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State Historical Society of Nd Foundation

EIN 23-7305181 · Bismarck, ND

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 41% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF NORTH DAKOTA FOUNDATION EXISTS TO SECURE PRIVATE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF NORTH DAKOTA IN IDENTIFYING, PRESERVING, INTERPRETING, AND PROMOTING NORTH DAKOTA HISTORY.

Income
$6.4 million
Spending
$695,958
Spent on programs
41%
Reserves
27.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
2
Volunteers
23
Highest pay
$173,457, executive di

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

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 27.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 89% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1212% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    41% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • 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

    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

    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 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 (5)
  1. $245,006 spent. SUPPORT FOR ND STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ACTIVITIES.
  2. MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES: GENERATE NEW MEMBERS AND RENEWAL OF CURRENT MEMBERS. EVENTS TO SUPPORT SOCIETY ACTIVITIES. COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH STATEWIDE HISTORICAL ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER PARTNERS TO ENHANCE HISTORICAL RESOURCES OF STATE. SERVING OVER 2,000 MEMBERS.
  3. $3,986 spent. SUPPORT FOR THE RESTORATION ACTIVITIES AT THE STUTSMAN COUNTY COURTHOUSE. - THE STUTSMAN COUNTY COURTHOUSE, BUILT IN 1883, IS NORTH DAKOTA'S OLDEST SURVIVING COURTHOUSE AND IS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. IT IS SIGNIFICANT FOR ITS ARCHITECTURAL STYLE ONE OF ONLY TWO COUNTY COURTHOUSES IN THE STATE IN THE GOTHIC REVIVAL STYLE, AND FOR ITS PRESSED METAL INTERIOR, WHICH COATS THE INTERIOR WALLS OF THE BUILDING. THE COURTHOUSE HAS THE MOST COMPLETE COLLECTION OF PRESSED TIN IN NORTH DAKOTA AND PERHAPS, THE MIDWEST. IT IS THE ONLY REMAINING NORTH DAKOTA BUILDING DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE 1880S STATEHOOD MOVEMENT. DELEGATES TO THE STATE'S CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION WERE ELECTED HERE AND MEETINGS WERE HELD IN 1885 TO DISCUSS THE DIVISION OF DAKOTA TERRITORY. THE STUTSMAN COUNTY COURTHOUSE TRULY IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF STATEHOOD. RESTORATION EFFORTS HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUS SINCE THE 1990S. IN RECENT YEARS, THE COURTHOUSE HAS SEEN TREMENDOUS PROGRESS ON THE INTERIOR RESTORATION. SUPPORT FOR THE RESTORATION ACTIVITIES AT THE STUTSMAN COUNTY COURTHOUSE. - THE STUTSMAN COUNTY COURTHOUSE, BUILT IN 1883, IS NORTH DAKOTA'S OLDEST SURVIVING COURTHOUSE AND IS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. IT IS SIGNIFICANT FOR ITS ARCHITECTURAL STYLE ONE OF ONLY TWO COUNTY COURTHOUSES IN THE STATE IN THE GOTHIC REVIVAL STYLE, AND FOR ITS PRESSED METAL INTERIOR, WHICH COATS THE INTERIOR WALLS OF THE BUILDING. THE COURTHOUSE HAS THE MOST COMPLETE COLLECTION OF PRESSED TIN IN NORTH DAKOTA AND PERHAPS, THE MIDWEST. IT IS THE ONLY REMAINING NORTH DAKOTA BUILDING DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE 1880S STATEHOOD MOVEMENT. DELEGATES TO THE STATE'S CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION WERE ELECTED HERE AND MEETINGS WERE HELD IN 1885 TO DISCUSS THE DIVISION OF DAKOTA TERRITORY. THE STUTSMAN COUNTY COURTHOUSE TRULY IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF STATEHOOD. RESTORATION EFFORTS HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUS SINCE THE 1990S. IN RECENT YEARS, THE COURTHOUSE HAS SEEN TREMENDOUS PROGRESS ON THE INTERIOR RESTORATION.
  4. $38,813 spent. NATIVE AMERICAN HALL OF HONORS - THE NATIVE AMERICAN HALL OF HONOR RECONGNIZES INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND IN REPRESENTING THEIR TRIBES AND CULTURES. IT IS LOCATED IN THE NORTH DAKOTA HERITAGE CENTER & STATE MUSEUM IN BISMARCK. THE PROGRAM RECONGNIZES TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY ACHIEVEMENTS IN FOUR CATEGORIES: ARTS AND CULTURE, ATHLETICS, LEADERSHIP, AND VETERAN.
  5. NATIVE AMERICAN HALL OF HONORS - THE NATIVE AMERICAN HALL OF HONOR RECONGNIZES INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND IN REPRESENTING THEIR TRIBES AND CULTURES. IT IS LOCATED IN THE NORTH DAKOTA HERITAGE CENTER & STATE MUSEUM IN BISMARCK. THE PROGRAM RECONGNIZES TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY ACHIEVEMENTS IN FOUR CATEGORIES: ARTS AND CULTURE, ATHLETICS, LEADERSHIP, AND VETERAN.

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 July 1973.

    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.