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Strawbery Banke Museum

EIN 02-0260158 · Portsmouth, NH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MUSEUM'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING OF THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS AND THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY THROUGH ENCOUNTERS WITH THE HISTORY AND ONGOING PRESERVATION OF A NEW ENGLAND SEAPORT COMMUNITY.

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
108
Volunteers
348
Highest pay
$172,665, president &

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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

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

  • 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 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. $906,481 spent. PROPERTY: THE RESTORATION PROGRAM CONTINUES TO RESTORE HISTORIC SBM'S HISTORIC STRUCTURES TO REFLECT CURRENT RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICES.
  2. $557,541 spent. EDUCATION: THE DAILY PROGRAM MAY THROUGH OCTOBER OFFERS AN EXTENSIVE AND VARIED SCHEDULE OF OFFERINGS - INCLUDING EXHIBITIONS, ROLE-PLAYING, HOUSE- TOURS, CRAFTS, COOKING AND HORTICULTURE DEMONSTRATIONS, AND SPECIAL-SUBJECT TOURS.
  3. $428,393 spent. IN 2014, THE MUSEUM OPENED THE LABRIE FAMILY SKATE AT PUDDLE DOCK POND, A 19TH CENTURY OUTDOOR, SEASONAL ICE SKATING RINK ON THE GROUNDS OF THE MUSEUM. THE SITE PROVIDES ICE SKATING IN A HISTORIC ATMOSPHERE AND BRINGS A COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE TO THE AREA. THE FACILITY OFFERS SOCIAL, RECREATIONAL AND PERFORMING ARTS OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRAMS FOR THE PHYSICALLY AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED.
  4. $1.1 million spent. STRAWBERY BANKE MUSEUM SBM IS AN OUTDOOR LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM IN PORTSMOUTH, NH. - IT INTERPRETS 400-YEAR HISTORY OF A SEAPORT COMMUNITY. SBM PRESERVES AND MAINTAINS THIRTY-NINE HISTORIC STRUCTURES, TWO MODERN BUILDINGS (THE LAWRENCE J. YERDON VISITORS CENTER AND THE CARTER COLLECTIONS CENTER), EXTENSIVE PERIOD GARDENS, A LARGE ARCHAEOLOGY COLLECTION, AND AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF ARTIFACTS 25,000+ DATING FROM THE PERIOD 1653 TO 1960. TWENTY OF THE HISTORIC STRUCTURES ARE RESTORED AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. IN 2025, SBM PRODUCED AN EXTENSIVE AND VARIED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR OVER 108,000 VISITORS. THE SITE IS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE: COLLECTIONS, HORTICULTURE, VISITORS SERVICES, SPECIAL EVENTS, HERITAGE HOUSE, AND OTHER PROGRAMS.
  5. STRAWBERY BANKE MUSEUM SBM IS AN OUTDOOR LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM IN PORTSMOUTH, NH. - IT INTERPRETS 400-YEAR HISTORY OF A SEAPORT COMMUNITY. SBM PRESERVES AND MAINTAINS THIRTY-NINE HISTORIC STRUCTURES, TWO MODERN BUILDINGS (THE LAWRENCE J. YERDON VISITORS CENTER AND THE CARTER COLLECTIONS CENTER), EXTENSIVE PERIOD GARDENS, A LARGE ARCHAEOLOGY COLLECTION, AND AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF ARTIFACTS 25,000+ DATING FROM THE PERIOD 1653 TO 1960. TWENTY OF THE HISTORIC STRUCTURES ARE RESTORED AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. IN 2025, SBM PRODUCED AN EXTENSIVE AND VARIED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR OVER 108,000 VISITORS. THE SITE IS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE: COLLECTIONS, HORTICULTURE, VISITORS SERVICES, SPECIAL EVENTS, HERITAGE HOUSE, AND OTHER PROGRAMS.

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 February 1967.

    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.