What Stony Kill Foundation does

Stony Kill Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1977 that operates the Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center, a 754-acre historic property owned by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in Wappingers Falls, NY. The foundation's core function is delivering environmental and agricultural education through a wide portfolio of on-site programs: youth programming (Summer Explorers Camp at $375/week, Spring Break Mini-Camp, Homeschool on the Farm, field trips including partnership with NYC public schools), adult education (monthly workshops at $20-25/class), community programs (Open Barn weekends, 8.5+ miles of public trails, 20x20 community garden plots at $60/season), heritage breed livestock conservation (American Milking Devon cattle, Tunis sheep, rare chicken breeds, Bourbon Red turkeys), and seasonal community festivals (Harvest Fest, Butterflies & Blooms, Spooktacular). The foundation also operates a Greenhouse, the Verplanck Memorial Garden, and a Beekeeping program. The organization serves the Hudson Valley community — primarily families with children, schools, homeschoolers, volunteers, and adult learners — and is supported by 150+ active volunteers and 19,000-30,000+ annual visitors.

The foundation generates revenue through a diversified nonprofit model: tax-deductible donations, tiered memberships ($20-150/year), fee-based youth and adult programs, government grants (Environmental Protection Fund, Parks & Trails New York, Open Space Institute), corporate sponsorships, an annual Spring Plant Sale, and limited on-site merchandise (t-shirts, hoodies, hats). Distribution is entirely direct and on-site; the farm is open daily at no charge, and programs are delivered at the physical location. The foundation was formalized as the operational manager of the property in 2010 and hired its first Executive Director in 2020, indicating ongoing institutional maturation as it approaches its 50th anniversary in 2027.

Name

Stony Kill Foundation

Legal name

Stony Kill Foundation

Website

https://stonykill.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stony Kill Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the 754-acre Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center in Wappingers Falls, NY, delivering environmental, agricultural, and heritage-breed livestock programs to Hudson Valley families, schools, homeschoolers, volunteers, and adult learners through on-site camps, workshops, trails, and community events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (115310)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Organic/Regenerative Sheep & Goat Production (AFAEAFAI)

Keywords

• Environmental education programs
• Heritage livestock breeding
• Summer camp programs
• Community farm events
• Outdoor education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wappingers Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the foundation's mission. EIN 13-2917536. Donations accepted via online form, check, or qualified charitable distribution.
2. Membership Program: Annual memberships at multiple tiers providing benefits including Almanac, plant sale discounts, exclusive event invitations, and camp/school session discounts.
3. Summer Camp and Youth Programs: Revenue from Summer Explorers Camp ($50 application fee + $375/week per child), Junior Farmer Spring Break Mini-Camp ($60/day or $165 full session), and homeschool programs ($250 first student, $100 each sibling). Patron members receive adult education discounts.
4. Community Garden Plots: Rental of 20' x 20' organic community garden plots at $60 per plot for the season (March 1 - November 30).
5. Program Sponsorships: Corporate and individual sponsorships supporting free community festivals and education programs, with recognition benefits at various sponsorship levels.
6. Plant and Merchandise Sales: Annual Spring Plant Sale (vegetables and herbs grown organically), apparel (t-shirts $25, hoodies $50, trucker hats $25), and greenhouse plants available for purchase on-site.
7. Government Grants: Funding from NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Environmental Protection Fund grants, NY Park and Trail Partnership Grants administered by Parks & Trails New York, and other public funding sources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Stony Kill Foundation operates the Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center, a 754-acre historic working farm in Wappingers Falls, NY, delivering hands-on environmental education, youth programs (summer camp, field trips, homeschool), heritage breed livestock preservation, and community events. The foundation runs a tiered membership program, sells plants and apparel, and rents community garden plots, while raising donations and grants to sustain free public access to trails and the barn.

Product overview

Stony Kill Foundation operates Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center as a unified portfolio of interconnected educational and agricultural programs. The core offerings include Open Barn weekend visitor access, an educational Greenhouse, Community Garden plots, 8.5+ miles of public Trails, and the Heritage Breed Livestock Program preserving rare animals. Youth programming consists of Summer Explorers Camp, Field Trips/Operation Explore, and Homeschool on the Farm. Seasonal festivals (Butterflies & Blooms, Harvest Fest, Spooktacular, Dutchess County Sheep & Wool Growers Tours) engage the community, while the Adult Education Series and Beekeeping Program serve older audiences. Supporting programs include Membership tiers, Volunteer opportunities, Program Sponsorships, and the bi-annual Stony Kill Almanac publication. The Spring Plant Sale generates revenue for greenhouse operations. Together these programs fulfill the Foundation's mission to connect the public with nature, sustainable farming, and local history.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Open Barn Weekend visitor program held every Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 1pm (February-November) where volunteer barn guides open the historic barn to the public and share knowledge about heritage livestock breeds.
• Greenhouse Educational greenhouse used as a teaching tool where students learn about plant life cycles; also sells affordable houseplants, succulents, and seasonal plants with proceeds supporting farm operations.
• Verplanck Memorial Garden Perennial garden featuring plantings chosen to attract butterflies, birds, and beneficial insects; provides educational opportunities about natural ecosystems.
• Community Garden Organic community garden providing 20' x 20' plots rented for $60 per season (March 1 - November 30) for community members to cultivate produce amidst the farm setting.
• Trails 8.5+ miles of trails open 365 days/year from sunrise to sunset, featuring interpretive woodland trail guide and scavenger hunts for various trail segments.
• Summer Explorers Camp Week-long summer camp for children ages 4-12 held at Stony Kill Farm, featuring environmental exploration, arts and crafts, farm activities, and outdoor learning experiences at $375 per child per week.
• Field Trips / Operation Explore Educational field trip programs for preschool through 7th grade students, ranging from 2-4 hours, covering topics from farm to forest with activity and inquiry-based learning.
• Homeschool on the Farm 10-week homeschool education session for ages 5-12 featuring hands-on farm activities, nature education, and community building at $250 for first student, $100 per sibling.
• Adult Education Series Monthly workshops, lectures, and lessons for adults ages 17+ covering agricultural and natural topics with local experts, priced at $25 for non-members and $20 for Patron members.
• Beekeeping Program Program providing adults and children opportunities to learn about honeybees, hive maintenance, and ecosystem importance through working meetings with head beekeeper and 4-H youth participants.
• Spring Plant Sale Annual spring plant sale featuring organically grown vegetables and herbs from the greenhouse; orders open in February with pickup in May.
• Butterflies & Blooms Festival Week-long summer festival celebrating local pollinators through art, science, music, workshops, and family activities including insect safari, outdoor movie night, moth walk, and hayrides.
• Harvest Fest Annual fall festival celebrating small-scale agriculture and Hudson Valley history with local artisans, hay rides, live music, food vendors, and family activities; attendance typically exceeds 2,000.
• Spooktacular Halloween-themed evening event featuring haunted barn, potion maker, I Spy Spooky garden, and haunted hay rides for family-friendly not-so-haunted fun.
• Dutchess County Sheep & Wool Growers Tours

Quantifiable outcome

• 19,000-30,000+ annual visitors connect with hands-on environmental experiences
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered significant, minor, key, core and historical.

• Excelsior Conservation Corps (ECC)significantImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 9 November 2021ECC, an AmeriCorps program managed by Student Conservation Association (SCA), completed 2,400+ service hours restoring the half-mile ADA-accessible Woodland Trail destroyed by a 2018 microburst. DEC provided materials, equipment, guidance, and Accessibility Coordinator reviews.
• Taconic Resources for IndependenceminorOthers · 9 November 2021Acknowledged DEC's efforts in restoring the accessible trail at Stony Kill Environmental Education Center to increase recreational activities for persons with disabilities in Dutchess County.
• VA Hudson Valley Health Care SystemminorOthers · 9 November 2021Acknowledged the restored trail project ensuring people of all abilities can enjoy the outdoor resources, particularly relevant for Veterans at the nearby Castle Point Campus.
• San Miguel Academy of NewburghkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Every two weeks, San Miguel students spend time at Stony Kill Farm helping raise lambs, tap maple trees, incubate chickens, and participate in immersive projects. Partnership bridges urban youth with farming and environmental education. Earned DEC Stewardship Appreciation Award - Public Engagement Award.
• NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010DEC owns Stony Kill Farm land and Stony Kill Foundation operates daily facility operations under formal agreement since 2010. Foundation educates public and cultivates environmental stewardship through interpretation of the farm's historical, environmental, and agricultural heritage.
• SUNY FarmingdalehistoricalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 1942Original land gift in 1942 specified 'shall be forever dedicated to and used exclusively for agricultural purposes' as a teaching farm by SUNY Farmingdale. Land transferred to NYS DEC in 1973.
• American Milking Devon Cattle AssociationkeyOthersStony Kill Foundation is a member working to preserve and advocate for the historic American Milking Devon breed (critically endangered). Foundation participates in county fairs showing heritage cattle as dairy in heritage breed classes.
• Livestock ConservancykeyOthersStony Kill Foundation is a member working to conserve rare heritage livestock breeds. Farm prioritizes breeds on Livestock Conservancy's priority list ranging from Critical to Recovering.
• National Tunis Sheep RegistrykeyOthersStony Kill Foundation sheep are registered with the National Tunis Registry. Farm maintains premier breeding flock of registered Tunis sheep.
• Dutchess County Sheep and Wool Growers AssociationkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerStony Kill Foundation is a member hosting the annual spring Sheep & Wool Growers Farm Tours. Farm offers Tunis sheep fleece, yarn, and sheep tallow balm for sale. Stony Ground 4-H Club shepherds assist with sheep shearing demonstrations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture: Stone Barns Center is a nonprofit farm and education center in Pocantico Hills, NY, operating a working farm with public programming, youth education, farm-to-table restaurant partnerships, and donor-supported model. Directly comparable mission of connecting public with sustainable agriculture through on-farm education, heritage practices, and donor-funded programming.
• Queens County Farm Museum: Queens County Farm Museum is a 47-acre working historic farm in Floral Park, NY, offering heritage livestock, school field trips, seasonal festivals, and community programs. Comparable operating model combining heritage breed livestock, public farm access, education programming, and donor-supported nonprofit governance.
• Teatown Lake Reservation: Teatown is a 1,000-acre nonprofit nature preserve and education center in Ossining, NY, offering trails, environmental education programs, summer camps, and wildlife exhibits. Highly comparable as a Hudson Valley nonprofit operating trails, summer camp, school field trips, and heritage/nature programming funded through donations and memberships.
• Hudson Highlands Nature Museum: Hudson Highlands Nature Museum is a regional environmental education nonprofit in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY, operating outdoor education centers, trails, wildlife exhibits, and youth/family programs in the Lower Hudson Valley. Direct regional peer serving overlapping donor, school, and family audiences with similar environmental education programming.
• Wave Hill: Wave Hill is a 28-acre public garden and cultural center in the Bronx, NY, offering public programs, youth education, horticultural workshops, and seasonal events on a historic property. It is a comparable environmental/garden education nonprofit with similar programming mix (gardens, trails, public events, school programs, memberships, donations) and New York regional reach.
• Muscoot Farm: Muscoot Farm is a Westchester County-owned interpretive farm in Katonah, NY, offering heritage livestock, trails, school programs, and seasonal events under a public-private operating model. Closely comparable county-owned working farm with heritage breeds, public access, and youth education programming.

Others

• Open Space Institute: Open Space Institute is a regional conservation funder that has awarded Stony Kill grants for the Learning Center refurbishment. Functions as a financial partner/ecosystem supporter for Hudson Valley conservation and education nonprofits rather than a direct program competitor.
• Parks & Trails New York: Parks & Trails New York is the statewide nonprofit that administers the Park and Trail Partnership Grants program funding Stony Kill and advocates for NY state parks and public lands. Ecosystem-level peer and key funding intermediary rather than a direct program operator.
• The Livestock Conservancy: The Livestock Conservancy is the national nonprofit coordinating heritage breed conservation with which Stony Kill Foundation is a member partner. Not a direct operational peer but a key ecosystem organization supporting Stony Kill's heritage livestock mission.

Emerging players

• Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County: CCEDC delivers agricultural education, 4-H youth programming, and community horticulture services in Dutchess County with shared audiences and overlapping subject matter (agriculture, youth education, gardening). Partial overlap as a regionally embedded agricultural education provider rather than a direct farm operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stony Kill Foundation