Lesbian Herstory Educational Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY & GENERAL PUBLIC A BROAD SPECTRUM OF RESOUCE MATERIALS AND INFORMATION SERVICES REGARDING ALL ASPECTS OF LESBIAN CULTURE BOTH CURRENT AND HISTORICAL. SERVICES INCLUDE PROVISION OF PUBLIC SPEAKERS, PUBLICATIONS, AUDIO AND VISUAL PRODUCTS AND HISTORICAL MATERIALS/DATAOFFERED TO ALL VIA AN OPEN DOOR FACILITY USE, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND SUPPORT RESOURCES
- Income
- $467,670
- Spending
- $229,127
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- -13.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 60%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
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
Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 51% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 55% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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
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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
- DATABASE LIBRARY OF HISTORIC DATA WAS EXPANDED MORE THEN 17% IN THE PAST, WITH AUDIO, VISUAL, WRITTEN, RECORDED DOCUMENTATION OF COMPOSITION WORKS AND QUALITY PRODUCTION MATERIALS MADE AVAILABLE TO GENERAL PUBLIC/AUDIENCE VIA WEB SITE, E-MAIL AND GENERAL MAIL CORRESPONDENCE.
- PRESENT EXHIBITIONS AND PRESENTATION SAMPLES OF LIBRARY DATA AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO ALL THROUGH EVENTS PRODUCED AT MAIN LHEF LOCATION, AT NO CHARGE TO ATTENDEES. THE MAIL LIST, FEEDBACK RE AMOUNT OF WEB SITE ACTIVITY VIA INTERNET AND POSITIVE RECEPTION OF THE PUBLIC TO EVENTS LHEF HOSTED PROVIDED BASIS FOR 12% CONTACT AND AUDIENCE EXPANSION - A BIG STEP IN PLANNED EXPANSION OF DONOR BASE AND GRASSROOTS EDUCATION RE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE.
- $141,277 spent. PROMOTION OF THE ON-SITE AVAILABILTY OF LIBRARY AND GARDEN FACILITIES TO ALL WITH COSTS TO USERS LIMITED TO REPRODUCTION COSTS IF APPLICABLE. WHILE MOST OF LHEF PUBLIC IS AWARE OF PRODUCT DATA BASE, MANY ARE NOT AWARE THAT THE COMFORTS OF BUILDING AND ALL LIBRARY ACCESS IS ACCESSABLE WITHOUTAPPOINTMENT OR ENTRANCE FEES. THIS IS PART OF GRASSROOTS EXPANSION PLAN AND APPEARED TO BE WORKING AT CALENDAR YEAR-END RE AMOUNT OF IN-PERSON FOOT TRAFFIC WHICH, IN TURN,IS ADDING TO THE DONOR BASE DEVELOPMENT.
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 February 1980.
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.