OSV extends president's contract

Courtesy of Erika Sidor Old Sturbridge Village President and CEO James E. Donahue

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Old Sturbridge Village voted unanimously to extend the contract of president and CEO James Donahue through June 2017, the museum announced Wednesday.

Donahue has been president since 2007, and oversaw in 2013 the reopening of the historic 10-room Old Sturbridge Inn and the more contemporary 29-room Reeder Family Lodges. His contract was set to expire in June, according to museum spokesman Greg Dixon.

“Jim Donahue has been the catalyst for significant performance improvements at the museum including stabilizing attendance, and increasing education field trips and fundraising,” Dick Schulze, board of trustees chairman, said in a statement. “Jim took over at a challenging point in the village’s history, yet has led the organization to recent success.”

Revenues outpaced expenditures at OSV by $1.33 million in 2011, the most recent year for which data is available. Donahue’s total compensation in 2011 was $222,457, according to the company’s tax forms.

Donahue helped developed a $500,000 partnership with Ware-based Country Bank in 2012 to help fund the museum’s educational programs. More than 65,000 schoolchildren visit OSV each year.

Prior to joining OSV, Donahue was CEO of the Bradford Dunn Institute for Learning Differences in Providence.