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Sackets Harbor Historical Society

EIN 16-1060548 · Sackets Hbr, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak14 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE SACKETS HARBOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE HISTORICAL, ARCHITECTURAL AND CULTURAL LEGACY OF SACKETS HARBOR. FOUNDED IN 1801, THE VILLAGE OF SACKETS HARBOR IS ONE OF THE OLDEST COMMUNITIES IN NORTHERN NEW YORK, AND PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE WAR OF 1812. THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY WAS FORMED IN 1976, AT A TIME WHEN SACKETS HARBOR WAS A NEAR GHOST TOWN AND MANY OF ITS HISTORIC BUILDINGS WERE EMPTY AND DECAYING. THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY HELPED LEAD THE EFFORT TO REVIVE SACKETS HARBOR THROUGH THE REHABILITATION AND PRESERVATION OF ITS HISTORIC BUILDINGS. IT EDUCATED COMMUNITY LEADERS AND RESIDENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE AND EFFICACY OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN COMMUNITY RENEWAL. THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY SUPPORTED THE VILLAGE'S EFFORTS TO BECOME A PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY MEMBER IN NEW YORK STATE PROGRAMS CREATED TO ASSIST COMMUNITY RENEWAL, SUCH AS THE NYS HERITAGE AREA PROGRAM AND LOCAL WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION PROGRAM.

Income
$73,057
Spending
$86,503
Reserves
-15.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 55%

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

Weak: 14 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% 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 (1)
  1. $54,646 spent. A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF OUR WORK IN PERFORMANCE OF OUR MISSION IS THE ACTUAL PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS. OVER THE YEARS, THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAS ACQUIRED THREE HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAT WERE THREATENED WITH DESTRUCTION OR SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THEIR HISTORIC FEATURES. WE WERE ABLE TO REHABILITATE TWO OF THESE BUILDINGS (1837 BANK BUILDING AND 1808 SAMUEL HOOKER HOUSE) THROUGH STATE AND LOCAL GRANTS, AS WELL AS DONATIONS OF MONEY, MATERIALS AND LABOR FROM INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES. PARTS OF BOTH BUILDINGS ARE USED FOR NON-PROFIT ACTIVITIES. WE ALSO HAVE ACQUIRED A THIRD BUILDING (1823 FORMER EPISCOPAL CHURCH), FOR WHICH WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED ANOTHER STATE GRANT AND ARE DOING A FUNDRAISING EFFORT TO MATCH THAT GRANT.THE BEST WAY TO PRESERVE HISTORIC BUILDINGS IS TO HAVE THEM ACTIVELY USED. MAINTENANCE AND UP-KEEP OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS IS VERY EXPENSIVE. IT CAN BE A HUGE DRAIN ON THE RESOURCES OF OUR SMALL ORGANIZATION AND COMMUNITY. WE ARE ABLE TO RENT OUT A PORTION OF THE BANK BUILDING AND SAMUEL HOOKER HOUSE. THIS RENTAL INCOME IS CRITICAL TO HELP PAY FOR THE ON-GOING MAINTENANCE, UTILITIES, INSURANCE, ETC. OF THESE OLD BUILDINGS.

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 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 1976.

    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 November 4, 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.