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Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts

EIN 23-2047295 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 93 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

NON-PROFIT CONSERVATION CENTER SERVING CULTURAL,RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS,SPECIALIZING IN THE TREATMENT OF PAPER-BASED ARTIFACTS AND OFFERING ON-SITE CONSULTATION SERVICES,EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SEMINARS,INTERNSHIPS AND EMERGENCY CONSERVATION SERVICES.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$4.2 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
45
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$155,889, 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: 30 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 53% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 93 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

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

    14 of 14 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 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. $3.6 million spent. CCAHA SPECIALIZES IN THE TREATMENT OF WORKS OF ART AND HISTORIC ARTIFACTS ON PAPER, INCLUDING BOOKS, PHOTOGRAPHS, PARCHMENT, AND PAPYRUS. IN 2024 CCAHA STAFF TREATED OVER 2,500 ARTIFACTS; PRESENTED 72 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS; CONDUCTED PRESERVATION ASSESSMENTS; PROVIDED ASSISTANCE WITH PRESERVATION PLANNING FOR EXHIBITIONS; CREATED PRESERVATION PLANS; CONDUCTED RISK ASSESSMENTS; AND DEVELOPED EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANS FOR COLLECTING INSTITUTIONS. CCAHA OFFERS INTERNSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS TO EMERGING CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS. TO SUPPORT ITS ABILITY TO EXPAND SERVICES AND REACH MORE COMMUNITIES WITH ITS MISSION, IN 2024, CCAHA INVESTED INTERNAL FUNDS IN GROWING STAFF CAPACITY, FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

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 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 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 December 1977.

    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.