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Marblehead Museum & Historical Society Inc

EIN 04-6003248 · Marblehead, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MARBLEHEAD MUSEUM'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND PROMOTE MARBLEHEAD'S PAST AS A MEANS OF ENRICHING THE PRESENT. THE MUSEUM SHALL COLLECT, STUDY, AND CONSERVE SUCH HISTORIAL MATERIALS AS RELATED TO THE TOWN AND OF THE PERSONS WHOSE LIVES HAVE ALL CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF MARBLEHEAD, AND OTHERWISE INFLUENCED ITS HISTORY. IT SHALL CONSERVE AND PRESERVE RELICS AND PROPERTY OF THE PAST, SUCH AS THE JEREMIAH LEE MANSION AND THE CIVIL WAR & GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC MUSEUM, AND OTHER PROPERTY, BOTH REAL AND PERSONAL, AS MAY BE GIVEN, BEQUEATHED, PURCHASED, LOANED TO OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRED BY THE MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM WILL USE THE COLLECTION FOR THE EDUCATION, ENJOYMENT, AND BENEFIT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE MUSEUM IS AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE FOR RESIDENTS OF MARBLEHEAD,VISITORS AND SCHOLARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

Income
$941,484
Spending
$477,280
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
44.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
6
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$66,967, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 44.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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. $332,829 spent. THE MARBLEHEAD MUSEUM ACHIEVES ITS MISSION TO PRESERVE, PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE UNIQUE HISTORY OF MARBLEHEAD THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS. THE MUSEUM AND THE LEE MANSION ARE OPEN TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FROM JUNE THROUGH OCTOBER. THE MUSEUM REMAINS OPEN YEAR ROUND, WHILE THE LEE MANSION IS SEASONAL. ADMISSION TO THE LEE MANSION IS $10 PER PERSON. APPROXIMATELY 6,000 PEOPLE VISIT THE MUSEUM ANNUALLY. THE MUSEUM DOES NOT CHARGE ADMISSION, AND THE CHANGING EXHIBIT AND THE FROST GALLERY ARE OPEN TO VISITORS. THE STAFF IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO HELP WITH RESEARCH QUESTIONS. THE MUSEUM'S THIRD PROPERTY, THE CIVIL WAR AND G.A.R. MUSEUM, IS OPEN ON SATURDAYS IN SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL, WITH NO ADMISSION CHARGE. CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING INCLUDES AFTER SCHOOL WORKSHOPS, GUIDED TOURS AND ACTIVITIES AT THE LEE MANSION AND THE FROST GALLERY, STAFF VISITS TO CLASSROOMS AND INTERN PROJECTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS. ALL CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING IS FREE. APPROXIMATELY 1,000 STUDENTS, FROM 3RD TO 8TH GRADES OF MARBLEHEAD PUBLIC SCHOOLS VISIT ANNUALLY. AN AVERAGE OF 4 TO 6 STUDENTS FROM LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES WORK ONE ON ONE WITH STAFF THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS INTERNS. PROGRAMMING FOR ADULTS FOCUSES ON THE SPRING AND FALL LECTURE SERIES, SPONSORED BY MARBLEHEAD HARBOR INVESTMENT COUNSEL, A TOTAL OF 10-12 LECTURES ARE OFFERED EACH YEAR. ALSO, WALKING TOURS OF HISTORIC MARBLEHEAD TAKE PLACE DURING THE SUMMER AND FALL, DAYTIME LECTURE SERIES, KNOWN AS BROWN BAG LUNCH, ARE OFFERED AT NO CHARGE.
  2. THE MUSEUM HAS OVER 60,000 CATALOGUED OBJECTS, ARTIFACTS AND PERSONAL PAPERS IN ITS COLLECTION, MOST OF THE FURNITURE, PAINTINGS AND DECORATIVE ARTS ARE ON DISPLAY IN THE LEE MANSION. A PORTION OF THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION IS AVAILABLE ONLINE THROUGH THE MUSEUM'S WEBSITE, MARBLEHEADMUSEUM.ORG. THE MUSEUM'S CURATOR WORKS WITH RESEARCHERS BOTH IN PERSON AND THROUGH EMAIL AND TELEPHONE REQUESTS. PURCHASES FOR THE MUSEUM COLLECTION ARE LIMITED.
  3. THE MARBLEHEAD MUSEUM OFFERS CHANGING EXHIBITS, USUALLY TWO OR THREE EACH YEAR, IN THE MUSEUM'S CHANGING EXHIBIT GALLERY. IN 2022, THE MUSEUM INSTALLED AN EXHIBIT OF THE VICTORIAN PHOTOGRAPHY OF FRED LITCHMAN. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE LECTURES AND WALKING TOURS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 November 1934.

    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.