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Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area Inc

EIN 06-1613798 · Salisbury, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL, NATURAL CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC RESOURCES IN THE REGION.

Income
$808,624
Spending
$878,083
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
3
Volunteers
11

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

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 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 (4)
  1. $301,906 spent. THE UPPER HOUSATONIC VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA (HOUSATONIC HERITAGE) IS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NONPROFIT DU BOIS FREEDOM CENTER (FORMERLY CLINTON CHURCH RESTORATION) TO CREATE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE SITE OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE AT THE HISTORIC CLINTON A.M.E. ZION CHURCH IN GREAT BARRINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS. THE PROJECTS OVERALL GOAL IS TO PRESERVE AND RESTORE THE NATIONAL REGISTER PROPERTY, NOW DECONSECRATED, AND TRANSFORM IT INTO A MULTI-FACETED CULTURAL CENTER THAT WILL INTERPRET THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF PIONEERING CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, AUTHOR, SCHOLAR, AND GREAT BARRINGTON NATIVE, W.E.B. DU BOIS, AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE REGIONS RICH AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND THE ROLE OF THE BLACK CHURCH IN THIS RURAL NEW ENGLAND TOWN. 283,916.00 IN SUB-AWARD OF FEDERAL GRANT (NPS AACR) P21AP118370 FOR RESTORATION. THE UPPER HOUSATONIC VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA (HOUSATONIC HERITAGE) RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR STABILIZATION AND STRUCTURAL REPAIR AT THE HISTORIC CLINTON A.M.E. ZION CHURCH IN DOWNTOWN GREAT BARRINGTON. THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS GRANT AWARD IS PART OF 14 MILLION AWARDED TO 51 PROJECTS IN 20 STATES THAT PRESERVE SITES AND HISTORY RELATED TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY IN THE 20TH CENTURY. THE GRANT IS FUNDED THROUGH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND (HPF) AND IS ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS). 10,000 IN SUB-AWARD OF FEDERAL GRANT (NPS AACR) P20AP001280 FOR INTERPRETATION. THE UPPER HOUSATONIC VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA (HOUSATONIC HERITAGE) RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR INTERPRETIVE EXHIBIT DESIGN AT THE HISTORIC CLINTON A.M.E. ZION CHURCH IN DOWNTOWN GREAT BARRINGTON. THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS GRANT AWARD IS PART OF 14 MILLION AWARDED TO 51 PROJECTS IN 20 STATES THAT PRESERVE SITES AND HISTORY RELATED TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY IN THE 20TH CENTURY. THE GRANT IS FUNDED THROUGH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND (HPF) AND IS ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS). THE UPPER HOUSATONIC VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA (HOUSATONIC HERITAGE) IS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NONPROFIT DU BOIS FREEDOM CENTER (FORMERLY CLINTON CHURCH RESTORATION) TO CREATE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE SITE OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE AT THE HISTORIC CLINTON A.M.E. ZION CHURCH IN GREAT BARRINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS. THE PROJECTS OVERALL GOAL IS TO PRESERVE AND RESTORE THE NATIONAL REGISTER PROPERTY, NOW DECONSECRATED, AND TRANSFORM IT INTO A MULTI-FACETED CULTURAL CENTER THAT WILL INTERPRET THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF PIONEERING CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, AUTHOR, SCHOLAR, AND GREAT BARRINGTON NATIVE, W.E.B. DU BOIS, AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE REGIONS RICH AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND THE ROLE OF THE BLACK CHURCH IN THIS RURAL NEW ENGLAND TOWN. 283,916.00 IN SUB-AWARD OF FEDERAL GRANT (NPS AACR) P21AP118370 FOR RESTORATION. THE UPPER HOUSATONIC VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA (HOUSATONIC HERITAGE) RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR STABILIZATION AND STRUCTURAL REPAIR AT THE HISTORIC CLINTON A.M.E. ZION CHURCH IN DOWNTOWN GREAT BARRINGTON. THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS GRANT AWARD IS PART OF 14 MILLION AWARDED TO 51 PROJECTS IN 20 STATES THAT PRESERVE SITES AND HISTORY RELATED TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY IN THE 20TH CENTURY. THE GRANT IS FUNDED THROUGH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND (HPF) AND IS ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS). 10,000 IN SUB-AWARD OF FEDERAL GRANT (NPS AACR) P20AP001280 FOR INTERPRETATION. THE UPPER HOUSATONIC VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA (HOUSATONIC HERITAGE) RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR INTERPRETIVE EXHIBIT DESIGN AT THE HISTORIC CLINTON A.M.E. ZION CHURCH IN DOWNTOWN GREAT BARRINGTON. THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS GRANT AWARD IS PART OF 14 MILLION AWARDED TO 51 PROJECTS IN 20 STATES THAT PRESERVE SITES AND HISTORY RELATED TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY IN THE 20TH CENTURY. THE GRANT IS FUNDED THROUGH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND (HPF) AND IS ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS).
  2. $20,000 spent. HOUSATONIC HERITAGE AWARDED A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF 20,000 TO THE NONPROFIT CENTER OF THE BERKSHIRES (FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE DU BOIS SCULPTURE PROJECT). THE PROJECT HAS BEEN RAISING FUNDS TO CREATE A LIFE- SIZE STATUE OF NATIVE SON W.E.B. DU BOIS TO BE LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE MASON PUBLIC LIBRARY IN GREAT BARRINGTON, MA. THE W.E.B. DU BOIS SCULPTURE PROJECT WAS ORGANIZED IN MARCH OF 2022 TO HONOR W.E.B. DU BOIS, A NATIVE SON OF GREAT BARRINGTON, BY COMMISSIONING A STATUE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS HERO TO BE DISPLAYED IN FRONT OF THE MASON PUBLIC LIBRARY. FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE PROJECT IS THE NONPROFIT CENTER OF THE BERKSHIRES. A STATUE OF DU BOIS WILL CELEBRATE NOT ONLY HIS ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FIGHT FOR RACIAL EQUALITY, BUT IT WILL ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW GREAT BARRINGTONWITH ITS LONG ABOLITIONIST HISTORY AND POWERFUL COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION HELPED SHAPE THE MAN DU BOIS BECAME. WE EXPECT THAT A STATUE OF THIS QUALITY ON THE MAIN STREET OF TOWN WILL HEIGHTEN AWARENESS OF BERKSHIRE COUNTYS EXCEPTIONAL BLACK HISTORY. A SCULPTOR HAS BEEN SELECTED, A MAJORITY OF FUNDS NECESSARY HAS BEEN RAISED, AND THE GROUP HAS PARTNERED WITH THE TOWN TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT BY SPRING OF 2025. THE GROUP REQUESTED 20,000 TO COMPLETE CASTING OF THE BRONZE. HOUSATONIC HERITAGE AWARDED A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF 20,000 TO THE NONPROFIT CENTER OF THE BERKSHIRES (FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE DU BOIS SCULPTURE PROJECT). THE PROJECT HAS BEEN RAISING FUNDS TO CREATE A LIFE- SIZE STATUE OF NATIVE SON W.E.B. DU BOIS TO BE LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE MASON PUBLIC LIBRARY IN GREAT BARRINGTON, MA. THE W.E.B. DU BOIS SCULPTURE PROJECT WAS ORGANIZED IN MARCH OF 2022 TO HONOR W.E.B. DU BOIS, A NATIVE SON OF GREAT BARRINGTON, BY COMMISSIONING A STATUE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS HERO TO BE DISPLAYED IN FRONT OF THE MASON PUBLIC LIBRARY. FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE PROJECT IS THE NONPROFIT CENTER OF THE BERKSHIRES. A STATUE OF DU BOIS WILL CELEBRATE NOT ONLY HIS ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FIGHT FOR RACIAL EQUALITY, BUT IT WILL ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW GREAT BARRINGTONWITH ITS LONG ABOLITIONIST HISTORY AND POWERFUL COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION HELPED SHAPE THE MAN DU BOIS BECAME. WE EXPECT THAT A STATUE OF THIS QUALITY ON THE MAIN STREET OF TOWN WILL HEIGHTEN AWARENESS OF BERKSHIRE COUNTYS EXCEPTIONAL BLACK HISTORY. A SCULPTOR HAS BEEN SELECTED, A MAJORITY OF FUNDS NECESSARY HAS BEEN RAISED, AND THE GROUP HAS PARTNERED WITH THE TOWN TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT BY SPRING OF 2025. THE GROUP REQUESTED 20,000 TO COMPLETE CASTING OF THE BRONZE.
  3. $16,000 spent. HOUSATONIC HERITAGE AWARDED A 16,000 GRANT TO ASSIST THE LIBRARY TO COMPLETE THE CONCEPT DESIGN & DRAFT MASTER PLAN. THE PROPOSED PROJECT AIMS TO TRANSFORM THE 3.5-ACRE UNDEVELOPED LOT AND REPURPOSE THE ADJACENT FORMER LIBRARY BUILDING INTO AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC SPACE THAT SERVES AS A VIBRANT COMMUNITY HUB ALONG THE SHORE OF THE HOUSATONIC RIVER IN THE HEART OF HISTORIC WEST CORNWALL. TO ASSIST THIS EFFORT, WE ARE SEEKING A DEVELOPMENT GRANT TO PROPERLY SURVEY THE SITE, CONTINUE CLEARING AND RESTORING THE SHORELINE, AND WORK WITH A LICENSED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS TO PRODUCE A DRAFT MASTER PLAN FOR THE SITE. THIS WILL SERVE AS THE BASIS FOR FUTURE PRIVATE, STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING, INCLUDING A SMALL TOWN ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (STEAP) GRANT APPLICATION IN 2026 OR 2027. HOUSATONIC HERITAGE AWARDED A 16,000 GRANT TO ASSIST THE LIBRARY TO COMPLETE THE CONCEPT DESIGN & DRAFT MASTER PLAN. THE PROPOSED PROJECT AIMS TO TRANSFORM THE 3.5-ACRE UNDEVELOPED LOT AND REPURPOSE THE ADJACENT FORMER LIBRARY BUILDING INTO AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC SPACE THAT SERVES AS A VIBRANT COMMUNITY HUB ALONG THE SHORE OF THE HOUSATONIC RIVER IN THE HEART OF HISTORIC WEST CORNWALL. TO ASSIST THIS EFFORT, WE ARE SEEKING A DEVELOPMENT GRANT TO PROPERLY SURVEY THE SITE, CONTINUE CLEARING AND RESTORING THE SHORELINE, AND WORK WITH A LICENSED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS TO PRODUCE A DRAFT MASTER PLAN FOR THE SITE. THIS WILL SERVE AS THE BASIS FOR FUTURE PRIVATE, STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING, INCLUDING A SMALL TOWN ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (STEAP) GRANT APPLICATION IN 2026 OR 2027.
  4. $449,037 spent. N/A

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 October 13, 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 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 September 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 July 2002.

    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.

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