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Freeport Historical Society

EIN 01-0346944 · Freeport, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair53 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FREEPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESERVES THE HISTORY OF FREEPORT, MAINE THROUGH ITS COLLECTIONS OF ARCHIVES, ARTIFACTS, BUILDINGS, AND LANDSCAPES. IT USES THESE COLLECTIONS, IN ADDITION TO NEW RESEARCH AND DISCOVERIES, TO HOST PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

Income
$199,684
Spending
$234,640
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
34.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
3
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$69,550, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 53 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (1)
  1. $170,006 spent. FREEPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S PRIMARY ACTIVITY IS THE COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DOCUMENTS AND ARTIFACTS DETAILING THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF FREEPORT, MAINE. FHS ADDED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THIS COLLECTION IN 2024 THROUGH INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS AND PURCHASES. FHS USED THESE COLLECTIONS TO RESPOND TO 107 RESEARCH REQUESTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AS WELL AS TO MOUNT PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS VIEWED BY OVER 750 VISITORS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING ATTENDED BY OVER 1200 PARTICIPANTS. FHS OWNS AND MAINTAINS AN HISTORIC 140-ACRE SALTWATER FARM INCLUDING A C.1800 SALTBOX FARMHOUSE, WHICH HOSTS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, SCHOOL VISITS, AND PUBLIC EVENTS. THE GROUNDS AND TRAILS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC YEAR-ROUND FOR RECREATION AND FHS HOSTS REGULAR TOURS OF THE FARMHOUSE, INCLUDING ITS ANNUAL FAMILY FARM DAY ATTENDED BY OVER 400 PARTICPANTS. FHS PARTNERS WITH MANY OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO ADD HISTORICAL CONTEXT TO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. IN 2024, THIS INCLUDED JOINING MEETINGHOUSE ARTS IN THEIR NEA FUNDED "OUR TOWN: A COMMUNITY PORTRAIT" PROJECT RECRUITING MEMBERS OF THE FREEPORT COMMUNITY TO DOCUMENT WHAT THEY IDENTIFIED AS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT FREEPORT IN 2024 AND DRAWING HISTORICAL PARALLELS AND COPARISONS FROM THE FHS COLLECTIONS. FHS ALSO CONTIUED ITS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN DEVELOPING DEEPER UNDERSTADING OF INDIGENOUS HISTORY THROUGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS. FREEPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S PRIMARY ACTIVITY IS THE COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DOCUMENTS AND ARTIFACTS DETAILING THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF FREEPORT, MAINE. FHS ADDED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THIS COLLECTION IN 2024 THROUGH INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS AND PURCHASES. FHS USED THESE COLLECTIONS TO RESPOND TO 107 RESEARCH REQUESTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AS WELL AS TO MOUNT PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS VIEWED BY OVER 750 VISITORS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING ATTENDED BY OVER 1200 PARTICIPANTS. FHS OWNS AND MAINTAINS AN HISTORIC 140-ACRE SALTWATER FARM INCLUDING A C.1800 SALTBOX FARMHOUSE, WHICH HOSTS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, SCHOOL VISITS, AND PUBLIC EVENTS. THE GROUNDS AND TRAILS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC YEAR-ROUND FOR RECREATION AND FHS HOSTS REGULAR TOURS OF THE FARMHOUSE, INCLUDING ITS ANNUAL FAMILY FARM DAY ATTENDED BY OVER 400 PARTICPANTS. FHS PARTNERS WITH MANY OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO ADD HISTORICAL CONTEXT TO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. IN 2024, THIS INCLUDED JOINING MEETINGHOUSE ARTS IN THEIR NEA FUNDED "OUR TOWN: A COMMUNITY PORTRAIT" PROJECT RECRUITING MEMBERS OF THE FREEPORT COMMUNITY TO DOCUMENT WHAT THEY IDENTIFIED AS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT FREEPORT IN 2024 AND DRAWING HISTORICAL PARALLELS AND COPARISONS FROM THE FHS COLLECTIONS. FHS ALSO CONTIUED ITS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN DEVELOPING DEEPER UNDERSTADING OF INDIGENOUS HISTORY THROUGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 March 1977.

    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.