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Historic Deerfield Inc

EIN 04-2262880 · Deerfield, MA

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

HISTORIC DEERFIELD WELCOMES ALL TO EXPERIENCE ONE OF THE BEST-PRESERVED VILLAGES AND RURAL LANDSCAPES IN NORTH AMERICA THROUGH DYNAMIC ENCOUNTERS WITH THE STORIES, CULTURES, AND MATERIAL WORLDS OF THOSE WHO HAVE MADE NEW ENGLAND HOME.

Income
$7.7 million
Spending
$9.8 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
31.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
255
Volunteers
74
Highest pay
$305,790, ceo/president

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

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 31.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 54% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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

    25 of 25 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 (3)
  1. $2.5 million spent. HISTORIC DEERFIELD IS A UNIQUE MUSEUM WHICH MAINTAINS 56 BUILDINGS (12 OF WHICH ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC) AND FOCUSES ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SMALL-TOWN AMERICA TO OUR NATIONAL CULTURE. HISTORIC DEERFIELD OFFERS A BROAD RANGE OF PROGRAMMING RELATED TO THE CORE AREAS OF ITS MISSION: HISTORIC PRESERVATION, MATERIAL CULTURE STUDIES, AND NATURAL HISTORY. THE MUSEUM OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF PUBLIC PROGRAMMING INCLUDING SUMMER EVENING STROLLS (WALKING TOURS) THAT HIGHLIGHT DEERFIELD ARCHITECTURE, BURYING GROUNDS, AND HISTORY. IN ADDITION, LECTURES ARE GIVEN ON A VARIETY OF HISTORICALLY RELEVANT TOPICS. IN ADDITION TO PUBLIC PROGRAMS, HISTORIC DEERFIELD ALSO OFFERS NUMEROUS DEMONSTRATIONS OF HISTORIC TRADES SUCH AS BROOM MAKING, COOPERING, FURNITURE MAKING, AND ARCHITECTURAL WOODWORKING. THIS PAST YEAR, THE MUSEUM ADDED 260 OBJECTS TO THE COLLECTION OF APPROXIMATELY 32,000 ARTIFACTS AND WELCOMED OVER 10,000 VISITORS AND APPROXIMATELY 3,300 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.
  2. $1.7 million spent. HISTORIC DEERFIELD'S PUBLIC HISTORIAN DEVELOPS AND OVERSEES THE ANNUAL LECTURE SERIES IN HISTORY AND COLLABORATES TO CREATE PROGRAMS FOR GENERAL AND ACADEMIC AUDIENCES. ACADEMIC PROGRAMS FOCUS ON THE INTERDISCIPLINARY USE OF HISTORY AND RELATED FIELDS WITH A COMMITMENT TO INCREASING ATTENDANCE, EXPANDING MUSEUM AUDIENCES, AND FOSTERING HISTORIC DEERFIELD'S AFFILIATION WITH FIVE COLLEGES, INC. AS WELL AS OTHER COLLEGE FACULTY MEMBERS AND MUSEUM STAFF AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS. THE PUBLIC HISTORIAN TEACHES A COURSE IN MATERIAL CULTURE FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE FIVE COLLEGES OFFERED THROUGH SMITH COLLEGE AND DIRECTS HISTORIC DEERFIELD'S SUMMER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. THE SUMMER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1956. THIS NINE-WEEK RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, RISING SENIORS, AND GRADUATING SENIORS. SEVEN FELLOWS COMPLETED THE PROGRAM THIS FISCAL YEAR AND OVER 470 HAVE COMPLETED THE PROGRAM SINCE ITS INCEPTION. APPROXIMATELY 75% OF SUMMER FELLOWS PURSUE CAREERS IN THE MUSEUM OR MATERIAL CULTURE FIELDS. THE LIBRARY ADDED 129 ITEMS TO ITS COLLECTION OF OVER 25,000 ITEMS DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025.
  3. $3.5 million spent. THE DEERFIELD INN WAS PURCHASED IN 1945 BY HENRY AND HELEN GEIER FLYNT, THE FOUNDERS OF WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS HISTORIC DEERFIELD, INC. THEY ENVISIONED HISTORIC DEERFIELD AS A QUINTESSENTIAL RURAL NEW ENGLAND VILLAGE WITH AUTHENTIC HISTORIC BUILDINGS DATING BACK TO 1714. HISTORIC DEERFIELD IS A DESTINATION; IT IS MORE THAN SIMPLY TOURING A HOUSE OR ATTENDING A LECTURE. RATHER, IT IS AN EXPERIENCE THAT ENCOMPASSES WALKS ALONG OLD MAIN STREET, RECREATION, LEARNING, MEALS, AND PERHAPS AN OVERNIGHT STAY. IN ADDITION TO THE STORIES, WE TELL OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE, A RANGE OF OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES EXISTS AS EDUCATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND REMAINS A STRONG COMPONENT OF HISTORIC DEERFIELD'S MISSION. THE DEERFIELD INN SUPPORTS THESE MUSEUM ACTIVITIES AS IT CATERS FOR EVENTS AND MEALS, HOUSES AND FEEDS SPEAKERS, PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, AND VISITORS. IT IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT BACKDROP FOR DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. THIS PAST YEAR, THE INN WELCOMED OVER 7,300 GUESTS AND CHAMPNEYS RESTAURANT SERVED OVER 60,000 GUESTS.

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 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 November 6, 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 June 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 December 1953.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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