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Somerville Historical Society

EIN 04-6079655 · Somerville, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS THE ONLY MEMBERSHIP SUPPORTED, COMMUNITY-BASED CULTURAL INSTITUTION OF ITS KIND IN SOMERVILLE, THE SOMERVILLE MUSEUM IS THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE'S MIRROR, PLAYING A CENTRAL ROLE IN PRESERVING THE PAST, REFLECTING THE PRESENT, AND HELPING TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THIS DIVERSE URBAN COMMUNITY OF 81,000. THROUGH ITS INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING, THE MUSEUM SEEKS TO ENGAGE OUR AUDIENCE IN AN ON-GOING DIALOGUE WITH LOCAL ARTISTS, SCHOLARS, AND EDUCATORS WITH THE LARGER AIM OF FOSTERING CULTURAL EDUCATION AND UNDERSTANDING.

Income
$600,820
Spending
$869,938
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
-15.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 79%
Employees
4
Volunteers
36

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

Financial health

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 45% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 March 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 (1)
  1. $851,666 spent. EXHIBITIONS: "THE ART OF THE FESTIVAL" (JAN 18 - MARCH 30, 2025)"FIRST LOOK OPEN STUDIOS" (APRIL 11 - MAY 15, 2024)EVENTS: 3/27/25 CLOSING CURATOR TOUR3/16/25 SOMERVILLE MUSEUM VOLUNTEER BRUNCH3/1/25 CURATOR TOUR WITH BRUCE OWENS MARCH 25 100,000 TSHA TSHA MARCH MADNESS CHALLENGE (CHILDREN)2/14/25 VALENTINE'S DAY MIXER2/26/25 PRESERVING BLACK HISTORY PANEL IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY'S RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT2/23/25 DUO MARESIENNE CONCERT2/9/25 SOMERVILLE JATRA! THE ULTIMATE NEPALESE FOLK ROCK EXPERIENCE WITH THE MUSS2/8/25 CURATOR TOUR WITH BRUCE OWENS1/22/25 COMMUNITY CURATOR INFORMATION SESSION1/16/25 "THE ART OF THE FESTIVAL" RE-OPENING RECEPTION1/1/25 249TH FLAG RAISING AT PROSPECT HILL 12/13/24 SOMERVILLE MUSEUM ANNUAL MEETING AND HOLIDAY PARTY12/8/24 DUO MARESIENNE CONCERT11/11/24 VETERANS DAY REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY11/3/24 TAVERN TALK: "VITAMIN B FOR VICTORY: HOW BEER HELPED WIN WORLD WAR II" WITH DAN BREEN10/27/24 DUO MARESIENNE CONCERT10/20/24 GHOSTS OF SOMERVILLE9/29/24 TUFTS COMMUNITY DAY9/21/24 FLUFF FESTIVAL9/1/25 SPARK OF THE REVOLUTION: THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE POWDER ALARM FAMILY EVENT8/11/24 TAVERN TALK: THE 190TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE URSULINE CONVENT BURNING WITH NANCY SCHULTZSUMMER/FALL 2025 - DOCENT OPENINGS AT POWDER HOUSE, PROSPECT HILL AND MILK ROW CEMETERY6/27/24 READING FREDERICK DOUGLASS AT BOW MARKET6/1/24 VOLUNTEER MEET & GREET5/23/24 TALK: HOW TO LOSE AN EMPIRE: THE ROAD TO THE POWDER ALARM5/12/24 DUO MARESIENNE CONCERT5/11/24 PEOPLE'S HISTORY WALK OF DAVIS & BALL SQUARES5/11/24 ELFLAND WORKSHOP: CRAFTING FAIRY HOMES & ELF ABODES5/4/24 JANE'S WALK: THE EVOLUTION OF DUCK VILLAGE4/15/24 PATRIOT'S DAY COLONIAL FAIR

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on August 15, 2010 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on August 15, 2010.

    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 March 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 February 2012.

    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.