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New Bern Preservation Foundation Inc

EIN 23-7376105 · New Bern, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NEW BERN PRESERVATION FOUNDATION'S PRIMARY MISSION IS TO SAVE HISTORIC PROPERTIES IN AND AROUND THE NEW BERN AREA.

Income
$62,491
Spending
$136,314
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
55.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 39%
Employees
0

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

Fair: 60 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 55.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 118% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Fair: 69 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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 (3)
  1. $126,078 spent. THE FOUNDATION WAS FORMED IN 1972 TO PREVENT THE DEMOLITION AND LOSS OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES IN DOWNTOWN NEW BERN. THE FOUNDATION HELPED TO SAVE OVER 60 HISTORIC PROPERTIES BY PURCHASING, AND IN SOME CASES, MOVING STRUCTURES. EACH STRUCTURE WAS THEN RESOLD WITH A PRESERVATION EASEMENT IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THE HISTORIC INTEGRITY OF A STRUCTURE WAS BEING PRESERVED.
  2. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO PROPERTY OWNERS. THIS INCLUDES TOURS OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES AS WELL AS ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE ON HOW TO KINDLY UPDATE A PROPERTY WHILE PRESERVING ITS IMPORTANT HISTORIC FABRIC. THE FOUNDATION HAS COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE FOUNDATION HAS SPONSORED AND COORDINATED THE NEW BERN ANTIQUES SHOW FOR OVER 30 YEARS. IT BRINGS TOGETHER MORE THAN THIRTY ANTIQUES DEALERS FROM THE EAST COAST. THIS IS ONE OF OUR MAJOR FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND IT GIVES US A WAY TO SHOWCASE THE MISSION OF THE FOUNDATION. THE ANTIQUE SHOW WAS NOT HELD IN 2020 DUE TO COVID-19. THE FOUNDATION IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN SEVERAL PRESERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS. THE FOUNDATION HAS PARTNERED WITH NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD AND THE CITY OF NEW BERN TO RESTORE THE UNION STATION TRAIN DEPOT IN DOWNTOWN NEW BERN. UNION STATION WAS BUILT IN 1910 AND AT ONE TIME SERVED AS A MAJOR RAIL STATION IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. THE FOUNDATION HAS ALSO PARTNERED WITH KING SOLOMON LODGE 1 IN A MAJOR RESTORATION PROJECT OF A VITAL HISTORIC STRUCTURE. THE KING SOLOMON LODGE STRUCTURE, C.A. 1870, IS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MASONIC LODGE IN THE NORTH CAROLINA AND ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE SOUTH. IT HAS BEEN IN CONTINUAL USE AS A MASONIC LODGE SINCE IT WAS BUILT AND REPRESENTS A VITAL PIECE OF NEW BERN'S 300 YEAR HISTORY.
  3. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO PROPERTY OWNERS. THIS INCLUDES TOURS OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES AS WELL AS ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE ON HOW TO KINDLY UPDATE A PROPERTY WHILE PRESERVING ITS IMPORTANT HISTORIC FABRIC. THE FOUNDATION HAS COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE FOUNDATION HAS SPONSORED AND COORDINATED THE NEW BERN ANTIQUES SHOW FOR OVER 30 YEARS. IT BRINGS TOGETHER MORE THAN THIRTY ANTIQUES DEALERS FROM THE EAST COAST. THIS IS ONE OF OUR MAJOR FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND IT GIVES US A WAY TO SHOWCASE THE MISSION OF THE FOUNDATION. THE ANTIQUE SHOW WAS NOT HELD IN 2020 DUE TO COVID-19. THE FOUNDATION IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN SEVERAL PRESERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS. THE FOUNDATION HAS PARTNERED WITH NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD AND THE CITY OF NEW BERN TO RESTORE THE UNION STATION TRAIN DEPOT IN DOWNTOWN NEW BERN. UNION STATION WAS BUILT IN 1910 AND AT ONE TIME SERVED AS A MAJOR RAIL STATION IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. THE FOUNDATION HAS ALSO PARTNERED WITH KING SOLOMON LODGE 1 IN A MAJOR RESTORATION PROJECT OF A VITAL HISTORIC STRUCTURE. THE KING SOLOMON LODGE STRUCTURE, C.A. 1870, IS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MASONIC LODGE IN THE NORTH CAROLINA AND ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE SOUTH. IT HAS BEEN IN CONTINUAL USE AS A MASONIC LODGE SINCE IT WAS BUILT AND REPRESENTS A VITAL PIECE OF NEW BERN'S 300 YEAR HISTORY.

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 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 August 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 June 1974.

    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.