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Roosevelt Island Historical Society

EIN 13-3018935 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The purpose of the Society is to recover, maintain, preserve and disseminate the record of Roosevelt Island's heritage from colonial times to the present.

Income
$59,303
Spending
$70,378
Reserves
9.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 59%
Highest pay
$7,500, bookkeeper

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 69 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 (5)
  1. $38,531 spent. Operated "The Roosevelt Island Visitor's Center KIOSK", which welcomes residents, visitors and tourists with knowledgeable staff, reference materials and aids to help them appreciate the Island's landmarks and history. Promotes Roosevelt Island as an interesting tourist stop by providing information regarding historical sites, food sources, and walking opportunities. The Center provdes benefit to all RI residents as well as non-resident visitors. 2024 days open: 252. Visitors: 35724. RIHS operates a gift shop within the Visitors Center, selling history books, and books and trinkets for the whole family in order to support Society Operations.
  2. $5,425 spent. Production of Educational publication "From the Archives", almost daily on RI Historical Topics and topics of general historical interest.
  3. $3,000 spent. President/Historian and Vice President research grant opportunities and prepare grant submissions and reports to the New York Community Trust which administers application and selection awardees of a Public Purpose Funding Grant for RI non-profits, and to New York City entities administering discretionary Funding from the New York City Council.
  4. $900 spent. Educated residents and visitors through walking tours, bus tours, talks, published and video interviews presenting the history of Roosevelt Island and its historical sites, and in interviews commenting on current events on RI. The Historian and Board members recruited outside speakers to present historical information related to Roosevelt Island and its relationship to local and national history as well as talks of general interest to the RI community co-sponsored with the local NYPL library branch which in 2023 were presented on Zoom. The Historian also curated window displays in Roosevelt Island buildings using items from the Kiosk Visitors Center.
  5. President/Historian responds to requests from researchers, print and visual media. Historian makes photographs, artifacts and documents available to researchers in compliance with copyright laws.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 April 1980.

    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.