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Linn County Historical Society

EIN 23-7311415 · Cedar Rapids, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE HISTORY CENTER ENGAGES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS BY PRESERVING AND TELLING STORIES OF LINN COUNTY'S PAST AND CONNECTING THE PAST TO THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF LINN COUNTY

Income
$505,962
Spending
$706,588
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
25.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
11
Volunteers
44
Highest pay
$108,830, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (1)
  1. $469,683 spent. THE HISTORY CENTER (THC) IS DEDICATED TO CONNECTING THE PAST TO THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF LINN COUNTY. IT SERVES AS A UNIQUE COMMUNITY RESOURCE, MAKING THE HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY BOTH ACCESSIBLE AND ENJOYABLE FOR EVERYONE. IN FY2025, THC HOSTED SEVERAL ENGAGING EVENTS AND PROGRAMS:TEMPORARY EXHIBITS AT THC ROTATE EVERY SIX TO NINE MONTHS, WITH TWO GALLERIES TELLING COMPELLING STORIES OF LINN COUNTY'S HISTORY. TOPICS ARE DIVERSE AND RANGE FROM THE COMMUNAL IMPACT OF QUILTING TO IOWA'S STRUGGLES WITH CIVIL RIGHTS. THE SMITH GALLERY FOCUSES ON LINN COUNTY'S HISTORY, ORGANIZED BY AREAS OF INTEREST, WHILE THE WEST GALLERY HIGHLIGHTS ENTREPRENEURIAL STORIES AND EMPHASIZES LINN COUNTY'S ROLE AS IOWA'S SECOND-LARGEST ECONOMIC ENGINE. THE WILSON GALLERY FEATURES A VARIETY OF THEMES AND EXHIBITS. THESE GALLERIES ATTRACT OVER 5,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.WALKING TOURS COVER DOWNTOWN CEDAR RAPIDS, VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS, AND OTHER LINN COUNTY DOWNTOWNS, SHOWCASING OVER 16 DIFFERENT ROUTES. PARTICIPANTS GAIN INSIGHTS INTO THE EVOLUTION OF THESE SPACES, WITH OVER 250 PEOPLE JOINING ANNUALLY.BITE OF HISTORY IS A POPULAR PROGRAM HELD AT DIFFERENT LINN COUNTY RESTAURANTS, COMBINING HISTORY WITH CULINARY EXPERIENCES. HISTORIANS SHARE STORIES ABOUT THE BUILDINGS, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND OTHER UNIQUE DETAILS. SERVING APPROXIMATELY 100 ATTENDEES ANNUALLY, MOST OF THESE SEVEN EVENTS SELL OUT.ORAL HISTORIES LIVE! FEATURES REMARKABLE LIFE STORIES SHARED BY INDIVIDUALS WITH SIGNIFICANT LINN COUNTY CONNECTIONS. EVENTS ARE RECORDED AND TRANSCRIBED, CREATING PRIMARY SOURCE MATERIAL FOR RESEARCHERS. WITH FIVE ANNUAL PROGRAMS, OVER 250 PEOPLE ATTEND IN PERSON, AND TENS OF THOUSANDS VIEW ONLINE. IN 2023, IT RECEIVED THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE & LOCAL HISTORY'S GOLD MEDAL FOR PROGRAMMING.LINN COUNTY UNBURIED INTRODUCES PARTICIPANTS TO DIFFERENT LINN COUNTY CEMETERIES AND HIGHLIGHTS THE LEGACIES OF NOTABLE INDIVIDUALS. IT ATTRACTS 120 PARTICIPANTS ANNUALLY ACROSS FIVE PROGRAMS.SPOOKY LINN COUNTY SHARES AUTHENTIC LINN COUNTY GHOST STORIES AROUND A CAMPFIRE DURING A SINGLE AUTUMN NIGHT. THIS ENTERTAINING EVENT, ON AVERAGE, INTRODUCES OVER 200 ATTENDEES TO THC'S MISSION.RUDOLPH'S RETURN FEATURES A RECREATED HOLIDAY DISPLAY FROM CEDAR RAPIDS' ARMSTRONG DEPARTMENT STORE WITH ORIGINAL ANIMATRONIC ELVES. THE EVENT INCLUDES LIVE HOLIDAY MUSIC, CRAFTS, HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES, AND SANTA VISITS, DRAWING OVER 150 PEOPLE ANNUALLY.CHEW ON THIS INVITES PARTICIPANTS TO BRING THEIR LUNCHES TO THE HISTORY CENTER, WHERE DESSERT AND DRINKS ARE PROVIDED. PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE AUTHOR TALKS, VIRTUAL TOURS, AND LECTURES ON DIVERSE TOPICS. THIS PROGRAM DRAWS 200 ATTENDEES EACH YEAR.AUTHOR TALKS BRING LINN COUNTY AUTHORS OR THOSE WRITING ABOUT THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE LIVELY PRESENTATIONS. OVER 100 PEOPLE ATTEND THESE PROGRAMS ANNUALLY.EDUCATION PROGRAMMING (FIELD TRIPS) IS DESIGNED FOR PRE-K THROUGH FOURTH-GRADE STUDENTS, ENGAGING OVER 1,100 CHILDREN ANNUALLY. ABOUT 70% OF PARTICIPANTS ATTEND FIELD TRIPS TO THE HISTORY CENTER, WHILE THE REST EXPERIENCE THE PROGRAMS IN THEIR SCHOOLS, ADDRESSING TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS.THE RESEARCH LIBRARY SERVES OVER 2,600 RESEARCHERS ANNUALLY. THE LIBRARY'S ROBUST ARCHIVE CONTAINS UNIQUE MATERIALS UNAVAILABLE ELSEWHERE, SUPPORTING DIVERSE RESEARCH NEEDS.THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, THE HISTORY CENTER CONTINUES TO PRESERVE AND CELEBRATE LINN COUNTY'S RICH HISTORY WHILE FOSTERING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 November 6, 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 August 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 July 1974.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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