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Maine Archaeological Society

EIN 01-6019934 · Augusta, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE MAINE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY IS TO PROMOTE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AWARENESS THROUGH EDUCATION AND PUBLICATION, AND TO ENCOURAGE THE CONSERVATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND ARTIFACTS. THE SOCIETY WORKS TO ACHIEVE THIS BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS, PUBLISHING A SOCIETY BULLETIN, AND ENCOURAGING THE PUBLIC TO REPORT ANY DISCOVERIES THEY MAKE SO THEY CAN BE PROPERLY DOCUMENTED. THE ORGANIZATION IS ALSO COMMITTED TO ETHICAL PRACTICES AND DOES NOT ENDORSE THE SALE, PURCHASE, OR BARTER OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS.

Income
$529,170
Spending
$18,523
Spent on programs
52%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
0
Volunteers
25

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

Financial health

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

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

Governance

Fair: 69 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 18 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    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 September 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. $9,587 spent. DIRECT CONTACT PUBLIC EDUCATION: INCLUDES MEMBERSHIP (AND PUBLIC) MEETINGS PRESENTING OR DISCUSSING ARCHAEOLOGICAL INFORMATION AND FINDINGS. ARCHAEOLOGICAL PUBLIC EDUCATION MATERIAL IS ALSO PRESENTED ON THE MAS WEBSITE. TWO MEMBERSHIP/PUBLIC MEETINGS A YEAR DRAW BETWEEN 30 AND 80 ATTENDEES. MAS BOOTH AT COMMON GROUND COUNTRY FAIR, UNITY ME, IN SEPTEMBER, INVOLVES PUBLIC CONTACT FOR THREE DAYS BY TWO MAS BOARD MEMBERS, 9AM TO 5PM. THOUSANDS PASS BY THE BOOTH AND DISPLAY, AND THERE ARE DIRECT CONVERSATIONS WITH ~250 INDIVIDUALS OVER THE THREE DAYS. LITERATURE HANDED OUT, ARTIFACTS TO HANDLE AND DISCUSS.
  2. PRINT PUBLICATIONS ON MAINE ARCHAEOLOGY, INCLUDING TWO BULLETINS PER YEAR (WITH SCHOLARLY ARTICLES) AND TWO NEWSLETTERS, ARE MAILED TO THE MEMBERSHIP. EACH MAILING IS SENT TO 310 MEMBERS, INCLUDING LIBRARIES AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE NORTHEASTERN STATES AND EASTERN CANADA. PRINTING BOOK-LENGTH ARCHAEOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS IS AN OCCASIONAL (ONCE EVERY 3 YEARS ON AVERAGE) ACTIVITY. THE BOOKS ARE MARKETED TO MEMBERSHIP AND THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE WEBSITE. REVENUE REPORTED FOR THIS SERVICE IS DERIVED FROM BOOK SALES.
  3. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE COLLECTIONS PROTECTION AND STORAGE, INVENTORY, PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS, AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE PROTECTION IS THE THIRD AREA OF PROGRAM SERVICE. THE MAINE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY DOES NOT CURRENTLY HOLD ANY CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON LAND. ARCHAEOLOGICAL (ARTIFACTS, OBJECTS, SAMPLES) COLLECTIONS STORAGE, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE RECORDS/COLLECTION ARCHIVING AND PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS ARE THE MAJOR ACTIVITIES FOR THIS SERVICE. THE MAINE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY CURRENTLY OWNS AND CURATES THREE MAJOR COLLECTIONS (HARDY, CHANDLER, DOYLE) WITH OVER 100,000 STONE, POTTERY AND BONE OBJECTS FROM ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN MAINE. THE LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO PROVIDE STORAGE AND RESEARCH SPACE FOR MAINE ARCHAEOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS, SUCH SPACE BEING VERY LIMITED IN THE VARIOUS MUSEUMS IN MAINE. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE COLLECTIONS PROTECTION AND STORAGE, INVENTORY, PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS, AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE PROTECTION IS THE THIRD AREA OF PROGRAM SERVICE. THE MAINE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY DOES NOT CURRENTLY HOLD ANY CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON LAND. ARCHAEOLOGICAL (ARTIFACTS, OBJECTS, SAMPLES) COLLECTIONS STORAGE, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE RECORDS/COLLECTION ARCHIVING AND PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS ARE THE MAJOR ACTIVITIES FOR THIS SERVICE. THE MAINE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY CURRENTLY OWNS AND CURATES THREE MAJOR COLLECTIONS (HARDY, CHANDLER, DOYLE) WITH OVER 100,000 STONE, POTTERY AND BONE OBJECTS FROM ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN MAINE. THE LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO PROVIDE STORAGE AND RESEARCH SPACE FOR MAINE ARCHAEOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS, SUCH SPACE BEING VERY LIMITED IN THE VARIOUS MUSEUMS IN MAINE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 April 1965.

    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.

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