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Historic Philadelphia Inc

EIN 23-2764558 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceGood73 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA, INC MAKES OUR NATION'S HISTORY RELEVANT AND REAL THROUGH INTERPRETATION, INTERACTION AND EDUCATION, STRENGTHENING GREATER PHILADELPHIA'S ROLE AS THE DESTINATION TO EXPERIENCE AMERICAN HISTORY.

Income
$4.3 million
Spending
$4.8 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 67%
Employees
123
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$182,960, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 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

    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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 March 31, 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 (1)
  1. $3.8 million spent. HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA, INC. (HPI) IS CHARGED WITH ENHANCING THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND HELPING TO STRENGTHEN PHILADELPHIA'S TOURISM INDUSTRY THROUGH INTERPRETATION AND INTERACTION, MAKING OUR NATION'S HISTORY RELEVANT AND REAL. HPI REACHES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ANNUALLY THROUGH ITS SIGNATURE PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDE:HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA, INC.'S (HPI) MISSION IS TO MAKE OUR NATION'S HISTORY RELEVANT, REAL, AND FUN BY ENLIVENING HISTORIC SITES THROUGH STORYTELLING, INTERACTIONS, AND EDUCATION. 1. ONCE UPON A NATION - UNIQUE HERITAGE INITIATIVE, INCORPORATING: A. ACADEMICALLY RESEARCHED INTERPRETIVE STORYTELLING AT 10 LOCATIONS IN PHILADELPHIA'S HISTORIC DISTRICT AND TWO LOCATIONS IN VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK B. INTERACTIVE WALKING "ADVENTURE TOURS," LED WITHIN PHILADELPHIA'S HISTORIC DISTRICT AND VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, AND ENGAGING EVENING PERFORMANCES C. COLONIAL INTERPRETIVE PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT PHILADELPHIA'S HISTORIC DISTRICT D. BENSTITUTE, AN INTENSIVE TRAINING FOR ALL SEASONAL EMPLOYEES THAT ADDRESSES HISTORICAL, THEATRICAL, AND TOURISM CONTENT E. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS CREATED BY CLASSROOM EDUCATORS, FOR CLASSROOM EDUCATORS, SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR A WIDE RANGE OF LEARNERS WITH A VARIETY OF INTERESTS AND LEARNING STYLES.THROUGH ONCE UPON A NATION, HPI ENGAGES VISITORS WITH FIRST-PERSON HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION AND STORYTELLING THAT BRINGS AMERICAN HISTORY TO LIFE AND STRENGTHENS PHILADELPHIA'S ROLE AS A LEADING DESTINATION FOR CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL TOURISM IN PHILADELPHIA'S HISTORIC DISTRICT AND VALLEY FORGE.2. BETSY ROSS HOUSE - THE PRESERVED, HISTORIC SITE DEDICATED TO TELLING THE STORY OF BETSY ROSS AND COLONIAL MIDDLE-CLASS WOMEN IN PHILADELPHIAHISTORIC PHILADELPHIA, INC. OPERATES THE BETSY ROSS HOUSE, WHICH WELCOMES OVER 80,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY AND INTERPRETS THE LIFE OF BETSY ROSS AND COLONIAL-ERA WOMEN THROUGH TOURS, LIVING HISTORY, AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS.3. FRANKLIN SQUARE - THE REVITALIZED AND TRANSFORMED DESTINATION ESTABLISHING GREEN SPACE, COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING, AND ATTRACTIONS FOR VISITORS AND AREA RESIDENTS.HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA, INC. (HPI) OPERATES FRANKLIN SQUARE, A 7.5-ACRE PUBLIC PARK SERVING MORE THAN 700,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY. IT IS THE LARGEST PUBLIC GREEN SPACE SERVING OLD CITY, CALLOWHILL, AND THE CHINATOWN COMMUNITY. FRANKLIN SQUARE PROVIDES FAMILY ATTRACTIONS AND MORE THAN 50 FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS EACH YEAR..

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 March 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 1994.

    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.