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American Swedish Historical Foundation

EIN 23-1417519 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN SWEDISH HISTORICAL MUSEUM WELCOMES ALL PEOPLE TO EXPLORE CULTURAL IDENTITY THROUGH THE STORY OF SCANDINAVIANS.THE MUSEUM OFFERS A VIBRANT COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND INTERPRETING CULTURE THROUGH CELEBRATIONS AND EXHIBITIONS,WHILE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN, EXPERIENCE, AND GROW.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
50%
Reserves
16.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
15
Volunteers
135
Highest pay
$108,784, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    50% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 23 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 June 30, 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 (2)
  1. $278,201 spent. CURATORIAL AND EXHIBITIONS: PRESERVED AND DISPLAYED THE OLDEST COLLECTION OF ART AND ARTIFFACTS WHICH REPRESENT THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SWEDES AND OTHER SCANDINAVIANS IN AMERICA. PRESENTED 4 TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS WHICH EXPLORED SAUNA TRADITIONS ACROSS CULTURES, THE EXPERIENCE OF THE FIRST IMMIGRANTS FROM NORWAY TO AMERICA, NAVAL HISTORY, AND AN EXHIBITION OF ART BY PHILADELPHIA IMMIGRANT ARTISTS.
  2. $225,100 spent. EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS: PRESENTED 61 PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS WHICH INTERPRET SCANDINAVIAN AND SCANDINAVIAN AMERICAN HISTORY, CULTURE, SCIENCE, MUSIC AND ART. OFFERED MONTHLY FREE DAYS. TAUGHT SWEDISH LANGUAGE CLASSES. SERVED OVER 2,300 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS WITH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES, SERVING STUDENTS FROM PRE-K THROUGH COLLEGE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 October 13, 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 June 2025.

    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 1942.

    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 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.