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Mennonite Historians of Eastern Pennsylvania Inc

EIN 23-7401119 · Harleysville, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood87 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO EDUCATE, INSPIRE AND WITNESS TO THE CHURCH AND COMMUNITY BY COLLECTING, PRESERVING AND SHARING THE ANABAPTIST/MENNONITE STORY.

Income
$604,157
Spending
$429,143
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
10.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
5
Volunteers
187
Highest pay
$74,272, executive di

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

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    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 March 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. $160,480 spent. EXHIBITS AT THE MENNONITE HERITAGE CENTER DEPICT MENNONITE FAITH AND CULTURE FROM OVER THREE HUNDRED YEARS IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA COMMUNITIES. EXHIBITS FROM APRIL 2024 THROUGH MARCH 2025 INCLUDED: "PEACE & PLENTY: LIFE IN THE PERKIOMEN VALLEY", " MENNONITE FAITH AND LIFE?", AND A DISPLAY ON THE FRAKTUR GALLERY.
  2. $83,965 spent. THE MENNONITE HERITAGE CENTER HOUSES MUSEUM, LIBRARY AND ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS. THE MUSEUM COLLECTION CONSISTS OF TEXTILES, CERAMICS, EARTHENWARE, FRAKTUR, FURNITURE, GLASSWARE, HOUSEHOLD, UTENSILS, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, PAINTINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TOOLS. THE LIBRARY COLLECTION CONSISTS OF BOOKS AND PERIODICALS ABOUT MENNONITE CULTURE, HISTORY AND THEOLOGY PERTAINING TO LOCAL CHURCH AND COMMUNITY HISTORY, AS WELL AS PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN MATERIALS, FAMILY BIBLES, HYMNALS, MAPS, BROADSIDES, CHARTS, PRINTS, SONGBOOKS AND AUDIO AND VISUAL RECORDINGS. THE ARCHIVAL COLLECTION CONSISTS OF MATERIALS SUCH AS CONGREGATION AND CONFERENCE RECORDS AND PERSONAL, FAMILY OR BUSINESS PAPERS SUCH AS ACCOUNT BOOKS, DIARIES, LETTERS AND OTHER MANUSCRIPTS. THE COLLECTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH EXHIBITS AND TO INDIVIDUAL RESEARCHERS. THE MENNONITE HERITAGE CENTER HOUSES MUSEUM, LIBRARY AND ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS. THE MUSEUM COLLECTION CONSISTS OF TEXTILES, CERAMICS, EARTHENWARE, FRAKTUR, FURNITURE, GLASSWARE, HOUSEHOLD, UTENSILS, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, PAINTINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TOOLS. THE LIBRARY COLLECTION CONSISTS OF BOOKS AND PERIODICALS ABOUT MENNONITE CULTURE, HISTORY AND THEOLOGY PERTAINING TO LOCAL CHURCH AND COMMUNITY HISTORY, AS WELL AS PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN MATERIALS, FAMILY BIBLES, HYMNALS, MAPS, BROADSIDES, CHARTS, PRINTS, SONGBOOKS AND AUDIO AND VISUAL RECORDINGS. THE ARCHIVAL COLLECTION CONSISTS OF MATERIALS SUCH AS CONGREGATION AND CONFERENCE RECORDS AND PERSONAL, FAMILY OR BUSINESS PAPERS SUCH AS ACCOUNT BOOKS, DIARIES, LETTERS AND OTHER MANUSCRIPTS. THE COLLECTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH EXHIBITS AND TO INDIVIDUAL RESEARCHERS.
  3. $11,120 spent. THE MENNONITE HERITAGE CENTER CONDUCTS PROGRAMS, WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY. EVENTS FROM APRIL 2024 THROUGH MARCH 2025 INCLUDED THE HARLEYSVILLE HANK GROUNDHOG DAY EXTRAVAGANZA, THE WHACK AND ROLL CROQUET TOURNAMENT FOR COMMUNITY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, USED BOOK SALE, APPLE BUTTER FROLIC, AND DECEMBER CRAFT SALE. WORKSHOPS INCLUDED SGRAFFITO POTTERY, FRAKTUR DRAWING AND LETTERING,AND TRADITIONAL WOODWORKING. BLOGS AND POSTS CONTINUED TO HELP SHARE OUR STORY. PROGRAMS INCLUDED: HEARING ABOUT THE LENAPE, CHURCH OF THE BRETHERN HISTORY, FRAKTUR RESEARCH, HYMN SINGS, WOMEN IN MHC'S COLLECTIONS, AS WELL AS PLAIN MEETINGHOUSES AND Q NEW DEAL FOR QUILTS BOOK EVENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 March 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 March 1975.

    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.