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Rhode Island Historical Society

EIN 05-0259110 · Providence, RI

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 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THROUGH ITS COLLECTIONS, MUSEUMS, AND EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, WELCOMES EVERYONE TO ENGAGE WITH RHODE ISLAND'S COMPLEX AND SIGNIFICANT PAST.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
31.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 45%
Employees
51
Volunteers
105
Highest pay
$191,169, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 31.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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. $739,990 spent. LIBRARY PROGRAM - THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S ROBINSON RESEARCH CENTER HAS OVER 100,000 VOLUMES RELATING TO THE HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND AND SURROUNDING NEW ENGLAND. THIS RESEARCH CENTER ALSO HOLDS MORE THAN 1,200 MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS (OVER 10 MILLION PAGES), 20,000 ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS, 1,000,000 PHOTOGRAPHS, AND 9 MILLION FEET OF MOVING IMAGE FILM. IN 2024, MUCH OF OUR WORK WAS FOCUSED ON INCREASING DIGITAL ACCESS TO MATERIALS RELATED TO THE APPROACHING 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF U.S. INDEPENDENCE. TO FURTHER THIS WORK, A DEDICATED WEBSITE HOLDING SCANS OF ALL OF OUR MANUSCRIPTS RELATED TO THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR ENTITLED "THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR IN RHODE ISLAND" WENT LIVE ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2022. A NEWLY DESIGNED, MORE USER-FRIENDLY INTERFACE FOR OUR ONLINE CATALOG (THE CABINET, FORMERLY NETOP) WENT LIVE ON DECEMBER 9, 2022. UPDATES TO THESE SITES ARE ONGOING.
  2. $980,479 spent. MUSEUM PROGRAM - THE RIHS OPERATES TWO MUSEUMS, THE JOHN BROWN HOUSE MUSEUM AND THE MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE, AS WELL AS OPERATING THE ALDRICH HOUSE, WHICH SERVES AS ITS HEADQUARTERS, EVENT VENUE, AND EDUCATIONAL SPACE. THE MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE ALSO SERVES AS AN UNOFFICIAL VISITORS' CENTER FOR THE BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY. IN ADDITION, THE JOHN BROWN HOUSE MUSEUM SERVES AS THE PRIMARY LOCATION OF OUR MUSEUM ARTIFACTS, WHICH NUMBER OVER 20,000. IN 2022, A GALLERY SPACE IN THE JBH WAS DEDICATED TO ANNUAL DISPLAYS RELATED TO THE "ROAD TO REVOLUTION," CULMINATING IN 2026 (THE 250TH OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE). THE FIRST DISPLAY WAS ON THE BURNING OF THE BRITISH CUSTOMS SHIP GASPEE (2022), THE SECOND DISPLAY WAS ON RHODE ISLAND AND THE HISTORY OF SUGAR AS A COMMODITY (2023/24) AND THE FINAL DISPLAY IN 2025 WAS ON WOMEN'S ROLES IN REVOLUTIONARY RHODE ISLAND. CONCURRENTLY, IN 2023 THE RIHS BEGAN REINTERPRETING THE JBH FROM A HOUSE MUSEUM INTO A SERIES OF HISTORICAL GALLERIES SITUATING RHODE ISLAND IN GLOBAL CONTEXTS, USING RECENT WORKS OF SCHOLARSHIP AS INTERPRETIVE AUTHORITIES. THE THEME "RHODE ISLAND AND THE WORLD TO 1850" WILL, BY THE END OF 2026, BE REALIZED. OUR CURRENT GALLERIES INCLUDE TOPICS RELATING TO THE HISTORY OF THE BUSINESS OF ENSLAVEMENT IN RHODE ISLAND, MAHOGANY AS A COMMODITY, MARY WILLIAMS (THE WIFE OF RHODE ISLAND'S FOUNDER) AND HER MILIEU, THE CHINA TRADE, AND A GALLERY ON HOW THE BICENTENNIAL IMPACTED THE CREATION AND INTERPRETATION OF HOUSE MUSEUMS AND PRESERVATION IN PROVIDENCE. DURING FY 2025, THE MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE LAUNCHED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW IMMERSIVE AND INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT ENTITLED WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR, STAFF FOCUSED ON RESEARCH, CONTENT DEVELOPMENT, AND FUNDRAISING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT. AS PART OF THE EXHIBIT'S COMMUNITY-CENTERED APPROACH, THE MUSEUM CONDUCTED SEVERAL INTERVIEWS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS REPRESENTING DIVERSE ETHNIC AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS TO ENSURE THE EXHIBIT REFLECTS AUTHENTIC VOICES AND LIVED EXPERIENCES. DURING THE COURSE OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THE MUSEUM ALSO PRESENTED FIVE CHANGING EXHIBITS IN ITS LANDMARK MEDICAL CENTER CHANGING GALLERY. CHARTING HISTORY: NAVIGATING THE CURRENTS OF RHODE ISLAND'S PAST (OPENED JULY 2024) CONTAINED A SERIES OF PANELS DEVELOPED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE NEWPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND THE RIHS. IN SEPTEMBER 2024, WELCOME BLANKET OPENED TO ROARING SUCCESS, SHOWCASING MORE THAN 300 HANDMADE BLANKETS FROM MAKERS FROM ALL OVER THE US. THE EXHIBIT WAS COMPLEMENTED BY NUMEROUS PROGRAMS AND TALKS, AND THE BLANKETS WERE DONATED TO A LOCAL CHARITY. IN DECEMBER, THE MUSEUM DISPLAYED A COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL TOYS FROM THE RIHS COLLECTIONS. A WATER-RELATED EVENT IN JANUARY 2025 CAUSED THE MUSEUM TO CLOSE FOR THREE AND A HALF MONTHS DURING RESTORATION. DURING THAT TIME, THE MUSEUM CONTINUED TO OFFER REMOTE TOURS AND HELD ITS PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN OTHER LOCATIONS. UPON RE-OPENING, THE MUSEUM HOSTED AN EXHIBIT CELEBRATING THE RI DAY OF PORTUGAL. THIS WAS FOLLOWED IN JUNE BY THE WOONSOCKET PROUD EXHIBIT CREATED BY WOONSOCKET PUBLIC SCHOOL 5TH GRADERS.
  3. $983,153 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAM - THE GOFF CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS OVERSEES THE RIHS'S OUTWARD-FACING EDUCATIONAL WORK, DEVELOPING AND DELIVERING EDUCATIONAL TOOLS, TRAININGS, AND EVENTS RELATED TO RHODE ISLAND AND AMERICAN HISTORY. THIS INCLUDES OPPORTUNITIES CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR A K-12 AUDIENCE, INCLUDING TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, PRIMARY DOCUMENT-BASED LESSON PLANS, STUDENT TOURS AND HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, AS WELL AS OUR FREELY AVAILABLE DIGITAL TEXTBOOK, ENCOMPASS. ADDITIONALLY, THE RIHS SERVES AS THE STATE AFFILIATE FOR NATIONAL HISTORY DAY, RUNNING RHODE ISLAND HISTORY DAY AND ITS ASSOCIATED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE GOFF CENTER ALSO SERVES A BROAD PUBLIC AUDIENCE, PRESENTING PROGRAMS SUCH AS LECTURES, TOURS, AND CONCERTS AT OUR SITES AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 April 1925.

    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.

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