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Lecompton Historical Society

EIN 23-7381841 · Lecompton, KS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

A museum to preserve historical information of the first territorial capital of Kansas, Lane University and the Lecompton area. The museum is open to the public free of charge and averages 3500 visitors per year.

Income
$219,623
Spending
$377,345
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
9.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
2

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 72% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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.

  • 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, 2024, 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. $374,742 spent. HISTORIC LECOMPTON WAS THE OFFICIAL TERRITORIAL CAPITAL OF KANSAS FROM 1855 TO 1861. LECOMPTON IS KNOWN AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE CIVIL WAR, WHERE SLAVERY BEGAN TO DIE. NINE KANSAS TERRITORIAL GOVERNORS CALLED LECOMPTON HOME. A FREE TOUR INCLUDES A VISIT TO CONSTITUTION HALL WHICH IS A NATIONAL LANDMARK AND A KANSAS HISTORIC SITE. CONSTITUTION HALL WAS ALSO THE SITE OF THE WRITING OF THE LECOMPTON CONSTITUTION. THE LECOMPTON CONSTITUTION WAS A PRO-SLAVERY DOCUMENT THAT SPARKED A CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT DIVIDED THE NATION AND EVENTUALLY CAUSED THE CIVIL WAR. THE LANEUNIVERSITY/TERRITORIAL CAPITAL MUSEUM CONTAINS 3 FLOORS OF CIVIL WAR, LANE UNIVERSITY AND LECOMPTON ARTIFACTS. ACTIVITIES OF THE LECOMPTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC INCLUDE MAINTENANCE AND PRESERVATION OF THE TERRITORIAL CAPITAL SITE AND FREE PUBLIC TOURS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2024 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2024.

    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 December 2024.

    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 April 2025.

    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.