Historic Salem Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HISTORIC SALEM'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT THE HISTORIC RESOURCES OF SALEM, MA WHICH ARE THE KEY TO ITS IDENTITY, ITS QUALITY OF LIFE AND ITS ECONOMIC VITALITY, ARE PRESERVED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT COMPLEMENTS THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE CITY. HISTORIC SALEM ACCOMPLISHES ITS MISSION THROUGH PRESERVATION, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY AND PARTNERSHIP.
- Income
- $154,783
- Spending
- $162,022
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- 41.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 76%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $28,800, director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 83 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 41.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 47 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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)
- $105,977 spent. HISTORIC SALEM, INC. (HSI) IS ONE OF THE NATION'S OLDEST PRESERVATION ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, FOUNDED IN 1944 TO SAVE THE HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT JONATHAN CORWIN AND THE NATHANIEL BOWDITCH HOUSES FROM DEMOLITION FOR STREET WIDENING. LATER, HSI WAS A LEADER IN BLOCKING URBAN RENEWAL IN THE 1970S. IN 2000, HSI RETOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND OWNERSHIP OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER NATHANIEL BOWDITCH HOUSE AFTER YEARS OF NEGLECT DURING MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP, RESTORING ITS LATE 18TH-CENTURY INTERIOR. IN 2022 WE CONTINUED SIGNIFICANT PRESERVATION OF THE HOUSE BY REPLACING THE WOOD SHINGLE ROOF WITH HISTORIC ACCURACY. HSI ACTIVELY COLLABORATES WITH AND ADVOCATES BEFORE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, THE CITY, AND CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ON ISSUES RANGING FROM DEMOLITION OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES AND NEW DEVELOPMENT TO THE CITY'S PRESERVATION PLANNING AND EXECUTION. IN CONCERT WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP, IN 2007, HSI SAVED THE 1790S POPE HOUSE, AN EARLY QUAKER-OWNED PROPERTY. IN 2022, WE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR THE CITY AMENDMENT OF ITS DEMOLITION DELAY ORDINANCE TO ENHANCE PROTECTIONS FOR BUILDINGS 50 TO 100 YEARS OLD. HISTORIC SALEM INC HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON SHAPING DESIGN PROPOSALS FOR MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN SALEM, INCLUDING EL CENTRO, A HOUSING AND HEALTH CENTER, THE AC MARRIOTT HOTEL, AND THE LIFEBRIDGE/HARBORLIGHTS DEVELOPMENT. HSI HAS ALSO ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING NEW CONSTRUCTION AT KEY GATEWAY LOCATIONS, SUCH AS 301 ESSEX STREET AND 252 BRIDGE STREET (THE EXCHANGE). ADDITIONALLY HSI PROVIDED CONSULTATION TO THE ROPES MANSION REGARDING THE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF SIDEWALK BRICKS AND PROTECTIVE BOLLARDS. HSI ALSO WEIGHED IN ON THE PLANNED RELOCATION OF PIONEER VILLAGE, SALEM'S OPEN AIR MUSEUM THAT INTERPRETS 17TH-CENTURY LIFE. IN 2024, HSI PARTNERED WITH THE GREATER ENDICOTT STREET NEIGHBORHOOD (GESN) TO ASSESS THE AREA'S ELIGIBILITY FOR LISTING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, HSI SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION AND SUCCESSFULLY SECURED A MATCHING GRANT FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO SUPPORT A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORIC RESOURCE INVENTORY. HISTORIC SALEM SPONSORS AN ANNUAL CHRISTMAS IN SALEM TOUR FOR THE PUBLIC THAT SHOWCASES HISTORIC HOMES AND BUILDINGS DECORATED FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON. THIS ANNUAL EVENT DRAWS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO ENJOY THE EXTRAORDINARY WEALTH OF INTACT HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING FABRIC IN OUR NEARLY 400-YEAR-OLD COASTAL COMMUNITY. HSI ALSO PRESENTS LECTURES, SYMPOSIA, WALKING TOURS, AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS. IN 2015 WE ORGANIZED WITH THE PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM A WIDELY RECOGNIZED SYMPOSIUM ON ADA LOUISE HUXTABLE, SHOWCASING HER LEADING ROLE IN LAUNCHING THE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION MOVEMENT. THE SYMPOSIUM FOCUSED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVATION BOTH FOR ITS SENSE OF PLACE AS WELL AS ITS ECONOMIC VALUE. TALKING ABOUT DESIGN (TAD), AN HSI LECTURE SERIES, FOCUSES ON THE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF URBAN DESIGN IN PRESERVATION, AND ITS MORE INFORMAL BEARDS AND BREWS TALKS SHOWCASE INTERESTING ELEMENTS OF HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURE AND SOCIAL HISTORY. ADDITIONALLY, HSI PARTNERS WITH OTHER COMMUNITY NON-PROFITS, INCLUDING THE SALEM ATHENAEUM, THE PICKERING HOUSE, THE HOUSE OF SEVEN GABLES, THE SALEM HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THE SALEM GARDEN CLUB, AND THE PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM, AND IS A MEMBER OF SALEM'S PRESERVATION PARTNERSHIP. HISTORIC SALEM, INC. (HSI) IS ONE OF THE NATION'S OLDEST PRESERVATION ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, FOUNDED IN 1944 TO SAVE THE HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT JONATHAN CORWIN AND THE NATHANIEL BOWDITCH HOUSES FROM DEMOLITION FOR STREET WIDENING. LATER, HSI WAS A LEADER IN BLOCKING URBAN RENEWAL IN THE 1970S. IN 2000, HSI RETOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND OWNERSHIP OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER NATHANIEL BOWDITCH HOUSE AFTER YEARS OF NEGLECT DURING MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP, RESTORING ITS LATE 18TH-CENTURY INTERIOR. IN 2022 WE CONTINUED SIGNIFICANT PRESERVATION OF THE HOUSE BY REPLACING THE WOOD SHINGLE ROOF WITH HISTORIC ACCURACY. HSI ACTIVELY COLLABORATES WITH AND ADVOCATES BEFORE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, THE CITY, AND CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ON ISSUES RANGING FROM DEMOLITION OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES AND NEW DEVELOPMENT TO THE CITY'S PRESERVATION PLANNING AND EXECUTION. IN CONCERT WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP, IN 2007, HSI SAVED THE 1790S POPE HOUSE, AN EARLY QUAKER-OWNED PROPERTY. IN 2022, WE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR THE CITY AMENDMENT OF ITS DEMOLITION DELAY ORDINANCE TO ENHANCE PROTECTIONS FOR BUILDINGS 50 TO 100 YEARS OLD. HISTORIC SALEM INC HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON SHAPING DESIGN PROPOSALS FOR MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN SALEM, INCLUDING EL CENTRO, A HOUSING AND HEALTH CENTER, THE AC MARRIOTT HOTEL, AND THE LIFEBRIDGE/HARBORLIGHTS DEVELOPMENT. HSI HAS ALSO ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING NEW CONSTRUCTION AT KEY GATEWAY LOCATIONS, SUCH AS 301 ESSEX STREET AND 252 BRIDGE STREET (THE EXCHANGE). ADDITIONALLY HSI PROVIDED CONSULTATION TO THE ROPES MANSION REGARDING THE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF SIDEWALK BRICKS AND PROTECTIVE BOLLARDS. HSI ALSO WEIGHED IN ON THE PLANNED RELOCATION OF PIONEER VILLAGE, SALEM'S OPEN AIR MUSEUM THAT INTERPRETS 17TH-CENTURY LIFE. IN 2024, HSI PARTNERED WITH THE GREATER ENDICOTT STREET NEIGHBORHOOD (GESN) TO ASSESS THE AREA'S ELIGIBILITY FOR LISTING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, HSI SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION AND SUCCESSFULLY SECURED A MATCHING GRANT FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO SUPPORT A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORIC RESOURCE INVENTORY. HISTORIC SALEM SPONSORS AN ANNUAL CHRISTMAS IN SALEM TOUR FOR THE PUBLIC THAT SHOWCASES HISTORIC HOMES AND BUILDINGS DECORATED FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON. THIS ANNUAL EVENT DRAWS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO ENJOY THE EXTRAORDINARY WEALTH OF INTACT HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING FABRIC IN OUR NEARLY 400-YEAR-OLD COASTAL COMMUNITY. HSI ALSO PRESENTS LECTURES, SYMPOSIA, WALKING TOURS, AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS. IN 2015 WE ORGANIZED WITH THE PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM A WIDELY RECOGNIZED SYM
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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 November 6, 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 March 2026.
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 July 1968.
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 November 4, 2026.
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