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Greater Portland Landmarks Inc

EIN 01-0276272 · Portland, ME

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 38% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

GREATER PORTLAND LANDMARKS USES PORTLAND'S HERITAGE - ITS BUILDINGS, PLACES, CULTURE, AND STORIES - AS A CATALYST FOR CONNECTION, AFFORDABILITY, AND RESILIENCE. WE ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY TO LEARN FROM ITS HISTORY, PRESERVE SPECIAL PLACES, AND ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT THAT SERVES AND INSPIRES THOSE WHO LIVE, WORK, AND VISIT PORTLAND TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.

Income
$385,420
Spending
$561,959
Spent on programs
38%
Reserves
31.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
7
Volunteers
57

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 31.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 46% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    38% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 43 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $110,959 spent. ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION - GREATER PORTLAND LANDMARKS SEEKS TO BUILD AWARENESS, INSTILL COMMUNITY PRIDE, AND FOSTER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THROUGH COMMUNITY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNICATIONS WE ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES AND PLANS THAT PRESERVE SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC CHARACTER, ENCOURAGE HIGH-QUALITY DESIGN, REUSE AND REIMAGINE HISTORIC PLACES SUSTAINABLY, AND ENHANCE A LIVABLE CITY. WE CONDUCT RESEARCH AND SURVEYS AND EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE HISTORY, CULTURE, AND ARCHITECTURE OF OUR BUILDINGS AND NEIGHBORHOODS BY TELLING COMPLETE AND DIVERSE STORIES. LANDMARKS' EDUCATION PROGRAMS ENGAGE ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH ARCHITECTURE, PRESERVATION, AND HISTORY THROUGH TOURS, INTERACTIVE MAPS, ILLUSTRATED PRESENTATIONS, PUBLICATIONS, SPECIAL PROGRAMS, AND INTERPRETATION OF THE PORTLAND OBSERVATORY (1807). ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION - GREATER PORTLAND LANDMARKS SEEKS TO BUILD AWARENESS, INSTILL COMMUNITY PRIDE, AND FOSTER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THROUGH COMMUNITY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNICATIONS WE ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES AND PLANS THAT PRESERVE SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC CHARACTER, ENCOURAGE HIGH-QUALITY DESIGN, REUSE AND REIMAGINE HISTORIC PLACES SUSTAINABLY, AND ENHANCE A LIVABLE CITY. WE CONDUCT RESEARCH AND SURVEYS AND EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE HISTORY, CULTURE, AND ARCHITECTURE OF OUR BUILDINGS AND NEIGHBORHOODS BY TELLING COMPLETE AND DIVERSE STORIES. LANDMARKS' EDUCATION PROGRAMS ENGAGE ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH ARCHITECTURE, PRESERVATION, AND HISTORY THROUGH TOURS, INTERACTIVE MAPS, ILLUSTRATED PRESENTATIONS, PUBLICATIONS, SPECIAL PROGRAMS, AND INTERPRETATION OF THE PORTLAND OBSERVATORY (1807).
  2. $73,856 spent. THE OBSERVATORY - LANDMARKS OPERATES THE PORTLAND OBSERVATORY (1807), A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, AS A HISTORIC SITE ATTRACTING APPROXIMATELY 20,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY. THE OBSERVATORY IS THE LAST REMAINING HISTORIC MARITIME SIGNAL TOWER IN THE COUNTRY. IT WAS USED TO SIGHT INCOMING SHIPS TO PORTLAND HARBOR, USING A POWERFUL TELESCOPE AT THE TOP, AND FLAGS WERE FLOWN TO INDICATE SHIPS COMING INTO PORT. TODAY THE OBSERVATORY RETAINS ITS ORIGINAL APPEARANCE AND FEATURES INTERPRETIVE EXHIBITS AND STUNNING VIEWS.
  3. $28,493 spent. PRESERVATION RESOURCES - LANDMARKS IS A COMMUNITY PARTNER AND RESOURCE FOR HISTORIC PROPERTY OWNERS, ARCHITECTS, DEVELOPERS, ARTISANS, AND TRADES PEOPLE. THROUGH PUBLIC PROGRAMS, PUBLICATIONS, AND OUR WEBSITE WE OFFER GUIDANCE IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION POLICY, DESIGN, AND BEST PRACTICES, REHABILITATING HISTORIC BUILDINGS, NEW DESIGN IN HISTORIC SETTINGS, HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANTS AND TAX CREDITS AND GRANTS, AND RESILIENT APPROACHES TO SEA LEVEL RISE AND OTHER IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1967.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.