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Palmer Museum of History and Art

EIN 20-3297367 · Palmer, AK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To inspire, enrich and cultivate the communitys connection to the history and art of the Greater Palmer Area.

Income
$263,415
Spending
$200,129
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
9.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 65%
Employees
6
Volunteers
65

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 64 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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 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 (4)
  1. $125,217 spent. Operation of the Palmer Museum of History Art and the Museum Shop. We offer tours of the historic district, host local storytelling events, and coordinate displays of local art in the community. Throughout the year, we also offer exhibit receptions, host artist workshops, and strive to connect visitors to our culture and story. As part of our mission to tell Palmers story and represent Palmer as a destionation for visitors, we provide a map of the Greater Palmer Area. We also have copies of the Palmer Visitors Guide available at the Visitor Center. This 44 page booklet contains information on Palmers history, trip planning advice and guides to local businesses attractions. We provide space for local business, artists, and attractions to advertise with rack cards at the museum and on our website. The Palmer Museum of History Art supports local artists through the summer Artist of the Week program, giving visitors a chance to meet local artists and ask questions about their work. Selected works of each artist are displayed at the Museum.
  2. $12,000 spent. Matanuska Valley Colony Compendium Accessible Archive Project. Palmer Museum of History and Art continues its ongoing project to provide a detailed description of the original colonists from Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Where they came from, wht the did here, their families, and their legacies. We also contine to build a curated website to present and explain local historic photos. The Palmer Museum has a collection of over 10,000 photographs, all digitized as high resolution scans. Since 2017, we have been connecting this wealth of history to our community in the Matanuska Valley Historical Photo Project database.
  3. $7,160 spent. Social Media Blog Post. This new project is dedicated to sharing the stories, people, photos and events that built Palmer from the ground up. It explores everything from its indigenous roots and agricultural legacy to its role in Alaskas statehood and beyond.
  4. Program Service Expenses 3,000, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 Beyond the Classroom. Palmer Museum of History Art sponsors an art display and competition for local high school students. This program brought together student artists from across the Mat Su Valley. Each young artist was invited to showcase one piece of their art for judging and critique by a panel of local artists, art instructors and museum professionals. This program encourages young artists to share their artwork with the community and enhances art programs in our local high schools.

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

  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 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 April 2006.

    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.