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Preservation Buffalo Niagara

EIN 22-2986810 · Buffalo, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PBN IDENTIFIES, PROTECTS, AND PROMOTES OUR UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORIC LEGACY, AND CONNECTS PEOPLE TO THE PLACES THEY LOVE IN WESTERN NEW YORK.

Income
$426,476
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
6
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$93,371, executive director

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

Financial health

Weak: 45 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 159% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 82% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 88 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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. $1.0 million spent. EDUCATION: PBN CONTINUED TO SERVE THE 5 COUNTIES IN WESTERN NEW YORK WITH EXPANDED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING VIRTUAL TOURS, ONLINE LECTURES, AND EVENTS. PBN'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS SUPPORT HOMEOWNERS' EFFORTS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR HISTORIC HOMES, EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVATION AND HISTORY, AND SPOTLIGHT UNIQUE ARCHITECTURAL STYLES ACROSS THE REGION.PUBLICATION: "CITY HALL: AMERICANESQUE MASTERPIECE" WAS RE-RELEASED IN 2021. THIS NEW VERSION IS UPDATED AND EDITED BY PRESERVATION BUFFALO NIAGARA TO INCLUDE NEW INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL CITATIONS, ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL HISTORIC IMAGES, AND NEW ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHY.FUNDING: PBN'S EAST SIDE COMMERCIAL BUILDING STABILIZATION FUND HELPS TO PROTECT THE FABRIC, DENSITY, CHARACTER, AND COMMUNITY ON THE EAST SIDE - MAKING SURE THAT BUILDING ASSETS ON THE EAST SIDE THAT MAY HAVE CURRENT CHALLENGES ARE ABLE TO BE MAINTAINED FOR PROSPECTIVE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AS MIXED-USE, RETAIL, AND COMMERCIAL USES, AND CAN HELP TO BUILD UP THE STRONG COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY ALREADY PRESENT IN AREAS ON THE EAST SIDE.ADVOCACY: PRESERVATION BUFFALO NIAGARA ESTABLISHED A PROGRAM OF PRESERVATION ADVOCACY IN THE BUFFALO NIAGARA REGION, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON THE CITIES OF BUFFALO AND NIAGARA FALLS. THE ORGANIZATION WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISPANIC PRESERVATION, THE PRESERVATION LEAGUE OF NEW YORK STATE, AS WELL AS WITH THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE, AND PARTNERS FREQUENTLY WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, MUNICIPALITIES AND NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS.

Source: Form 990 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 September 1989.

    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.