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Old Sturbridge Inc

EIN 04-2104809 · Sturbridge, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE AND COGGESHALL FARM, MUSEUMS AND LEARNING RESOURCES OF NEW ENGLAND LIFE, INVITES EACH VISITOR TO FIND MEANING, PLEASURE, RELEVANCE AND INSPIRATION THROUGH THE EXPLORATION OF HISTORY.

Income
$17.2 million
Spending
$16.9 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
-8.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 40%
Employees
293
Volunteers
205
Highest pay
$404,012, ceo/president

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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 91% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 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 (4)
  1. $6.0 million spent. EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMMING: PROVIDED PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES FOR LEARNING ABOUT AMERICA'S HISTORY WITH A FOCUS ON EARLY NEW ENGLAND DURING 1790-1840. INTERPRETERS PORTRAYED THE DAILY LIFE, WORK, AND CELEBRATIONS OF EARLY NEW ENGLAND COMMUNITIES TO NEARLY 200,000 VISITORS INCLUDING 50,000 SCHOOLCHILDREN. OVER 50,000 ADDITIONAL VISITORS PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
  2. $1.7 million spent. RESEARCH, CURATORIAL, AND LIBRARY: RESEARCH INTO THE MATERIAL AND WRITTEN SOURCES OF REGIONAL HISTORY AND EFFORTS TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE THE BUILDINGS, OBJECTS, HAND PROCESSES, AND CULTURAL PATTERNS OF EARLY NEW ENGLANDERS. HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS INCLUDE OVER 50,000 ARTIFACTS AND 40,000 BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPTS.
  3. $1.2 million spent. FOOD SERVICE: PROVIDES CATERING FOR ON-CAMPUS EVENTS AND CONVENIENT ON-SITE FOOD SERVICE TO VISITORS.
  4. $1.7 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS.

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 October 1992.

    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.

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.