Historic Gettysburg Adams County Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To foster and participate in the preservation, interpretation and welfare of the historic, architectural, scenic and culturally significant areas, districts, sites, structures, ojects, activities, townscapes and landscapes of the Borough of Gettysburg and Adams County, Pennsylvania, and of the Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg National Cemetery and the Eisenhower National Historic Site, and to encourage the appreciation thereof by the general public.
- Income
- $91,201
- Spending
- $129,108
- Reserves
- 17.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 43%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 42% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 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 (6)
- $29,162 spent. Ownership, maintencance and preservation of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Hall, built in 1822 in Gettysburg, PA. It was used as a military hospital during and after the American Civil War Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. It is currently used for meeting space and HGAC events. It also contains offices and display space for historic artifacts.
- $7,233 spent. During FYE 6/30/2025, the Barn Preservation Project and Grant Progam supported critical repairs to 11 historic barns with matching grants of $35,500. HGAC sponsored barn tours, lectures, and public progams to increase local awareness of agricultural architecture, construction methods and the cultural importance of barns. HGAC added 14 barns to the Historic Barns Registry following surveys by our consultant and volunteers. On 6/30/2025, the registry included 432 barns, more than 25 percent of the historic barns in Adams County, PA. The annual Barn of the Year Award highlights exemplary preservation projects, thereby motivating barn owners and showcasing best practices while demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of maintaing historic agricultural buildings.During FYE 6/30/2025, HGAC barn experts continued to volunteer as docents at the George Spangler Farm in cooperation with the Gettysburg Foundation. This farm is the site of a restored Pennsylvania bank barn that was used as the U.S. Army 11th Corps field hospital during the Battle of Gettysburg. A display of tools and associated farm machinery, nails, models of timber joinery, informational poster boards and an architectural feature scavenger hunt for young people have been developed to assist in sharing knowledge and insights into the architectural elements of a Pennsylvania bank barn. The docents engaged with approximately 1,200 visitors to share details about the barn and its place in the daily life of a farmer. The goal is to build appreciation for these barns and to stress the importance of their preservation.
- $2,233 spent. The Investing in Youth Initiative introduces students in the building trades to career paths in historic preservation and restoration. During FYE 6/30/2025, HGAC collaborated with the Gettysburg Foundation to conduct instructional activities at the historic George Spangler Farm. HGAC arranged for professional timber framers, masons and other artisans to volunteer to work with the students. Fifteen (15) students from the Adams County Technical Institute, their instructor and the institute's workforce development officer worked under the tutelage of the skilled artisans to construct a "bent," an architectural segment of a timberframe structure such as found in a barn. HGAC sponsored a field trip for 22 building trades students from the Adams County Technical Institute to the National Park Service's historical preservation training center in Frederick, MD, in April 2025. This field trip consisted of a visit to the workshops for orientation briefings from the various skill elements and the experienced preservationists in each area, a crafts rodeo for hands-on experience and a briefing on the job opportunities in the National Park Service for workers with these skills. In a program begun in 2022, HGAC continued to partner with students from the technology education program at Gettysburg Area High School to construct and install replacement Civil War hospital signs that identify some of the many private barns, homes and other buildings in Adams County, PA, that served as hospitals during and after the Battle of Gettsyburg. The students manufacture the signs, and HGAC volunteers install them.
- $570 spent. HGAC operates an architectural salvage warehouse at the historic Daniel Lady Farm in Gettysburg to recycle and foster appreciation of vintage architectural elements. Volunteers staff the warehouse two (2) Saturdays each month from April through October and as needed during the winter months to assist those who wish to donate or purchase items from the warehouse.
- $384 spent. Each Saturday during the months of May through August, HGAC volunteers offer weekly tours of McAllister's Mill, a station on the Underground Railroad, which assisted people escaping slavery before it was abolished in the United States. Approximately 100 people participated in the past year.
- $16,868 spent. HGAC conducted membership services and outreach to engage its members and the public in its mission. HGAC published newsletters sent to all active members quarterly and barn project newsletters sent to 124 barn project donors and 383 owners of barns on the HGAC Barn Registry. HGAC maintained an interactive website that contains a wealth of information for members and the public. The annual meeting was attended by 75 of the 278 active members. The meeting featured the presentation of the annual barn and house preservation awards to highlight exemplary work to preserve and maintain historic buildings in Adams County. Fifty (50) members participated in a 50th anniversary celebration at the G.A.R. Hall, during which a datestone was dedicated to mark the organization's 50 years of achievements in historic preservation. A special anniversary educational speaker program featured four free events that drew a total of about 150 participants. The annual tour of historic Adams County barns attracted more than 250 people who participated to learn more about these important and impressive structures. The annual barn art show was free and open to the public, drawing more than 100 attendees on opening night to view and admire art focused on the unique beauty of Adams County barns and illustrating why they are worthy of preservation.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 November 6, 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 February 1982.
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 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.