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Historic Boulder Inc

EIN 23-7223041 · Boulder, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HISTORIC BOULDER FOSTERS THE SPIRIT AND PROMOTES THE BENEFITS OF PRESERVATION THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, REHABILITATION AND CELEBRATION.

Income
$325,467
Spending
$146,493
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
94.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
2
Volunteers
262
Highest pay
$42,120, executive di

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. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 94.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 55% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 124% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    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

    6 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 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 (3)
  1. $45,275 spent. EDUCATION OUTREACH: HISTORIC BOULDER PRODUCED 33 EDUCATIONAL EVENTS HIGHLIGHTING THE VALUE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE PRODUCED LIVE ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY TOURS AT NCAR, MID-CENTURY MODERN HOMES, PEARL STREET, "LITTLE RECTANGLE" (HISTORIC BLACK OWNED HOMES), AND AN ART & ARCHITECTURE TOUR IN A PRIVATE HOME. LECTURES AND PANELS INCLUDED: CREATING HISTORIC DISTRICTS, STREET NAMES OF BOULDER, IMPACT OF THE FEDERAL LABS ON BOULDER, FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED AND EARLY CITY IMPROVERS, CENTRAL PARK LANDMARKS, AND MODERN ARCHITECTURE. THESE WERE PRESENTED AT THE ROTARY CLUB, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, HARVARD GSD REUNION, FRASIER SENIOR LIVING, ACADEMY SENIOR LIVING, AND THE MUSEUM OF BOULDER. OUR HISTORY HIKES HIGHLIGHTED HISTORIC STRUCTURES ON OPEN SPACE.
  2. $38,122 spent. OUR SIGNATURE EVENTS, MEET THE SPIRITS IN OCTOBER AND HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS IN DECEMBER, HAVE BECOME BELOVED COMMUNITY TRADITIONS, DRAWING NEARLY 1,600 ATTENDEES BETWEEN THEM. AT MEET THE SPIRITS, 37 SPIRIT ACTORS IN PERIOD COSTUMES PRESENTED BIOGRAPHICAL MONOLOGUES AT THE COLUMBIA CEMETERY, BRINGING THE HISTORY OF BOULDER ALIVE. THE EVENT RAISED OVER 5,200 FOR PRESERVATION WORK IN THE CEMETERY. OUR 38TH ANNUAL "HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS" TOUR HIGHLIGHTED FIVE HISTORIC HOMES IN THE UNIVERSITY HILL NEIGHBORHOOD. THE HOUSES SHOWCASED A VARIETY OF ARCHITECTURAL STYLES AND HISTORIES, INCLUDING FOUR HOMES IN THE 'UNIVERSITY PLACE' HISTORIC DISTRICT.
  3. $32,740 spent. PRESERVATION ADVOCACY: HISTORIC BOULDERS PRESERVATION ADVOCACY FOR BOULDERS CENTRAL PARK WAS IN HIGH GEAR IN 2024 AS WE ORGANIZED A 150-YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE PARK AND FOUR PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MUSEUM OF BOULDER INCLUDING TWO FOCUSED ON THE HISTORY OF PEOPLE DISPLACED BY THE PARK. WE DEVELOPED PROGRAMS AND PARTICIPATED IN COLORADO PRESERVATION INC. STATEWIDE CONFERENCE, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY WIDE SQUARE NAIL AWARDS. WE REGULARLY TESTIFIED BEFORE THE LANDMARKS BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL. FINALLY, WE SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED TO THE STATE HISTORICAL FUND FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE FAADE OF THE BOULDER THEATER, WHICH PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED IN 2025.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 November 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.