Preserve Rhode Island
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PRESERVE RI'S VISION IS A FUTURE WHERE HISTORIC PRESERVATION CREATES POSITIVE CHANGE, MAKING OUR DIVERSE CULTURES, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE ECONOMY BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE, VISIT AND WORK IN RHODE ISLAND. PRESERVE RI'S MISSION IS TO PROTECT AND ACTIVATE HISTORIC PLACES FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL RHODE ISLANDERS.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 10.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 49%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $95,370, ex director (past)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 25 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
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
10 of 10Gave 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $452,225 spent. STEWARDSHIP: PRESERVE RI OWNS THREE PROPERTIES, DEMONSTRATING THE CONTINUING CONTRIBUTIONS THAT HISTORIC BUILDINGS MAKE TODAY, PLACING THEM IN ACTIVE USES AND UNDERTAKING MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL INVESTMENTS TO KEEP THEM IN GOOD REPAIR. PRESERVE RI NOW HOLDS NINE PRESERVATION EASEMENTS ON PROPERTIES OWNED BY OTHERS, AND MONITORS BUILDING CONDITIONS TO PROVIDE STEWARDSHIP OVERSIGHT. PRESERVE RI HELPS OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TAKE CARE OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES BY OFFERING STEWARDSHIP SERVICES.
- $366,350 spent. DIRECT PRESERVATION: PRESERVE RI TAKES DIRECT ACTION TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE HISTORIC PLACES THROUGH ITS REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM, BY ACQUIRING EASEMENTS, AND BY COLLABORATING ON SPECIAL PROJECTS SUCH AS THE AQUIDNECK STONEWALL INITIATIVE AND THE SCENIC THIRD BEACH PROJECT. IN 2021 PRESERVE RI TOOK ON ITS MOST AMBITIOUS REVOLVING FUND PROJECT TO DATE AT THE C 1696 VALENTINE WHITMAN HOUSE IN LINCOLN, RI.
- $173,171 spent. ENGAGE: PRESERVE RI MOTIVATES PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH HISTORIC PLACES AND MAKES THE CASE FOR SAFEGUARDING RHODE ISLAND'S HISTORIC PLACES. PRESERVE RI IS A LEADING VOICE FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, HELPING PEOPLE PRESERVE THE PLACES THAT MATTER TO THEM THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY PRESERVATION RESPONSE PROGRAM. PRESERVE RI CELEBRATES PEOPLE AND PROJECTS THAT EXEMPLIFY THE BEST OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION. MUSEUM PROGRAMMING AT LIPPITT HOUSE MUSEUM CONNECTS DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND WHILE FACILITATING OTHER PRESERVATION PROGRAMS IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER GROUPS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 1966.
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.
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.