Historical Society of Windham County Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of HSWC is to stimulate interest of present and future generations in the history of Windham County, Vermont, and its several townships, and to acquire a more intimate knowledge of the methods, customs, hardships, and triumphs of its present ancestry. HSWC currently achieves its mission through two museums, the new Windham County History Museum (in the 1825 Jail Building) officially opened May 31, 2025, and the West River Railroad Museum, as well as a Resource & Genealogy Center (in the former brick County Museum) which are all open to the public without charge, and where exhibits and resources share the history of Windham County, Vermont with people of all ages from near and far. The Society houses and maintains collections relating to Windham County and makes them available for exhibitions, educational programs, and events. It sells a limited number of mission-related items at its museums and on-line.
- Income
- $84,870
- Spending
- $98,335
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 41.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 55
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 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 41.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 41% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $63,435 spent. The new COUNTY HISTORY MUSEUM (in the 1825 Windham County Jail): This newest program service is located steps from HSWC's West River Railroad Museum and Resource Center in the heart of Newfane Village. It officially opened on May 31, 2025, and is admission free. The public is invited to visit on Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day to mid-October from Noon to 5 PM. The new Museum interprets the history of the 1825 Windham County Jail and houses many new exhibitions using objects and artifacts from HSWC collections to tell the stories of the people and towns of Windham County. The Museum also includes a mini-museum store where mission-related items such as postcards, notecards, pictures, and publications focused on Windham County history are made available for purchase. Profits from these sales, as well as from donations left by visitors, help to support the museum's operations.
- $20,271 spent. The HSWC Resource Center (formerly the County History Museum): It is located on VT Route 30 (Main Street) and serves as a workspace from May to October for a Curator and Assistant Curator. The Resource Center is also the repository for HSWC's significant collections of historic objects (not currently on display in its museums) and its archives relating to Windham County. The Society's archives include materials dating from the 17th-21st centuries. Books, journals, photographs, maps, scrapbooks, documents and other primary resources are available to the public for personal and professional research, with research assistance provided. It houses an invaluable collection of close to 10,000 artifacts and archival materials relating to Windham County and an extensive collection of artifacts and documents relating to the history of the West River Railroad.
- $6,906 spent. The West River Railroad Museum: Located within steps of the new County History Museum, the restored Newfane Train Station of the now defunct West River Railroad is open free of admission on Saturdays and Sundays (1-4) from Memorial Day through mid-October. Opened 2017, the restored original Newfane Station contains the Station Agent's office, a freight room, and a passenger waiting room. There is also an operable hand cart on the nearby wide-gage tracks and a restored water tower, one of only two still remaining along the Railroad's 36-mile route between Brattleboro and South Londonderry, VT. The RR Museum includes a mini-museum store where mission-related items such as postcards, notecards, pictures, and publications focused on the West River Railroad are available for purchase. Profits from these sales, as well as from donations left by visitors, help support the museum's operations.
- $4,509 spent. Educational Outreach Programs: At present these include a newsletter for members mailed three times a year and available to the public in our museums, an organizational website (www.historicalsocietyofwindhamcounty.org) and occasional educational events and programs.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1956.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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