Passes our checks

Escondido History Center

EIN 23-7363043 · Escondido, CA

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

What it says it does

HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 26.7 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 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 65% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 15
54% 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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

Independent board
5 of 25
0 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15
Reports no 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
0 of 5
Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10
Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$82,266 spent. In addition to collecting and preserving a large collection of artifacts, archival materials and photographs, we operate a local history museum open 5 afternoons per week; provide assistance with historic research; conduct oral interviews; teach blacksmithing; issue a quarterly newsletter with a feature article on an item of historic interest; assist the visitors to local history through many events and activities, most free of charge, including walking tours, lecture series, living history events and revived Grape Day, the city's signature festival and parade.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 October 13, 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 June 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 January 1975.
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 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.