Landis Valley Associates
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LANDIS VALLEY ASSOCIATES SUPPORTS THE LANDIS VALLEY VILLAGE AND FARM MUSEUM, A LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM WHICH COLLECTS, PRESERVES, AND INTERPRETS THE HISTORY AND MATERIAL CULTURE OF THE PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS OF THE PERIOD 1740-1940.
- Income
- $711,976
- Spending
- $564,376
- Spent on programs
- 53%
- Reserves
- -1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 42%
- Employees
- 34
- Volunteers
- 300
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
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 40% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 66% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1553% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 98% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $173,615 spent. LANDIS VALLEY ASSOCIATES (LVA) PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THE LANDIS VALLEY VILLAGE AND FARM MUSEUM. THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS CONSIST OF INTERPRETIVE COMPONENTS FOR SCHOOL GROUPS OF DIFFERENT GRADE LEVELS AND INCLUDE EXPERIENTIAL COMPONENTS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TIED TO CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS. THE LVA ALSO SPONSORS SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR THE PUBLIC. THE TWO LARGEST EVENTS INCLUDE "HERB AND GARDEN FAIRE" IN MAY AND "HARVEST DAYS" IN OCTOBER. OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS INCLUDE CHARTER DAY; TALKS, LECTURES AND CRAFT CLASSES; ADULT LEARNING PROGRAMS/ THE INSTITUTE AT LANDIS VALLEY; BONFIRE HOLIDAY PROGRAM AND OTHER EVENTS.
- $22,070 spent. THE LVA PROVIDES CRAFTS PEOPLE AND INTERPRETERS TO MAN THE HISTORIC AND EXHIBITION BUILDINGS AT THE LANDIS VALLEY VILLAGE AND FARM MUSEUM WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST OPEN AIR MUSEUMS IN THE NORTHEAST. THE MUSEUM CONSISTS OF 100 ACRES AND 50 STRUCTURES WHICH INCLUDE HISTORIC STRUCTURES FROM THE 19TH CENTURY. CRAFTS PEOPLE AND INTERPRETERS MAN THE MUSEUM FIVE DAYS PER WEEK FROM APRIL THROUGH DECEMBER; OTHER FORMS OF INTERPRETATION ARE UTILIZED FOUR DAYS PER WEEK FROM JANUARY THROUGH MARCH. THE LVA ALSO PROVIDES OTHER INTERPRETIVE AND MUSEUM SUPPORT INCLUDING HELPING TO FUND CHANGING EXHIBITS, UPGRADING LABELS AND GRAPHICS IN EXHIBIT GALLERIES AND FUNDING REPRODUCTION GARB AND COSTUMING.
- $101,801 spent. THE LVA FUNDS THE FARM PROGRAM AT THE LANDIS VALLEY VILLAGE AND FARM MUSEUM WHICH INCLUDES KEEPING VARIOUS BREEDS OF HISTORIC LIVESTOCK SUCH AS DRAFT HORSES, SHEEP, AND FOWL. THE FARM PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES THE "HEIRLOOM SEED PROJECT" WHICH INVOLVES PLANTING AND HARVESTING SEEDS OF NON-HYBRIDIZED HEIRLOOM VARIETIES OF VEGETABLES AND SMALL GRAINS. THE MUSEUM MAINTAINS PERIOD GARDENS AND FIELDS AS PART OF THE MUSEUM EXPERIENCE AND SELLS THE HARVESTED SEEDS TO THE PUBLIC AND TO OTHER MUSEUMS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1966.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.