Save Ellis Island
Save Ellis Island is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and official National Park Service partner that preserves 29 historic buildings on Ellis Island's south side, operating Hard Hat Tours, K-12 school programs, and special events that have raised over $70 million for restoration since 1999.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersBranchville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Save Ellis Island does
Save Ellis Island is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999 and incorporated in Delaware, designated as the official private-sector partner of the National Park Service for the restoration, preservation, and programming of 29 unrestored buildings on Ellis Island's south side, including the historic Hospital Complex closed to the public for over 60 years. The organization's core product is the 90-minute Hard Hat Tour priced at $55 per person, which provides the only public access route to the abandoned hospital buildings and incorporates the site-specific "Unframed — Ellis Island" archival photography installation by French artist JR. Supporting offerings include K-12 in-person and virtual school tours, group and photography tours, the Mario Andres Robinson Watercolor Workshop, the Taste of History culinary series, the Student Access Initiative for underserved NJ/NYC students, and retail sales of The Ellis Island Immigrant Cookbook (over 100,000 copies sold) and related merchandise.
Revenue is generated across five streams: tour ticket sales (direct e-commerce and on-site at the Ellis Island Information Desk), retail and merchandise, individual donations and memberships (including Membership 2026 and planned giving), special event revenue, and corporate sponsorships and grants (historically including PVH/Arrow, American Express, and the National Endowment for the Humanities). Distribution is direct-to-consumer through shop.saveellisisland.org, supplemented by Statue Cruises as the exclusive ferry reseller and direct enterprise sales for school and group bookings. The organization has raised over $70 million cumulatively for restoration since inception, completing the Ferry Building in 2007 ($6.4 million) and the Recreation Pavilion in December 2019 ($982,824), with education programs reaching over 300,000 students. Core customer segments are tourists/sightseers, K-12 schools and educators, corporate partners, artists, and culinary/heritage enthusiasts; marketing is multi-channel via the organizational website, email newsletter, podcasts, earned media, events, and YouTube.
Save Ellis Island firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Save Ellis Island
- Legal name
- Save Ellis Island, Inc.
- Website
- https://saveellisisland.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Save Ellis Island is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and official National Park Service partner that preserves 29 historic buildings on Ellis Island's south side, operating Hard Hat Tours, K-12 school programs, and special events that have raised over $70 million for restoration since 1999.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Save Ellis Island industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Historic Preservation and Heritage Tourism
- NAICS
- Historical Sites (712120), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access) (THAAAAAH), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)
Keywords
Where Save Ellis Island is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Branchville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Save Ellis Island business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Tour Ticket Sales: Revenue from Hard Hat Tour tickets at $55 per person and specialty tours. Tickets are sold online through the organization's shop platform and at the Ellis Island Information Desk.
- Retail Sales: Sale of merchandise, books including The Ellis Island Immigrant Cookbook, autographed books, and educational materials through the online shop.
- Donations and Memberships: Individual donations, memberships (including Membership 2026), and planned giving options such as bequests, retirement account beneficiaries, and life insurance gifts.
- Event Revenue: Revenue from special events including the Taste of History culinary event, author talks, and watercolor workshops. Event tickets include ferry transportation, books, and tours.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners provide financial support and campaign participation. PVH (Phillips-Van Heusen) and American Express have provided significant grants and campaign support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Hard Hat Tour - 90-minute guided tour of abandoned hospital complex |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Express Hard Hat Tour - 60-minute express guided experience |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | In-Person School Tours - 90-minute guided walking tour |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Virtual Field Trip - 45-minute interactive virtual experience |
| Donation/ grant-funded | Multi-year contract | Student Access Initiative - Fully supported educational visit |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Watercolor Workshop - 3-day plein air workshop with Mario Andres Robinson |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Save Ellis Island product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Save Ellis Island is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves the 29 historic buildings on Ellis Island's south side, including the abandoned Hospital Complex. It sells guided Hard Hat Tours of the unrestored hospital complex, operates K-12 school tour and virtual field trip programs, runs cultural events such as the Taste of History culinary series and watercolor workshops, and retails related merchandise and books. The organization is the official nonprofit fundraising and programmatic partner of the National Park Service for these buildings.
Product overview
Save Ellis Island is a non-profit organization that offers a portfolio of historical preservation and educational experiences centered on the Ellis Island Hospital Complex on the island's south side. The core product is the Hard Hat Tour, a 90-minute guided tour providing exclusive access to the abandoned hospital buildings. Supporting offerings include School Tours & Programs with in-person and virtual options, the Student Access Initiative for underserved communities, Teacher Resources with curriculum materials, and specialty Group and Photography Tours. The organization also sells The Ellis Island Immigrant Cookbook and hosts events such as the Taste of History culinary series and Mario Andres Robinson Watercolor Workshop. The Unframed — Ellis Island exhibit by French artist JR features archival photographs installed throughout the hospital complex and is accessible via the Hard Hat Tour.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hard Hat Tour A 90-minute guided tour of the abandoned Ellis Island Hospital Complex on the south side of the island, closed to the public for over 60 years. Tours are led by experienced guides and provide exclusive access to the island's forgotten history. Tickets are $55 per person (ferry not included), with six daily tour times. Minimum age is 10.
- School Tours & Programs Educational tours and programs for students in grades 4-12, including in-person guided walking tours at $25 per guest and interactive virtual field trips at $125 per session for up to 50 students. Programs are aligned to National and State Curriculum Standards.
- The Ellis Island Immigrant Cookbook A 268-page spiral-bound cookbook containing recipes from thirty-five countries, introduced with family memories. The book includes a History of Ellis Island, Chronology, and Immigrant Food Memories, and has sold well over 100,000 copies.
- Student Access Initiative A program providing fully supported educational visits for students in underserved communities across New Jersey and New York City, offering free guided tours, ferry transportation, educational enrichment programs, and lunch. Funded through donations, with a goal of $20,000 to double field trips offered.
- Unframed — Ellis Island Exhibit A site-specific art installation by French artist JR featuring nearly two-dozen large-scale pastings of archival photographs from the hospital, placed throughout the building interiors and exteriors. Accessible as part of the Hard Hat Tour.
- Group Tours Private group hard hat tours of the abandoned hospital complex available by email or phone reservation.
- Photography Tours Specialty tours focused on photography sessions in the abandoned hospital buildings, including abandoned hospital buildings photography sessions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $70 million raised for restoration
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Save Ellis Island
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Save Ellis Island technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Save Ellis Island partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, major, core and supporting.
- National Park ServiceflagshipSave Ellis Island is the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service since 1999. The organization serves as the NPS designated fundraising and programmatic partner for the 29 historic Ellis Island buildings. Because the National Park Service is prohibited from fundraising as a federal agency, it relies upon Save Ellis Island to provide funding for restoration, preservation and maintenance.
- World Monuments FundmajorThe World Monuments Fund supported Ellis Island's inclusion on the 1996 and 2006 World Monuments Watch lists, providing international attention and support for preservation efforts. The 2008 Education/Awareness Strategy Forum at Ellis Island was supported by World Monuments Fund.
- Statue CruisescoreStatue Cruises operates the official ferry service to Ellis and Liberty Islands, departing from Battery Park in Manhattan and Liberty State Park in Jersey City. The company has agreed to promote Hard Hat Tours on its website where visitors can purchase ferry tickets. In 2013, Statue Cruises moved its headquarters to Ellis Island, contributing $120,000 toward restoration of office space in the Laundry Building.
- JR (French Street Artist)flagshipFrench artist JR was invited in 2014 to create the 'Unframed - Ellis Island' installation in the abandoned hospital complex. The site-specific exhibit features archival photographs of Ellis Island immigrants pasted on walls and windows throughout the complex, accessible via Hard Hat Tour.
- New York City Landmarks ConservancysupportingCooperated with Save Ellis Island on the 1997 stabilization project focused on the Office and Laboratory Building, which led to support for stabilization of the entire south side of Ellis Island in subsequent years.
- Michelle Hehman and Arlene Keeling (Nurse Historians)supportingAward-winning authors and nurse historians who wrote 'The Nurses of Ellis Island: Life and Work Inside the Golden Door'. Save Ellis Island hosted their book event on June 28, 2025 featuring signed books and exclusive tours.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Save Ellis Island competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Historic Charleston Foundation: Charleston-based preservation nonprofit that operates historic house museums and walking tours. Comparable as a heritage tourism nonprofit with a similar operating model—donor-supported, tour-revenue-generating, preservation mission focused on a portfolio of historic buildings.
- World Monuments Fund: Global historic preservation organization that placed Ellis Island on its World Monuments Watch lists in 1996 and 2006. Directly comparable as a preservation advocacy nonprofit working to save culturally significant sites, including American historic properties.
- Trust for the National Mall: Official NPS partner nonprofit for the National Mall in Washington, DC. Directly comparable as another NPS-designated private fundraising partner that raises private capital for federal land stewardship, preservation, and educational programming at iconic American landmarks.
- National Trust for Historic Preservation: Private nonprofit preservation organization that provided grant funding (American Express $100K channeled through) and recognition for Save Ellis Island's preservation work. Directly comparable as a national-scale historic preservation nonprofit with similar mission and donor base.
- Preservation Society of Newport County: Rhode Island nonprofit preservation organization that maintains a portfolio of historic house museums and offers public tours and education. Comparable as a regional nonprofit operating historic properties as public-facing tour destinations with similar revenue mix (admissions, donations, retail).
- Conservancy for the Parthenon and Centennial Park: Nashville-based nonprofit partner for Centennial Park and the Parthenon replica. Directly comparable as an NPS-adjacent or public-park partner nonprofit that raises private funds for landmark preservation, offers public programming, and runs educational/tour operations.
- The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation: The official NPS partner for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island's main museum (north side). Directly comparable as a sibling NPS-designated nonprofit on the same island, focused on preservation and visitor experience, though covering different buildings than Save Ellis Island's hospital complex.
Regional players
- Lower Manhattan Cultural Council: NYC-based cultural nonprofit supporting artists and cultural programming. Adjacent comparable as a NYC nonprofit working near Ellis Island on cultural programming and site-based experiences, though focused on contemporary culture rather than historic preservation.
Broad incumbents
- Friends of the High Line: NYC-based nonprofit that conserves and programs a public park on adaptive-reuse infrastructure. Comparable as a preservation nonprofit operating a high-profile NYC tourist destination with tour/education programming and a fundraising-dependent model, though on a larger scale.
Others
- Statue Cruises (Circle Line): Exclusive ferry operator to Ellis Island and a commercial partner that promotes Hard Hat Tours on its booking platform. Enabler/ecosystem participant that controls all customer access to Save Ellis Island's site and is therefore a critical operational dependency rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Save Ellis Island social profiles
Digital presenceSave Ellis Island financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Save Ellis Island leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Save Ellis Island funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Save Ellis Island M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Save Ellis Island
What does Save Ellis Island do?
Save Ellis Island is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves the 29 historic buildings on Ellis Island's south side, including the abandoned Hospital Complex. It sells guided Hard Hat Tours of the unrestored hospital complex, operates K-12 school tour and virtual field trip programs, runs cultural events such as the Taste of History culinary series and watercolor workshops, and retails related merchandise and books. The organization is the official nonprofit fundraising and programmatic partner of the National Park Service for these buildings.
Is Save Ellis Island a public or private company?
Save Ellis Island is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Save Ellis Island founded?
Save Ellis Island was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Save Ellis Island based?
Save Ellis Island is headquartered in Branchville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Save Ellis Island make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Tour Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are retail Sales, donations and Memberships, event Revenue and corporate Sponsorships.
Who are Save Ellis Island's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Historic Charleston Foundation, World Monuments Fund, Trust for the National Mall, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Society of Newport County, Conservancy for the Parthenon and Centennial Park and The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation. Lower Manhattan Cultural Council is listed as a regional player. Friends of the High Line is listed as a broad incumbent. Statue Cruises (Circle Line) is listed as an others.
Does Save Ellis Island have an API?
No public API is recorded for Save Ellis Island.
What industry is Save Ellis Island in?
Save Ellis Island's product category is Historic Preservation and Heritage Tourism. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAIAA, National Park & Protected Area Tours, with a secondary code of THAAAAAH, National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access). Its NAICS code is 712120.