in four languages; woodland walks with interpretive signs; hand crank interpretive devices in various locations; text panels in historic buildings and special exhibitions. Staff members (paid and unpaid) are posted in key locations, e.g. Brick Dwelling, Round Stone Barn, and farm animal pastures and barns, to facilitate visitor experiences and answer questions. The HSV website includes a timeline of the Shakers, an interactive map of the historic site, a database of the permanent collection, school curriculum materials, interactive games, a genealogy of the Shakers who lived at Hancock, and more. HSV partners with other museums and organizations on special exhibitions, programs, workshops (e.g. timber frame construction), teacher training, marketing, and more. For five years, the University of Massachusetts and HSV have collaborated on a historic preservation graduate program, with some classes and field experiences offered at the Village. HSV provides free admission to children 12 and under on family visits, to handicapped individuals, for library pass holders, and to members; and admission discounts for seniors, military, teachers, AAA members, etc. Many programs are held offsite, e.g. Shaker Seminar, a five day lecture and study program that presents new scholarship, takes place at significant Shaker sites and communities and serves 45 to 75 individuals. HSV is an employer of 6- 10 learning disabled and special needs individuals, via community agencies such as Berkshire County ARC, Soldier On and Elder Services; and the museum sponsors interns and graduate fellows from various colleges and universities.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 43.9%; rating input score 44
• Program expense ratio: 67.7%; rating input score 68
• Fundraising efficiency: $11.68 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 89.5%; rating input score 89; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 46%; rating input score 89; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 6.91; rating input score 85; 85th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.7%; rating input score 52; 52nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 10.1% per year; rating input score 100; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 11% per year; rating input score 100; 69th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 15.9% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings