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Organ Historical Society Inc

EIN 23-6434365 · Villanova, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CELEBRATE, PRESERVE & STUDY THE PIPE ORGAN IN AMERICA THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY & MUSIC.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
26.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
6
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$118,881, ceo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 26.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 63% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Fair: 64 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    5 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $735,503 spent. THE TRACKER, THE SOCIETY'S QUARTERLY JOURNAL, ALONG WITH OTHER ONLINE AND PRINT PUBLICATIONS, PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH INFORMATION ON CURRENT EVENTS AND ARTICLES OF INTEREST IN THE HISTORIC ORGAN FIELD. THE PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS AND ATTENDEES OF THE ANNUAL CONVENTION. CONSIDERED THE CROWN JEWEL OF THE SOCIETY, THE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES OF THE ORGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS NOW HOUSED AT THE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS IN VILLANOVA, PA WITH AUXILIARY MATERIAL KEPT IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND WAREHOUSE NEARBY. PROUDLY, THE OHS MAINTAINS A PERMANENT COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 15,000 BOOKS, PERIODICALS, AND DOCUMENTS RELATING TO ORGAN BUILDING AND PRESERVATION. THESE MATERIALS COMPRISE THE LARGEST ORGAN RESEARCH COLLECTION IN THE WORLD. WE CONDUCTED A NUMBER OF ONLINE EVENTS THAT WERE MET WITH WIDE ACCLAIM. MOST NOTABLY WAS THE FIVE PART SERIES. KALEIDOSCOPE OF COLORS, A VIDEO PRESENTATION ON YOUTUBE THAT HAS GARNERED OVER 5,000 VIEWS. THE SERIES FEATURED FIFTEEN INSTRUMENTS OF VARIOUS SIZES,DATES OF CONSTRUCTION, AND LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ANOTHER YOUTUBE SENSATION WAS THE PRODUCTION OF A BIGGS SCHOLARS VIDEO RECITAL PRESENTING THREE YOUNG PERFORMERS ON INSTRUMENTS FROM THREE DIFFERENT REGIONS IN THE USA. WHILE PUBLICATIONS SUCH AS THE TRACKER AND OUR ONLINE NEWSLETTER OH, CONTINUED APACE, THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE DEVELOPED AND PREPARED TO LAUNCH A NEW SCHOLARSHIP INITIATIVE. WE ALSO USED VIDEO TECHNOLOGY TO SHOWCASE THE COLLECTIONS IN THE OHS LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES WITH A HALF-DOZEN EPISODES OF OHSLA TODAY, CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON THE OHS WEBSITE AND ON YOUTUBE. THE TRACKER, THE SOCIETY'S QUARTERLY JOURNAL, ALONG WITH OTHER ONLINE AND PRINT PUBLICATIONS, PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH INFORMATION ON CURRENT EVENTS AND ARTICLES OF INTEREST IN THE HISTORIC ORGAN FIELD. THE PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS AND ATTENDEES OF THE ANNUAL CONVENTION. CONSIDERED THE CROWN JEWEL OF THE SOCIETY, THE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES OF THE ORGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS NOW HOUSED AT THE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS IN VILLANOVA, PA WITH AUXILIARY MATERIAL KEPT IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND WAREHOUSE NEARBY. PROUDLY, THE OHS MAINTAINS A PERMANENT COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 15,000 BOOKS, PERIODICALS, AND DOCUMENTS RELATING TO ORGAN BUILDING AND PRESERVATION. THESE MATERIALS COMPRISE THE LARGEST ORGAN RESEARCH COLLECTION IN THE WORLD. WE CONDUCTED A NUMBER OF ONLINE EVENTS THAT WERE MET WITH WIDE ACCLAIM. MOST NOTABLY WAS THE FIVE PART SERIES. KALEIDOSCOPE OF COLORS, A VIDEO PRESENTATION ON YOUTUBE THAT HAS GARNERED OVER 5,000 VIEWS. THE SERIES FEATURED FIFTEEN INSTRUMENTS OF VARIOUS SIZES,DATES OF CONSTRUCTION, AND LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ANOTHER YOUTUBE SENSATION WAS THE PRODUCTION OF A BIGGS SCHOLARS VIDEO RECITAL PRESENTING THREE YOUNG PERFORMERS ON INSTRUMENTS FROM THREE DIFFERENT REGIONS IN THE USA. WHILE PUBLICATIONS SUCH AS THE TRACKER AND OUR ONLINE NEWSLETTER OH, CONTINUED APACE, THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE DEVELOPED AND PREPARED TO LAUNCH A NEW SCHOLARSHIP INITIATIVE. WE ALSO USED VIDEO TECHNOLOGY TO SHOWCASE THE COLLECTIONS IN THE OHS LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES WITH A HALF-DOZEN EPISODES OF OHSLA TODAY, CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON THE OHS WEBSITE AND ON YOUTUBE.

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 February 1995.

    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.