Hull Lifesaving Museum Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE DRIVING PRINCIPLES OF THE 19TH CENTURY COASTAL LIFESAVERS - SKILLS, COURAGE, AND CARING - ARE FOUNDATIONS OF THE HULL LIFESAVING MUSEUM'S COMMITMENT TO IMPACT INDIVIDUAL LIVES FOR THE BETTER. WE FOSTER A COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF BOSTON HARBOR'S RICH MARITIME HERITAGE AND LIFESAVING TRADITIONS THROUGH EXHIBITS, COLLECTIONS, OPEN-ROWING PROGRAMS AND STEWARDSHIP OF OUR HISTORIC SITES.
- Income
- $450,152
- Spending
- $422,127
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- -2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 33%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (2)
- $157,129 spent. THE MUSEUM MEMORIALIZES AND CELEBRATES THE LIFESAVING CREWS OF HULL, BRINGING TO LIFE THEIR DEEDS OF SELFLESSNESS AND SEAMANSHIP THAT DURING THE FINAL DECADES OF THE AGE OF THE SAIL, SAVED OVER 1,000 SHIPWRECKED MARINERS ON THE SHORES OF HULL AND COHASSET. THE MUSEUM IS OPEN YEAR-ROUND, PRESENTING A PERMANENT EXHIBIT INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL 1889 LIFESAVING BOAT "NANTASKET", THREE VISITING EXHIBITS EACH YEAR, MONTHLY LECTURE SERIES, AN ANNUAL ART SHOW AND A SUMMER CHILDREN'S PROGRAM. DRAMATICALLY LOCATED AT THE MOUTH OF BOSTON HARBOR FACING BOSTON LIGHT, THE STATION IS THE SITE OF THE GREATEST NUMBER OF RESCUES FROM SHIPWRECK IN THE COUNTRY AND HOSTS 12,000 VISITORS PER YEAR.
- $157,128 spent. HOME WATERS PROGRAM: BOSTON AND SOUTH SHORE-BASED OPEN WATER ROWING AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAMS BASED ON HLM'S FLEET OF TRADITIONAL COXED FOUR AND SIX OAR PILOT GIGS, IMMERSES HUNDREDS OF ADULTS AND CHILDREN YEAR IN THE VALUES AND SKILLS OF THE 19TH CENTURY LIFESAVERS. OPERATIONS INCLUDE FREE ROWING PROGRAMS FOR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AND ADULT MEMBERSHIP ROWING IN HULL AND BOSTON.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, 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 2024.
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 November 1981.
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.
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.