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Maine Preservation

EIN 01-0319524 · Yarmouth, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceFair66 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MAINE PRESERVATION PROMOTES AND PRESERVES HISTORIC PLACES, BUILDINGS, DOWNTOWNS AND NEIGHBORHOODS, STENGHTENING THE CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC VITALITY OF MAINE COMMUNITIES.

Income
$482,319
Spending
$442,171
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
6
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$107,039, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 March 31, 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 (5)
  1. $35,559 spent. MAINE PRESERVATION PROVIDES FIELD SERVICES OFFERED ASSISTANCE TO 150 PROJECTS FOR COMMUNITIES, NONPROFITS AND INDIVIDUALS TO HELP PRESERVE HISTORIC BUILDINGS. FIELD SERVICE ADVISORS VISITED COMMUNITIES AND LANDMARK PROPERTIES TO ADVISE BUILDING STEWARDS ON NEXT STEPS TOWARD REHABILITATING HISTORIC STRUCTURES IN MAINE.
  2. $57,743 spent. PROTECT AND SELL PROGRAM - MAINE PRESERVATIONS'S PROTECT AND SELL PROGRAM ASSISTS IN THE SALE OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS TO NEW OWNERS WHO AGREE TO PRESERVE AND REHABILITATE THEM SUBJECT TO PERPETUAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION EASEMENTS. ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS ARE DONATED TO THE ORGANIZATION.
  3. $17,903 spent. STATE HISTORIC TAX CREDITS - MAINE PRESERVATION WORKS WITH ENTITIES SEEKING TO USE THE STATE HISTORIC TAX CREDIT, IS A PARTNER IN 3 PROJECTS, AND RECEIVES AND DISBURSES THE CREDIT TO ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.
  4. $174,247 spent. ANNUAL MEETING OCCURS EACH YEAR CONVENING MEMBERSHIP TO ELECT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, REPORT ON ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES, AND PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS. HONOR AWARDS RECOGNIZE OWNERS, CRAFTSMEN, AND STEWARD ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN MAINE. MOST ENDANGERED MAINE HISTORIC PLACES LIST IS A WIDELY DISTRIBUTED ANNUAL COMPILATION OF AT-RISK HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND ISSUES IN THE STATE OF MAINE. OUTREACH - STAFF REGULARLY PARTICIPATE AS SPEAKERS IN CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, TOWN OR ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL EVENTS TO SHARE EXPERTISE AND OFFER GUIDANCE.
  5. ANNUAL MEETING OCCURS EACH YEAR CONVENING MEMBERSHIP TO ELECT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, REPORT ON ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES, AND PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS. HONOR AWARDS RECOGNIZE OWNERS, CRAFTSMEN, AND STEWARD ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN MAINE. MOST ENDANGERED MAINE HISTORIC PLACES LIST IS A WIDELY DISTRIBUTED ANNUAL COMPILATION OF AT-RISK HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND ISSUES IN THE STATE OF MAINE. OUTREACH - STAFF REGULARLY PARTICIPATE AS SPEAKERS IN CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, TOWN OR ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL EVENTS TO SHARE EXPERTISE AND OFFER GUIDANCE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1976.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.