What Preserve Rhode Island does

Preserve Rhode Island is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1956 and headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, where it operates as the designated statewide advocate for the state's historic places. The organization runs five core programs: the 161-year-old Lippitt House Museum (199 Hope Street, Providence) as an educational and admissions-generating operation; the annual Rhody Awards for Historic Preservation; the Community Preservation Response program providing technical assistance to local advocates; the Preservation Easement Program enabling perpetual protection of historic properties; and statewide legislative advocacy, most prominently for Rhode Island's Historic Tax Credit (HTC) program. The organization also publishes an online Preservation Toolkit and resources directory for the public.

The organization generates revenue through three primary streams: charitable contributions (~65% of revenue per the company's own statements, including the Anchor Circle major donor program and general annual fund), museum admissions and private tours at Lippitt House, and planned giving. There is no proprietary technology platform, software product, or AI/ML system disclosed; operations rely on service delivery, advocacy outreach, event programming, and content (blog, e-newsletter, social channels on Facebook/Instagram/YouTube). The entity has no parent company and no subsidiaries other than the wholly-owned Lippitt House Museum operation.

Customer-facing audiences include historic property owners seeking preservation guidance or easements, local preservation advocates needing technical support, real estate developers and housing producers benefiting from the HTC program, and the general public visiting the museum. Leadership is anchored by Executive Director Sheryl Hack, supported by Preservation Programs Manager Bailey Hall (joined from Louisiana's state historic preservation office). The organization is privately operated, has 11–50 employees, and is not publicly traded or funded by external venture capital.

Name

Preserve Rhode Island

Legal name

Preserve Rhode Island

Website

https://preserveri.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Preserve Rhode Island is a Providence-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1956 serving as the statewide advocate for Rhode Island's historic places, operating the Lippitt House Museum, preservation easement program, community response assistance, and Historic Tax Credit advocacy for donors, property owners, and developers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historic Preservation Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Historical Sites (712120)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE)

Keywords

• Historic preservation services
• Cultural heritage advocacy
• Historic house museum
• Preservation easement programs
• Community preservation support

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: Preserve Rhode Island operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The organization states that approximately 60-65% of funding for preservation programs comes from gifts and donations. They offer membership programs at various levels including the Anchor Circle major donor program.
2. Museum Admissions and Tours: The Lippitt House Museum generates revenue through ticket sales, tours, and special exhibition admissions. The museum also hosts events and private tours that generate revenue.
3. Planned Giving: The organization offers planned giving programs as a revenue stream for long-term fundraising.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Preserve Rhode Island is a 501(c)(3) statewide nonprofit advocacy organization that protects Rhode Island's historic places through direct property stewardship, community technical assistance, preservation easement administration, and legislative advocacy. Its operational anchor is the Lippitt House Museum, a 161-year-old historic house museum open to the public for tours and exhibitions, while its programmatic offerings include the Community Preservation Response program, the Preservation Easement Program, and the annual Rhody Awards for Historic Preservation.

Product overview

Preserve Rhode Island operates as a statewide advocate for historic places, offering a portfolio of preservation programs and services. The organization manages the Lippitt House Museum as its primary historic property, operates the annual Rhody Awards recognition program, and provides direct technical assistance through its Community Preservation Response program. Core offerings include the Preservation Easement Program for permanent property protection, Historic Tax Credit advocacy, and a comprehensive Preservation Toolkit of resources for preservationists and community advocates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lippitt House Museum: A historic house museum operated by Preserve Rhode Island at 199 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02906, showcasing 19th-century Victorian architecture and history.

Products and services

• Lippitt House Museum

Quantifiable outcome

• Historic Tax Credits generate $10+ in economic activity for every $1 invested (based on 2017 Economic Study by PlaceEconomics)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Grow Smart RIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreserve RI has partnered with Grow Smart RI for years to advocate for the state's Historic Tax Credit (HTC) program. Together they work on legislative efforts including introducing bills H8408 and S3151, and currently working with the Division of Taxation to understand program implications following the sunset of the HTC program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Restore Oregon: Oregon-based statewide preservation advocacy nonprofit offering a near-identical mix of policy advocacy, preservation services, and recognition programs.
• Preservation League of New York State: State-level preservation advocacy nonprofit in New York. Closely mirrors Preserve RI's model of statewide policy advocacy, technical assistance to local advocates, and an annual preservation awards program.
• Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia: Regional preservation advocacy organization providing direct technical assistance to property owners and advocating for historic preservation policy, comparable to Preserve RI's Community Preservation Response work.
• Landmarks Illinois: Statewide preservation advocacy nonprofit in Illinois combining preservation easement holdings, advocacy, an annual awards program (Landmarks Preservation Awards), and direct technical assistance.

Direct peers

• The Preservation Society of Newport County: Rhode Island-based peer that stewards multiple historic house museums (e.g., The Breakers, Marble House) and runs preservation programming and events, directly comparable to Lippitt House Museum operations.
• Historic New England: Regional historic preservation organization operating dozens of historic house museums across New England, with a similar stewardship-plus-advocacy model anchored by donated properties and admissions revenue.
• Rhode Island Historical Society: The other major statewide heritage nonprofit in Rhode Island. Operates the John Brown House Museum and maintains collections and archives comparable to Preserve RI's Lippitt House stewardship and advocacy work.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation: The leading U.S. national preservation nonprofit. Comparable mission around policy advocacy, easement programs, and member-supported preservation initiatives, though at significantly larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Advisory Council on Historic Preservation: Federal advisory body that shapes national historic preservation policy. Comparable in advocacy function but operates at federal scale rather than Preserve RI's state-level remit.
• National Park Service: Federal agency that operates many historic house museums and historic sites nationally, including some in Rhode Island. A broader incumbent with overlapping stewardship and visitor-education missions but vastly larger resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/preserveri
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSEw2QEjIrZzzrqlLQE0f4Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/PreserveRI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/preserve-rhode-island

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Preserve Rhode Island