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House of Seven Gables Settlement Association

EIN 04-2104324 · Salem, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 56 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

VISION: TO PRESERVE, SHARE AND CONTINUE THE AMERICAN STORY MISSION: TO BE A WELCOMING, THRIVING, HISTORIC SITE AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE THAT ENGAGES PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS IN OUR INCLUSIVE AMERICAN STORY. VALUES: - WE VALUE CAROLINE EMMERTON'S FOUNDING MISSION OF PRESERVING THE LEGACY OF OUR SITE TO SUSTAIN OUR SETTLEMENT PROGRAMS FOR LOCAL IMMIGRANTS. - WE VALUE OUR DESIGNATION AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK AND THE PRESERVATION OF OUR BUILDINGS, COLLECTIONS AND GARDENS. - WE VALUE THE LITERARY LEGACY OF NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE. - WE VALUE BEING A CENTER OF AND FOR THE COMMUNITY. - WE VALUE EDUCATION AS A CENTRAL TENET OF OUR PROGRAMMING.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
11 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
90
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$129,779, 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: 78 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 56 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 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 (5)
  1. $1.7 million spent. THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES HISTORIC SITE: THE GABLES WAS FOUNDED IN 1910 AS A HISTORIC SITE AND MUSEUM WITH A TWO-PART PURPOSE. OUR FOUNDER, CAROLINE EMMERTON, PURCHASED THE GABLES TO PRESERVE SOME OF SALEM'S MOST HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND THE LITERARY LEGACY OF AUTHOR NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE. REVENUES FROM THE MUSEUM FUNDED SETTLEMENT HOUSE WORK WITH LOCAL IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. TODAY, THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES' CAMPUS CONSTITUTES ITS OWN NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND WAS DESIGNATED A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK IN 2007. NEARLY 100,000 VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE VISIT AND TOUR THE HISTORIC SITE ANNUALLY. VISITORS ARE ESCORTED ON GUIDED TOURS THROUGH THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES (TURNER-INGERSOLL MANSION, C. 1668) AND NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE'S BIRTHPLACE, C. 1750. THESE HISTORIC HOUSES SERVE AS THE BACKDROP FOR STORIES ABOUT SALEM'S MARITIME HISTORY, THE LIFE AND WORK OF NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, AND THE AMERICAN SETTLEMENT HOUSE MOVEMENT. OTHER MAJOR THEMES INCLUDE EARLY AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE, THE COLONIAL REVIVAL PERIOD (WHEN THE GABLES WAS RESTORED), AND MATERIAL CULTURE OVER A THREE-HUNDRED YEAR PERIOD. LOCATED ON THE WATERFRONT, THE HISTORIC SITE FEATURES COLONIAL REVIVAL GARDENS AND VIEWS OF SALEM HARBOR THAT PLACE THE MANSION IN ITS HISTORIC CONTEXT. OVER 103,000 PEOPLE VISITED THE GABLES IN 2024, AN INCREASE OF 5,000+ VISITORS FROM 2023. THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES HISTORIC SITE: THE GABLES WAS FOUNDED IN 1910 AS A HISTORIC SITE AND MUSEUM WITH A TWO-PART PURPOSE. OUR FOUNDER, CAROLINE EMMERTON, PURCHASED THE GABLES TO PRESERVE SOME OF SALEM'S MOST HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND THE LITERARY LEGACY OF AUTHOR NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE. REVENUES FROM THE MUSEUM FUNDED SETTLEMENT HOUSE WORK WITH LOCAL IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. TODAY, THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES' CAMPUS CONSTITUTES ITS OWN NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND WAS DESIGNATED A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK IN 2007. NEARLY 100,000 VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE VISIT AND TOUR THE HISTORIC SITE ANNUALLY. VISITORS ARE ESCORTED ON GUIDED TOURS THROUGH THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES (TURNER-INGERSOLL MANSION, C. 1668) AND NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE'S BIRTHPLACE, C. 1750. THESE HISTORIC HOUSES SERVE AS THE BACKDROP FOR STORIES ABOUT SALEM'S MARITIME HISTORY, THE LIFE AND WORK OF NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, AND THE AMERICAN SETTLEMENT HOUSE MOVEMENT. OTHER MAJOR THEMES INCLUDE EARLY AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE, THE COLONIAL REVIVAL PERIOD (WHEN THE GABLES WAS RESTORED), AND MATERIAL CULTURE OVER A THREE-HUNDRED YEAR PERIOD. LOCATED ON THE WATERFRONT, THE HISTORIC SITE FEATURES COLONIAL REVIVAL GARDENS AND VIEWS OF SALEM HARBOR THAT PLACE THE MANSION IN ITS HISTORIC CONTEXT. OVER 103,000 PEOPLE VISITED THE GABLES IN 2024, AN INCREASE OF 5,000+ VISITORS FROM 2023.
  2. $232,825 spent. THE SETTLEMENT HOUSE PROGRAM: IN 1910, THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES' SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATION OFFERED PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES FOR SALEM'S NEWLY ARRIVED IMMIGRANTS. THE GABLES AND ITS TRUSTEES REMAIN COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING CAROLINE EMMERTON'S VISIONARY SETTLEMENT MODEL, WHILE REFLECTING THE NEEDS OF IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN 21ST CENTURY SALEM. THE GABLES WORKS WITH A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO IDENTIFY UNMET COMMUNITY NEEDS AND ADVISE ON HOW THE GABLES CAN BEST HELP MEET THOSE NEEDS. IN 2024, THE GABLES PROVIDED ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSES AND CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION CLASSES TO OVER 500 NORTH SHORE RESIDENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE GABLES ALSO ORGANIZED AND HOSTED SEVERAL FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHTING IMMIGRANT CAUSES AND THE DIVERSITY OF SALEM, INCLUDING THE ANNUAL FUSION FEST EVENT IN AUGUST, WHICH DREW OVER 1,100 ATTENDEES. THE SETTLEMENT HOUSE PROGRAM: IN 1910, THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES' SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATION OFFERED PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES FOR SALEM'S NEWLY ARRIVED IMMIGRANTS. THE GABLES AND ITS TRUSTEES REMAIN COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING CAROLINE EMMERTON'S VISIONARY SETTLEMENT MODEL, WHILE REFLECTING THE NEEDS OF IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN 21ST CENTURY SALEM. THE GABLES WORKS WITH A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO IDENTIFY UNMET COMMUNITY NEEDS AND ADVISE ON HOW THE GABLES CAN BEST HELP MEET THOSE NEEDS. IN 2024, THE GABLES PROVIDED ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSES AND CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION CLASSES TO OVER 500 NORTH SHORE RESIDENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE GABLES ALSO ORGANIZED AND HOSTED SEVERAL FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHTING IMMIGRANT CAUSES AND THE DIVERSITY OF SALEM, INCLUDING THE ANNUAL FUSION FEST EVENT IN AUGUST, WHICH DREW OVER 1,100 ATTENDEES.
  3. $37,928 spent. MUSEUM EDUCATION: THE GABLES VALUES EDUCATION AS A CENTRAL TENET OF OUR PROGRAMMING. THE GABLES OFFERS STRUCTURED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO STUDENTS RANGING FROM GRADES K-8. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH ENGAGING ACTIVITIES THAT FOCUS ON EARLY MARITIME TRADE, NEW ENGLAND HISTORY, AND DAILY LIFE IN THE PAST. THESE PROGRAMS MEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS AND COMMON CORE STANDARDS FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND LITERACY IN HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES. WE ALSO OFFER OTHER PUBLIC PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO ENGAGE DIVERSE AUDIENCES WITH OUR NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT IN UNIQUE WAYS. EDUCATIONAL EVENTS INCLUDE LECTURES, SPECIAL EXHIBITS, THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES, COMMUNITY DAYS, HANDS-ON HISTORY FAMILY PROGRAMS, SPECIALTY TOURS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. MUSEUM EDUCATION: THE GABLES VALUES EDUCATION AS A CENTRAL TENET OF OUR PROGRAMMING. THE GABLES OFFERS STRUCTURED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO STUDENTS RANGING FROM GRADES K-8. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH ENGAGING ACTIVITIES THAT FOCUS ON EARLY MARITIME TRADE, NEW ENGLAND HISTORY, AND DAILY LIFE IN THE PAST. THESE PROGRAMS MEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS AND COMMON CORE STANDARDS FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND LITERACY IN HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES. WE ALSO OFFER OTHER PUBLIC PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO ENGAGE DIVERSE AUDIENCES WITH OUR NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT IN UNIQUE WAYS. EDUCATIONAL EVENTS INCLUDE LECTURES, SPECIAL EXHIBITS, THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES, COMMUNITY DAYS, HANDS-ON HISTORY FAMILY PROGRAMS, SPECIALTY TOURS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS.
  4. $191,340 spent. THE GABLES IS COMMITTED TO CAREFULLY STEWARDING THE COLLECTIONS, HISTORIC HOUSES AND GARDENS LOCATED ON THE HISTORIC SITE/MUSEUM. THESE COMPONENTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR MISSION AND ARE WHAT MAKE THE GABLES A NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY VISITED HISTORIC LANDMARK SITE.
  5. THE GABLES IS COMMITTED TO CAREFULLY STEWARDING THE COLLECTIONS, HISTORIC HOUSES AND GARDENS LOCATED ON THE HISTORIC SITE/MUSEUM. THESE COMPONENTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR MISSION AND ARE WHAT MAKE THE GABLES A NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY VISITED HISTORIC LANDMARK SITE.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 April 1927.

    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.