Preservation Society of Newport County
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF NEWPORT COUNTY'S MISSION IS TO PROTECT, PRESERVE, AND PRESENT AN EXCEPTIONAL COLLECTION OF HOUSE MUSEUMS AND LANDSCAPES IN ONE OF THE MOST HISTORICALLY INTACT CITIES IN AMERICA. WE HOLD IN PUBLIC TRUST THE NEWPORT MANSIONS, WHICH ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE LIVING FABRIC OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. THESE SITES EXEMPLIFY THREE CENTURIES OF THE FINEST ACHIEVEMENTS IN AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE, DECORATIVE ARTS, AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN SPANNING THE COLONIAL ERA TO THE GILDED AGE. THROUGH OUR HISTORIC PROPERTIES, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND RELATED ACTIVITIES WE ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN THE STORY OF AMERICA'S VIBRANT CULTURAL HERITAGE. WE SEEK TO INSPIRE AND PROMOTE AN APPRECIATION OF THE VALUE OF PRESERVATION TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.
- Income
- $44.0 million
- Spending
- $31.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 8.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 43%
- Employees
- 300
- Volunteers
- 658
- Highest pay
- $576,229, ceo & exec. dir.
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 30% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2526 of 26 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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, 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)
- $26.0 million spent. THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF NEWPORT COUNTRY PRESERVES ELEVEN HISTORIC MANSIONS, INCLUDING SEVEN NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS AND EIGHTY ACRES OF PARKS, GARDENS AND GROUNDS, REPRESENTING MORE THAN 250 YEARS OF SOCIAL AND ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY. DURING THE YEAR, VISITORS TOOK REGULARLY-SCHEDULED TOURS OF THE SOCIETY'S PROPERTIES TO LEARN ABOUT THE BUILDINGS AND THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GAVE RISE TO THESE SPECIAL PLACES. IN ADDITION TO GENERAL TOURS, THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OFFERS MANY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, DESIGNED TO PRESENT ITS HOUSES AND COLLECTIONS TO A BROAD AND DIVERSE AUDIENCE IN AS MANY INTERESTING AND ENLIGHTENING WAYS AS POSSIBLE. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIA AND FORUMS, STUDY DAYS, LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, FILMS, TOURS, AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE THE TYPE OF GRAND ENTERTAINING FOR WHICH THEY WERE BUILT. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED YEAR-ROUND.
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
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 March 2025.
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 April 1947.
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.
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