Canton Historical Society Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN THE HISTORICAL COLLECTION OF THE CANTON MUSEUM. TO EDUCATE VISITORS ON THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LOCAL MANUFACTURING BASE, LIFESTYLES IN THE VICTORIAN ERA, AND THE TOOLS AND TRADES PRACTICED IN THE AREA. THE LIFE OF SETTLERS AND PROMINENT INDIVIDUALS ARE INCLUDED IN PRIMARY SOURCE MATERIALS.
- Income
- $76,504
- Spending
- $77,004
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- 24.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 39%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $2,200, director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 86 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 67 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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, 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 (2)
- $3,091 spent. MUSEUM OPERATIONS - TOURS ARE GIVEN BY THE MUSEUM STAFF AND OTHERS ON ASPECTS OF LIFE IN THE CANTON ENVIRONS AND DESCRIBING THE USE OF ITEMS CONTAINED IN THE COLLECTION. THE MUSEUM IS OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITH INDIVIDUALIZED TOURS BEING OFFERED. APPROX 3,000 INDIVIDUALS FROM THE U.S. AND SEVERAL FOREIGN COUNTRIES TOURED THE MUSEUM. SEVERAL OPEN HOUSES ARE HELD EACH YEAR TO ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO VIEW THE COLLECTION FREE OF CHARGE. THE IN-KIND DONATIONS OF OUR VOLUNTEER STAFF ARE INTEGRAL TO THE SUPPORT OF THESE ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION TO VIEWING THE COLLECTION, SOME VISITORS USE THE MUSEUM LIBRARY AND COLLECTION AS RESEARCH FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS, AUTHORS WRITING BOOKS ON VARIOUS TOPICS, TV PRODUCERS DOING RESEARCH FOR HISTORICAL SHOWS AND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH ON THEIR FAMILIES.
- $45,074 spent. GROUP TOURS AND LOCAL HISTORY PUBLICATIONS ARE PROVIDED TO MEMBERS AND VISITORS. THE MUSEUM TRIES TO PROMOTE INTEREST IN CONTINUING EDUCATION ABOUT ELEMENTS OF OUR PAST, AND HOW THEY AFFECT OUR CURRENT LIVES THROUGH RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION OF VARIOUS MATERIALS. IN ADDITION SPECIAL GROUP TOURS ARE ARRANGED FOR STUDENTS, SENIORS, SCOUTING GROUPS, AND OTHERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF THE MUSEUMS COLLECTIONS. THE MUSEUM GIFT SHOP CARRIES SEVERAL BOOKS RELATING TO LOCAL HISTORY AS WELL AS A COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL MAPS AND EPHEMERA FROM THE COLLINS COMPANY (AX FACTORY) THAT OPERATED IN TOWN. A LECTURE SERIES BRINGS SPEAKERS FROM A VARIETY OF FIELDS RELATED TO HISTORY THAT AFFECTED CANTON. THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS THE PRIMARY AUDIENCE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 December 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 July 1967.
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.
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.