Montauk Historical Society

What it reported doing in 2024

The lighthouse museum: the montauk historical society owns and maintains the montauk point lighthouse museum. The montauk point lighthouse has long been famed as the symbol of long island and one of america's oldest lighthouses. Authorized in 1792 by the second congress under president george Washington, it was built by New York architect, john mccomb, in 1796. On march 5, 2012, the montauk point lighthouse was designated a national historic landmark, joining the ranks of only 11 other lighthouses in the country that have been so honored by the secretary of the interior because of their exceptional value in illustrating and interpreting the heritage of our nation. The lighthouse tower and museum are open to the general public and tours are available for schools and other groups. Events and exhibitions are held throughout the year on the lighthouse grounds. The lighthouse museum, which is located in the 1860 keepers' house, displays an assortment of historical documents and photographs and is home to several unique collections. In addition to the historic buildings and dwellings, the collection includes nautical instruments, ship models, furniture, and whaling industry artifacts. There are exhibits showing the history of the lighthouse and the erosion control efforts that have been implemented over the years. The lighthouse museum's collection features two exclusive original documents. One of these is the congressional authorization to construct a lighthouse at montauk point and is signed by then secretary of state, thomas jefferson. The other is the federal authorization to purchase the land at montauk point for the purpose of building a lighthouse. That document is signed by then president george Washington. The second house museum: second house, built in 1746 and rebuilt in 1797, was originally a dwelling for a livestock keeper and his family. It was one of only three houses that existed in montauk in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The oldest and most historic dwelling still standing in montauk, it remains the subject of a meticulous restoration by the town of east hampton, which has finished all exterior work and is turning to the interior. As we await completion of the building, we continue to plan our new museum. The montauk indian museum: the montauk indian museum is dedicated to the preservation of the pre contact history of the indigenous peoples of montauk. It is home to four murals depicting life in montauk in different eras before european settlement, along with an extensive collection of points and tools. The montauk oceans institute: the montauk oceans institute is a museum on the lighthouse grounds whose aim is to heighten awareness of the health of our oceans through exhibits, lectures, and events. It is now home to an interactive virtual aquarium populated by 18 species of montauk undersea life, which is a valuable tool in teaching awareness of the waters that surround us. The carl fisher house and annex: the carl fisher house and annex, a historic property built by developer carl fisher in the mid-1920's, was purchased in december 2021 by the town of east hampton with community preservation funds for the purpose of having it preserved and turned into a museum and history center. The montauk historical society signed a license agreement for that purpose with the town in 2022. The house, which awaits capital improvements by the town, is currently being used as a montauk historical society headquarters and also as a venue for exhibits and lectures about local history.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 98.5%; rating input score 98
• Program expense ratio: 86.3%; rating input score 86
• Fundraising efficiency: $23.8 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 64; 64th 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: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 4.6%; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.94; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6%; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8.6% per year; rating input score 100; 58th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 7.2% per year; rating input score 100; 55th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 5.9% per year; rating input score 100; 39th percentile among comparable filings