Shaker Heritage Society

What Shaker Heritage Society does

Shaker Heritage Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (founded 1977, EIN 22-2186087) dedicated to preserving and interpreting the Watervliet Shaker National Historic District in Albany, New York — the site of America's first Shaker settlement, established in 1776 with Ann Lee's arrival. The organization operates from the Church Family site at 25 Meeting House Road, a 770-acre property containing nine remaining Shaker structures (including the 1848 Meeting House and 1915 Barn), an herb garden, apple orchard, Ann Lee Pond nature preserve, and the Shaker cemetery where Ann Lee is buried. With a small staff of five employees, the Society delivers educational programming for school groups and adults, hosts hands-on craft workshops, and maintains three annual craft fairs that have run for over 20 years and feature 75+ vendors.

The Society's product portfolio is service- and experience-based, centered on site visits (suggested $5 adult donation), ticketed workshops sold through Eventbrite (e.g., broom making, woodworking, fiber arts, Kintsugi pottery repair, barn quilting), venue rentals of the historic barn and meeting house for weddings and nonprofit events, and a Shopify-based museum shop. Digital infrastructure includes the Society's main website, the Virtual Watervliet 3D reconstruction of the Church Family site, a blog, email newsletter, and Facebook/Instagram channels. The organization holds the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, participates in the Blue Star Museums program, and receives support from the New York State Council on the Arts.

Revenue is generated across seven diversified streams: admissions and donations, workshop fees, facility rentals, craft fair vendor fees, museum shop retail sales, annual membership subscriptions, and planned-giving/bequests. The customer base is similarly diversified, spanning heritage tourists, K–12 school groups, craft vendors, wedding and event parties, nonprofit organizations hosting fundraising events, and members/donors. The Society is preparing for the 250th anniversary of Ann Lee's arrival in 2026 with marquee cultural programming intended to drive attendance, membership conversion, and fundraising during the milestone year.

Name

Shaker Heritage Society

Legal name

Shaker Heritage Society

Website

https://shakerheritage.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shaker Heritage Society is a 5-employee Albany, NY non-profit preserving the Watervliet Shaker National Historic District, America's first Shaker settlement, through educational programs, craft workshops, seasonal craft fairs, venue rentals, and membership-driven fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Albany, NY

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Admissions and Donations: Visitors pay suggested donation of $5 per adult for site access and tours
2. Workshop Fees: Ticketed workshops on crafts, art, and cultural topics sold through Eventbrite platform; fees vary by workshop
3. Facility Rentals: The 1915 Shaker Barn and 1848 Meeting House are rented for weddings, parties, and nonprofit fundraisers
4. Craft Fair Vendor Fees: Annual craft fairs (running over 20 years) provide revenues from vendor booth fees and attract visitors paying suggested admission
5. Retail Sales: Museum shop sells Shaker-themed merchandise through Shopify e-commerce platform
6. Membership Program: Annual memberships provide supporter benefits and recurring revenue for the organization
7. Planned Giving/Bequests: Estate planning donations and bequests support long-term financial sustainability

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Shaker Heritage Society is a non-profit organization that preserves and interprets the Watervliet Shaker National Historic District, the site of America's first Shaker settlement founded by Ann Lee in 1776. It operates a 770-acre historic site with nine remaining Shaker buildings, offering educational programming, guided site tours, craft workshops, three annual craft fairs, venue rentals for weddings and nonprofit events, and a museum shop. The organization sustains itself through a diversified mix of donations, admissions, membership fees, ticket sales, retail, and grants.

Product overview

Shaker Heritage Society is a non-profit historical preservation organization operating as a single unified offering centered on preserving and educating the public about America's first Shaker settlement at the Watervliet Shaker National Historic District. The organization provides educational programs (School Programs, Adult Programs, Online Resources, Virtual Watervliet), community events (Craft Fairs, Workshops), and visitor experiences (Site Tours, Museum Shop, Venue Rentals). Additional support mechanisms include Membership, Planned Giving, and Preservation Projects. The portfolio is primarily service and experience-based rather than technology product-based.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• School Programs Educational programs developed to teach K-12 students about the daily lives of the Shakers, their beliefs, practices, and values, and their integral role in American history. Recognized as award-winning programming within the heritage education market.
• Adult Programs Lectures, workshops, and programs designed to educate adults about Shaker history, culture, and traditions, offered through the Society's Education programming.
• Virtual Watervliet Digital reconstruction of the Church Family site providing an immersive virtual experience of the historic Shaker settlement, enabling remote visitors to explore Watervliet online.
• Craft Fairs Three annual craft fairs running for over 20 years, providing essential revenues for the Society and supporting local small business owners. The Harvest Craft Fair features over 75 vendors with activities including petting zoo, sheep shearing, demonstrations, and live music.
• Venue Rentals Rental of the 1915 Shaker Barn and 1848 Meeting House for weddings, parties, educational activities for kids, and fund raising events for not-for-profit organizations.
• Museum Shop On-site and Shopify-based shop offering Shaker-themed merchandise and gifts, including items inspired by Shaker craft and design traditions.
• Membership Program Annual membership program supporting the organization with exclusive benefits and recurring revenue for the preservation mission.
• Site Tours and Visits Guided and self-guided tours of the 770-acre Watervliet Shaker National Historic District featuring nine remaining Shaker buildings, herb garden, apple orchard, Ann Lee Pond nature preserve, and Shaker cemetery where founder Ann Lee is buried. Operates seasonally April through December with suggested $5 admission.
• Workshops Hands-on craft and skill-based workshops including broom making, woodworking, fiber arts, botanical art, stained glass, and traditional Shaker crafts taught by local and visiting instructors. Tickets sold through Eventbrite at varying price points (e.g., cookie decorating $60 per person).
• Online Resources / Content for the Curious Virtual learning opportunities and downloadable resources expanding public knowledge on the Shakers, distributed through the Society's website.

Quantifiable outcome

• Craft fairs running for over 20 years demonstrate sustained community engagement
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EventbritecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEventbrite serves as the primary ticketing platform for all workshops, classes, and special events. Tickets for events such as broom-making workshops, origami classes, and craft workshops are sold through Eventbrite, enabling online registration and payment processing.
• The Creative JamcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDarcy Leigh of The Creative Jam in Lake George, NY serves as a recurring workshop instructor for barn quilt workshops, pressed flower workshops, and other creative programming. The partnership brings community arts education to the historic site.
• hvkintsugiminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership with hvkintsugi for Kintsugi pottery repair workshops, led by local Art Therapist Tara DeLuca. These wellness-focused workshops align with themes of impermanence and embracing flaws.
• NYSCA (New York State Council on the Arts)minorOthersState arts council providing funding and support for cultural programming at the historic site. Logo displayed on website indicating partnership status.
• Blue Star MuseumsminorOthersNational partnership through National Endowment for the Arts providing free summer admission to military families. Participants include museums across the country.
• GuideStar (Candid)minorOthersNonprofit information and transparency platform; Shaker Heritage Society holds Platinum Seal of Transparency demonstrating commitment to nonprofit accountability.
• Mallory ZondagcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAward-winning fiber artist and educator providing multiple workshops including felted bird yurts, needle felted fungi, floral embroidery, and needle felted paintings. Work exhibited at Whitney Museum and other major institutions.
• Navona CateringminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatering partner for Shaker Lemon Pie Tasting event, combining culinary education with Shaker foodways history.
• Fine Woodworking MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChuck Thorne, featured in Fine Woodworking Magazine, teaches Shaker Box Workshop using traditional woodworking techniques. Magazine feature validates workshop quality and attracts woodworking enthusiasts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Historic Deerfield: Preserved early-American historic village and museum in Deerfield, Massachusetts operated as a nonprofit with school programs, craft workshops, and ticketed site visits. Comparable as a small-staff heritage nonprofit monetizing early-American history through programs and admissions.
• Old Sturbridge Village: Large living-history museum in Massachusetts operating as a nonprofit historic site with educational programming, craft demonstrations, workshops, and event rentals. Comparable in combining an open-air historic site, craft programming, and K-12 educational mission.
• Canterbury Shaker Village: Preserved Shaker village and museum in Canterbury, New Hampshire run as a nonprofit historic site with tours, educational programs, and special events. Closely comparable as a Shaker-specific heritage organization of similar scale serving a regional New England audience.
• Hancock Shaker Village: Historic Shaker settlement and museum in Hancock, Massachusetts operating as a nonprofit preservation society with site tours, educational programming, workshops, and event rentals. Direct peer due to shared Shaker heritage focus, comparable site-based nonprofit model, and similar educational/adult programming mix.
• The Farmers' Museum: Cooperstown, NY living-history museum operated as a nonprofit with historic village tours, craft fairs, school programs, and workshops. Comparable as a regional New York heritage site with overlapping programming categories including craft fairs and educational events.
• Shelburne Museum: Vermont-based nonprofit museum complex featuring multiple historic buildings, gardens, and collections open to the public with educational programming and ticketed admissions. Comparable as a multi-building historic site operated by a small nonprofit with education and events.

Broad incumbents

• Colonial Williamsburg: Largest living-history museum in the U.S., operating as a nonprofit historic district with extensive educational programming, ticketed site access, retail, and lodging. Comparable as a nonprofit National Historic District with education-centered programming, but at vastly larger scale.
• Mount Vernon: George Washington's historic estate operated as a large nonprofit historic site with ticketed tours, educational programs, retail, and event rentals. Comparable in nonprofit historic-site operations and education-driven programming, but at materially larger scale and budget.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ShakerHeritageSociety
• Instagraminstagram.com/shakerheritagesociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shaker-heritage-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Shaker Heritage Society