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Vermont Historical Society

EIN 03-0179602 · Barre, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY ENGAGES BOTH VERMONTERS AND "VERMONTERS-AT- HEART" ON THE EXPLORATION OF OUR STATE'S RICH HERITAGE. OUR PURPOSE IS TO REACH A BROAD AUDIENCE THROUGH OUR OUTSTANDING COLLECTIONS, STATEWIDE OUTREACH, AND DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING. WE BELIEVE THAT AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PAST CHANGES LIVES AND BUILDS BETTER COMMUNITIES.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 58%
Employees
20
Volunteers
146
Highest pay
$172,308, exec. dir/se

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 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 (5)
  1. $733,674 spent. THE LIBRARY COLLECTS VERMONT BOOKS, MAGAZINES, MANUSCRIPTS, MAPS, BROADSIDES, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND EPHEMERA. IT ALSO CONTAINS A GENEALOGIAL COLLECTION RELATED TO VERMONT AND NEW ENGLAND STATES, NEW YORK, AND LOWER CANADA. THE LIBARY COLLECTIONS ARE PRESERVED FOR FUTRUE GENERATIONS AND ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR RESEARCH. THE LIBRARY PERSONNEL PROVIDE RESEARCH ASSISTANCE AND ADVISE THE PUBLIC ON CARING FOR COLLECTIONS AND PRESERVING THE STATE'S HISTORY. THE STAFF ALSO SPEAK TO LOCAL, PROFESSIONAL AND SPECIAL INTEREST ON GROUPS ON GENEALOGICAL, BIBLIOGRAPHICAL, AND HISTORICAL TOPICS.
  2. $591,720 spent. THE SOCIETY'S PROGRAMS PROVIDE MATERIALS TO VERMONT SCHOOLS FOR TEACHING STUDENTS VERMONT HISTORY. MATERIALS INCLUDE ARTIFACT KITS, CURRICULUM GUIDES, A TIME LINE, AND A LENDING LIBRARY OF BOOKS RELATED TO VERMONT HISTORY. TOURS OF THE HISTORY MUSEUM ARE CONDUCTED FOR STUDENTS VISITING THE MUSEUM. SEVERAL PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND SEMINARS ARE CONDUCTED EACH YEAR TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT VERMONT'S PAST, ITS PEOPLE, AND THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORY. THE SOCIETY PUBLISHES AND SELLS A SCHOLARLY JOURNAL AND PERIODIC BOOKS ON ASPECTS OF VERMONT HISTORY.
  3. $331,557 spent. THE MUSEUM COLLECTS ITEMS MADE IN VERMONT OR BY VERMONTERS OR THOSE WITH A LONG HISTORY OF USE BY PEOPLE LIVING HERE. THE SOCIETY PRESERVES THESE COLLECTIONS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE COLLECTIONS IS DISSEMINATED THROUGH LONG-TERM AND TEMPORARY EXHIBITS TO EDUCATE VERMONTERS AND VISITORS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF VERMONT. THE MUSEUM COLLECTIONS ARE ALSO MADE AVAILABLE FOR RESEARCH. MUSEUM PERSONNEL PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS REGARDING THE CARE OF COLLECTIONS, EXHIBIT INSTALLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF OBJECTS. MUSEUM PERSONNEL ALSO SPEAK TO LOCAL GROUPS ON VERMONT HISTORY.
  4. $26,449 spent. VERMONT HISTORY BOOKSTORE: IN THE VERMONT HISTORY BOOKSTORE, THE SOCIETY SELLS BOOKS ABOUT VERMONT, VERMONT HISTORY AND THE PEOPLE, TOWNS AND COMMUNITIES OF VERMONT. THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOKSTORE IS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD ON THE STATE OF VERMONT AND ITS HISTORY. PUBLICATIONS: THE SOCIETY PRODUCES VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS ON VERMONT'S HISTORY FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND ITS MEMBERSHIP.
  5. VERMONT HISTORY BOOKSTORE: IN THE VERMONT HISTORY BOOKSTORE, THE SOCIETY SELLS BOOKS ABOUT VERMONT, VERMONT HISTORY AND THE PEOPLE, TOWNS AND COMMUNITIES OF VERMONT. THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOKSTORE IS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD ON THE STATE OF VERMONT AND ITS HISTORY. PUBLICATIONS: THE SOCIETY PRODUCES VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS ON VERMONT'S HISTORY FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND ITS MEMBERSHIP.

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 July 1943.

    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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