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Keeler Tavern Preservation Society Inc

EIN 06-6076244 · Ridgefield, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PLEASE SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$644,455
Spending
$869,885
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
8.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
22
Volunteers
0

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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 31 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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 14% 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

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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 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. $170,797 spent. KEELER TAVERN PRESERVATION SOCIETY EXPLORES THE SITE'S LIVES AND EVENTS, AND THE INSIGHTS THEY PROVIDE INTO OUR NATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND INTERPRETS THE CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE OF THOSE LIVES, EVENTS AND SHARED CITIZENSHIP AND CIVIC CULTURE. WE PURSUE THIS MISSION BY PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE MUSEUM'S PHYSICAL AND INTELLECTUAL ASSETS AND SHARING THEM WITH THE WIDEST POSSIBLE AUDIENCE, WHETHER ON OUR CAMPUS OR PROGRAMS OF OUTREACH. ANNUALLY OUR SCHOOL PROGRAMS SERVE ABOUT 2000 STUDENTS AND WE TYPICALLY WELCOME AROUND 10,000 VISITORS. (REVENUE FROM TOURS, EDUCATION, OTHER PROGRAMS AND GIFT SHOP WAS $49,455).
  2. $175,971 spent. KEELER TAVERN MUSEUM & HISTORY CENTER SUPPORTS HUMANITIES ENGAGEMENT FOR CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL AND GENERAL PUBLIC SECTORS. WE USE THE DIVERSE STORIES OF THE SITE TO CONNECT PAST AND PRESENT, LOCAL AND NATIONAL. OUR SITE ANCHORS THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE CULTURAL DISTRICT IN RIDGEFIELD, THE FIRST SUCH DISTRICT IN CONNECTICUT, EMPHASIZING THE HUMANITIES' IMPORTANCE AS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER. WE HAVE STRONG COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS AND A REPUTATION AS A RELIABLE HISTORY RESOURCE AND GATHERING SPACE. OUR ROBUST SCHOOL PROGRAMS SERVE ABOUT 2,000 STUDENTS; OUR PUBLIC PROGRAMS ARE HIGHLY COLLABORATIVE AND WELL-ATTENDED; AND COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS MUSIC AT THE MUSEUM, THE #HANDSONHISTORY EXHIBIT, BATTLE OF RIDGEFIELD COMMEMORATION, AND FOURTH OF JULY FESTIVITIES BRING THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO OUR SITE EACH YEAR. WE OFFER MANY FREE PROGRAMS TO THE PUBLIC, AND WE HAVE AN ESTABLISHED EQUITABLE ACCESS INITATIVE THAT PROVIDES FREE SCHOOL PROGRAMMING TO STUDENTS FROM UNDER-RESOURCED SCHOOL DISTRICTS. RECENTLY, A SIGNIFICANT NATIONAL ENDOWEMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES GRANT FUNDED A MAJOR REINTERPRETATION INITIATIVE AT OUR SITE, ALLOWING US TO REEXAMINE THE STORIES WE TELL AT OUR SITE, PRIORITIZING STORIES AND VOICES OF THOSE WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN MARGINALIZED AND/OR UNDERREPRESENTED. WE HAVE ALSO UNDERTAKEN ONGOING TRAINING TO SUPPORT OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESS, AND INCLUSION AND BOARD DEVELOPMENT. DRAWING ON ITS COLLECTIONS AND STORIES, THE SITE SERVES AREA SCHOOLS WITH PROGRAMS THAT MAP TO STATE STANDARDS FOR SOCIAL STUDIES AND STEM CURRICULUM. OUR EDUCATION STAFF CONTINUES TO GROW SCHOOL PROGRAMS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN - INCLUDING UNDERSERVED STUDENTS FROM BRIDGEPORT AND DANBURY - PARTICIPATED IN IMMERSIVE HALF AND FULL DAY PROGRAMS ON SITE, VIRTUALLY, OR THROUGH OUTREACH. IN THE SUMMER, KEELER KIDS PROGRAMMING PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS TO LEARN ABOUT LOCAL HISTORY IN FUN, ENGAGING WAYS.
  3. $170,797 spent. KEELER TAVERN PRESERVATION SOCIETY MAINTAINS AND PROTECTS SIX BUILDINGS, FIVE OF THEM HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT SO THAT THEIR SPACES CAN BE USED FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES BY CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE MUSEUM CARES FOR THOUSANDS OF SIGNIFICANT DOCUMENTS AND OBJECTS AND CONTINUALLY CONDUCTS RESEARCH TO PROVIDE BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT FOR TOURS, EXHIBITIONS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND CONNECTIONS TO THE PRESENT DAY.

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 September 1965.

    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.

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.