Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

History San Jose

EIN 23-7179176 · San Jose, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceFair67 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HISTORY SAN JOSE PRESERVES AND ENRICHES THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF SAN JOSE AND THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY THROUGH RESEARCH, COLLECTIONS, PARTNERSHIPS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 51%
Employees
33
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$119,077, president & ceo

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: 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 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    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 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 (1)
  1. $2.0 million spent. HISTORY SAN JOSE CATALYZES CURIOSITY FOR THOUSANDS OF YOUNG LEARNERS THROUGH OUR NINE IMMERSIVE FIELD TRIP PROGRAMS. IN THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, OUR EDUCATION TEAM ENGAGED OVER 10,000 STUDENTS, INCLUDING OVER 400 VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP ATTENDEES. HISTORY SAN JOSE HOSTS PUBLIC PROGRAMS INCLUDING BOOK TALKS, CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS, AND FESTIVALS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 WE CONTINUED TO BUILD AND EXPAND ON PREVIOUS EVENTS LIKE THE SPIRIT OF 45, LIVING HISTORY DAY; WOMENS HERITAGE DAY, SJ ROOTS, AND CARS IN THE PARK. HISTORY SAN JOSE BUILT UP PUBLIC AWARENESS OF OUR WALKING TOURS OF HISTORY PARK AND THE PERALTA ADOBEFALLON HOUSE, OFFERING TAILORED EXPERIENCES FOR GROUPS OF ALL AGES AND INTERESTS. THESE PERSONALIZED TOURS PROVIDE BEHIND-THE-SCENES STORIES, HANDS-ON HISTORY, AND DEEPER CONNECTIONS TO THE PEOPLE

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1972.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.