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Independence Historical Trust

EIN 23-7179598 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO RAISE FUNDS TO FULFILL THE MISSION OF INDEPENDENCE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK AND PROMOTE ITS HISTORICAL,SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL AND INTERPRETIVE ACTIVITIES.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
0
Volunteers
220

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

Good: 86 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 53% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 106% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 93 out of 100.

  • 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

    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.

  • 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. $1.1 million spent. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION INCREASED ITS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES WHILE SUPPORTING MAJOR INITIATIVES IN INDEPENDENCE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK AND THE SURROUNDING GATEWAY COMMUNITY. DURING THAT YEAR, THE TRUST ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES: 1) FUNDRAISING: THIS YEAR, THE TRUST COMPLETED THE DESIGN PHASE AND BROKE GROUND FOR THE PEDESTRIAN PLAZA THAT IS PART OF THE REDESIGN FOR THE MARKET STREET ROAD DIET. THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE MOBILITY, PROVIDE BIKE- FRIENDLY LANES, AND CREATE A PLAZA THAT HONORS THE LENAPE LEADER CHIEF TAMANEND. THE ORGANIZATION HELD A RIBBON-CUTTING FOR THE COMPLETED BENJAMIN RUSH GARDEN, WHICH IS THE NEW HOME FOR THE BICENTENNIAL BELL. THE GARDEN IS A WELCOME GREEN SPACE IN THE CITY THAT LOCALS AND VISITORS ALIKE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. ALSO THIS YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION, WITH THE SUPPORT OF GENEROUS DONORS, SUPPORTED THE RESTORATION OF A HISTORIC GUARDHOUSE IN WASHINGTON SQUARE, WHICH WON A CONSERVATION AWARD FROM THE PRESERVATION ALLIANCE OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA. THROUGH FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO REPAIR OVER 30 LEATHER REPRODUCTION CHAIRS IN CONGRESS HALL AND PURCHASE AND INSTALL A HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE RAMP ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF INDEPENDENCE SQUARE. 2) COMMUNITY OUTREACH: WITH THE CONTINUED GOAL TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE NATIONAL PARK AND THE ORGANIZATION, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS REACHED OVER 6,000 AND WERE OFFERED TO ALL AGE GROUPS, AND EVEN SOME DOGS. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED YOGA IN THE PARK, MOVIES ON THE MALL, AND BARK RANGER PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAMS HELP ALL PEOPLE, ALL AGES, AND EVEN SOME DOGS, CONNECTED WITH THE NATIONAL PARK ON MULTIPLE LEVELS. 3) VOLUNTEERING: SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE'S MISSION TO ENGAGE PEOPLE, THE TRUST WORKED WITH THE PARK AND PARTNERS TO HOST VOLUNTEER DAYS AT THE NATIONAL PARK. VOLUNTEERS CLEANED, WEEDED, MULCHED, AND PLANTED ACROSS THE PARK TO HELP BEAUTIFY THE NATIONAL PARK BEFORE THE BUSY SUMMER SEASON. A TOTAL OF XX VOLUNTEERS JOINED THE ORGANIZATION. 4) TWILIGHT TOURS: THE TRUST OFFERED FREE, EVENING WALKING TOURS ON THE HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL PARK. OVER 2,550 ATTENDANTS FROM 45 DIFFERENT STATES AND 55 FOREIGN COUNTRIES ATTENDED THE PROGRAM. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION INCREASED ITS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES WHILE SUPPORTING MAJOR INITIATIVES IN INDEPENDENCE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK AND THE SURROUNDING GATEWAY COMMUNITY. DURING THAT YEAR, THE TRUST ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES: 1) FUNDRAISING: THIS YEAR, THE TRUST COMPLETED THE DESIGN PHASE AND BROKE GROUND FOR THE PEDESTRIAN PLAZA THAT IS PART OF THE REDESIGN FOR THE MARKET STREET ROAD DIET. THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE MOBILITY, PROVIDE BIKE- FRIENDLY LANES, AND CREATE A PLAZA THAT HONORS THE LENAPE LEADER CHIEF TAMANEND. THE ORGANIZATION HELD A RIBBON-CUTTING FOR THE COMPLETED BENJAMIN RUSH GARDEN, WHICH IS THE NEW HOME FOR THE BICENTENNIAL BELL. THE GARDEN IS A WELCOME GREEN SPACE IN THE CITY THAT LOCALS AND VISITORS ALIKE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. ALSO THIS YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION, WITH THE SUPPORT OF GENEROUS DONORS, SUPPORTED THE RESTORATION OF A HISTORIC GUARDHOUSE IN WASHINGTON SQUARE, WHICH WON A CONSERVATION AWARD FROM THE PRESERVATION ALLIANCE OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA. THROUGH FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO REPAIR OVER 30 LEATHER REPRODUCTION CHAIRS IN CONGRESS HALL AND PURCHASE AND INSTALL A HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE RAMP ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF INDEPENDENCE SQUARE. 2) COMMUNITY OUTREACH: WITH THE CONTINUED GOAL TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE NATIONAL PARK AND THE ORGANIZATION, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS REACHED OVER 6,000 AND WERE OFFERED TO ALL AGE GROUPS, AND EVEN SOME DOGS. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED YOGA IN THE PARK, MOVIES ON THE MALL, AND BARK RANGER PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAMS HELP ALL PEOPLE, ALL AGES, AND EVEN SOME DOGS, CONNECTED WITH THE NATIONAL PARK ON MULTIPLE LEVELS. 3) VOLUNTEERING: SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE'S MISSION TO ENGAGE PEOPLE, THE TRUST WORKED WITH THE PARK AND PARTNERS TO HOST VOLUNTEER DAYS AT THE NATIONAL PARK. VOLUNTEERS CLEANED, WEEDED, MULCHED, AND PLANTED ACROSS THE PARK TO HELP BEAUTIFY THE NATIONAL PARK BEFORE THE BUSY SUMMER SEASON. A TOTAL OF XX VOLUNTEERS JOINED THE ORGANIZATION. 4) TWILIGHT TOURS: THE TRUST OFFERED FREE, EVENING WALKING TOURS ON THE HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL PARK. OVER 2,550 ATTENDANTS FROM 45 DIFFERENT STATES AND 55 FOREIGN COUNTRIES ATTENDED THE PROGRAM.

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 May 1973.

    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.