Westport Historical Society Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND CONNECT THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA TO THEIR HERITAGE THROUGH PUBLIC PROGRAMS, EXHIBITS, PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH AND TO COLLECT, PRESERVE AND DOCUMENT THE MATERIAL CULTURE OF WESTPORT, MASSACHUSETTS. THE ORGANIZATION OWNS AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF THE BELL SCHOOL HOUSE AND HANDY HOUSE LOCATED IN WESTPORT.
- Income
- $479,905
- Spending
- $477,206
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 28.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 73
- Highest pay
- $71,063, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 97 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 28.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 86 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (3)
- $28,951 spent. EXHIBITIONS, LECTURES AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS: THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS, EXHIBITIONS,EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND PUBLICATIONS FOR THE EDUCATION AND BENEFIT OF AREA RESIDENTS AND ALL THOSE INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF THE AREA AND ITS ARTIFACTS.
- $11,571 spent. THE SOCIETY, WITH COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT FUNDING, BECAME OWNERS OF THE CADMAN-WHITE-HANDY HOUSE (HANDY HOUSE) A PROPERTY REGISTERED WITH THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. THIS PROPERTY HAS A PRESERVATION RESTRICTION ON THE BUILDING AND 2.2 ACRES OF THE PROPERTY. IN ADDITION THERE IS A GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF WESTPORT AND THE SOCIETY IN WHICH THE PROPERTY WILL BE MAINTAINED AND PRESERVED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC. IT IS ALSO SUBJECT TO RIGHT-OF-FIRST-REFUSAL BY THE TOWN OF WESTPORT WITH NO PAYMENT REQUIRED.
- $285,818 spent. BELL SCHOOLHOUSE: BELL SCHOOL CA. 1841 WAS SO NAMED BECAUSE OF A BELL IN ITS TOWER. THE ORIGINAL NAME OF THE SCHOOL WAS SANDY HILL ACADEMY. IN THE EARLY 1900S BELL SCHOOL WAS RENAMED ALUMNI HALL WITH A LIBRARY ON THE SECOND FLOOR AND A COMMUNITY HALL ON THE FIRST FLOOR. DURING THE WESTPORT FAIR AND CATTLE SHOW HELD AT THE HEAD FROM 1911-1930, BELL SCHOOL WAS USED AS AN AGRICULTURAL HALL FOR FAIR EXHIBITS. THE WESTPORT FAIR AND CATTLE SHOW WAS THE FORERUNNER OF THE PRESENT WESTPORT AGRICULTURAL FAIR. PRESENTLY THE BELL SCHOOL IS THE HOME OF THE WESTPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. THIS PROPERTY WAS DEEDED TO THE ORGANIZATION SUBJECT TO COVENANTS TO USE THE PROPERTY FOR ANTIQUARIAN AND/OR HISTORICAL PURPOSES AND TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY AND ITS BELFRY WITHIN SPECIFIC DIMENSIONS. BELL SCHOOL CANNOT BE SOLD BUT MUST BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER ANTIQUARIAN OR HISTORICAL SOCIETY,WITHOUT CHARGE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1973.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.