Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Edmonds South Snohomish County Historical Society

EIN 23-7309955 · Edmonds, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ESSCHS IS A SOCIETY DEDICATED TO SHARING THE HISTORY OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE WILL ACHIEVE THIS BY: RESEARCH; COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS, ARTIFACTS, MEMORIES, AND EVENTS; AND BY UTILIZING INTERPRETIVE DISPLAYS AND ENGAGING IN CREATIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION.

Income
$257,777
Spending
$289,223
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
19 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
2
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$58,848, collections manager

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 19.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 56 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 10 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

    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

    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, 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 (2)
  1. $254,857 spent. MUSEUM: THE SOCIETY HOLDS AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF ARTIFACTS AND DOCUMENTS BEING HELD IN AN OFF-SITE FACILITY THAT SERVES AS A COLLECTIONS AND RESEARCH CENTER. THE COLLECTION PROVIDES MORE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO THE COLLECTION FOR AIDED AND SELF-DISCOVERY RESEARCH. THE STAFF ALSO SUPPORTS RESEARCH REQUESTS FROM THE COMMUNITY. THE COLLECTION CONTINUES TO GROW AND NEW ITEMS ARE ACCESSIONED AND DOCUMENTED TO GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS SET BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HISTORICAL MUSEUMS. ESTIMATED EXPENSES INCLUDE THE SALARY FOR THE COLLECTIONS AND PROGRAM MANAGER, AND RENTAL COSTS FOR THE STORAGE FACILITY.
  2. $1,803 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: THE SOCIETY OPERATES A MUSEUM IN THE NATIONALLY REGISTERED CARNEGIE LIBRARY BUILDING IN EDMONDS. ADMISSION IS FREE. THE MUSEUM OFFERS PERMANENT AND ROTATING DISPLAYS REFLECTING THE SOUTHWEST SNOHOMISH COUNTY AREA. THERE IS PROGRAMMING THAT IS DESIGNED FOR FAMILIES, AND THAT SUPPORTS LOCAL SCHOOL GROUPS. THE SOCIETY PARTNERS WITH THE CITY, LOCAL NONPROFITS, AND OTHER GROUPS TO MAKE HISTORY RELEVANT TO TODAY'S COMMUNITY THOUGH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THE INDIGENOUS WALKING TOUR AND EVENTS SPONSORED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. ESTIMATED EXPENSES INCLUDE THE SALARY FOR THE PART-TIME MUSEUM CURATOR, AND THE COSTS OF CREATING EXHIBITS AND PROVIDING COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING.TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF SOCIETY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:A CHILDREN'S ACTIVITY CENTER WAS CREATED, AND EDMONDS MUSEUM ACTIVITY/COLORING BOOKS WERE DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE. THEY CONTAIN THE HISTORY OF EDMONDS, ALONG WITH PICTURES OF FAMILIAR HISTORIC PLACES. HISTORIC CRAFTS AND OTHER PROGRAMMING WERE OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.THE SOCIETY PARTNERED WITH THE EDMONDS WINE WALK PROGRAM, PORCHFEST, HALLOWEEN, THE HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING, AND THE INDIGENOUS WALKING TOUR AND PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO LEARN FROM AND ENJOY THE MUSEUM AND THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY BUILDING THAT HOUSES IT. POP-UP EXHIBITS WERE PROVIDED AROUND TOWN (E.G., THE EDMONDS SNO-ISLE LIBRARY). THE SOCIETY PARTNERED WITH THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HOST HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN FOR TOURS, AND TO PROVIDE TRAVEL EXHIBITS FOR USE IN CLASSROOMS. THE SOCIETY SUPPORTED LOCAL HISTORIANS TO CREATE ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN THE LOCAL PAPERS. IT SUPPORTED A LOCAL FILMMAKER TO CREATE A MOVIE EDMONDS HISTORY THAT WAS SHOWN AT THE LOCAL THEATER. IT PUBLISHES AN ENEWSLETTER THAT KEEPS THE COMMUNITY INFORMED ABOUT LOCAL ACTIVITIES AND USES SOCIAL MEDIA TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT LOCAL HISTORY.THE SOCIETY OFFERED A SPOT DURING THE EDMONDS SUMMER MARKET TO THE EDMONDS FOOD BANK TO RECEIVE DONATIONS OF FOOD/CASH, THUS CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE TO ENGAGE THOUSANDS OF SHOPPERS WITH SERVING THE FOOD INSECURE COMMUNITY. A BOOTH WAS ALSO PROVIDED FOR A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY NON-PROFIT EACH SATURDAY THROUGH THE MARKET, AND THE SOCIETY CONDUCTED FUNDRAISING FOR A FUTURE COUNTY FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY MUSEUM. THE SOCIETY DONATING $500 TO THE ASIAN SERVICE CENTER OF EDMONDS FOR SPONSORSHIP OF THEIR ANNUAL EVENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 2025.

    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 June 1976.

    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.