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Supreme Court Historical Society the Society

EIN 23-7420574 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SOCIETY IS DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES. IT WAS FOUNDED BY CHIEF JUSTICE WARREN E. BURGER, WHO SERVED AS ITS FIRST HONORARY CHAIRMAN. THE SOCIETY ACCOMPLISHES ITS MISSION BY CONDUCTING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, SUPPORTING HISTORICAL RESEARCH, PUBLISHING BOOKS, JOURNALS, AND ELECTRONIC MATERIALS, AND BY COLLECTING ANTIQUES AND ARTIFACTS RELATED TO THE COURT'S HISTORY. THESE ACTIVITIES AND OTHERS INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S AWARENESS OF THE COURT'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR NATION'S RICH CONSTITUTIONAL HERITAGE.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
40.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
14
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$212,000, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 40.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 52% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    103 of 103 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

    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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • 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

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. $823,377 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS: THE SOCIETY AND STREET LAW, INC. OFFER THE SUPREME COURT SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS. THE INSTITUTE IMPROVES THE LEVEL OF INSTRUCTION ON THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AT THE SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVEL, REACHING STUDENTS WHILE THEY ARE DEVELOPING AN AWARENESS OF THEIR RIGHTS AND DUTIES AS CITIZENS. TEACHERS OBSERVE THE COURT IN SESSION, REVIEW ACTUAL CASES UNDER CONSIDERATION, AND HEAR LECTURES BY EXPERTS ON THE COURT. THE TEACHERS THEN PRODUCE LESSON PLANS FOR CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND TRAIN OTHER TEACHERS IN TECHNIQUES FOR INCORPORATING THE COURT INTO THE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM. THIS PROGRAM HAS MORE THAN 750 ALUMNI FROM ALMOST EVERY STATE AND U.S. POSSESSION. THE SOCIETY AND STREET LAW HAVE COLLABORATED TO BRING THE SUPREME COURT INSTITUTE TO TEACHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE SUMMER PROGRAM. TEACHERS IN ATLANTA, NEW YORK AND ST. LOUIS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE REGIONAL SUPREME COURT SEMINAR.CIVICS EDUCATION: THE SUPREME COURT AND MY HOMETOWN IS THE NATIONAL CIVICS PROGRAM OF THE SUPREME COURT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. THIS INITIATIVE ENGAGES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN A THOROUGH STUDY OF THE PROCESS AND SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES OF A CASE DECIDED BY THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES IN A UNIQUE AND PERSONALIZED WAY. PARTICIPANTS LEARN HOW THE JUDICIAL BRANCH INTERACTS WITH THE OTHER TWO BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND THEIR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS ACTIVE CITIZENS. HOMETOWNS ALSO ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO INTERACT WITH THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY BASED ON WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED IN THE STUDY. A DISTINGUISHING FEATURE OF THIS PROGRAM IS THE FOCUS ON SUPREME COURT CASES THAT ORIGINATED IN THE STUDENTS' HOMETOWNS AND LOCAL COURTS. BOTH THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY OF THE CASES ARE EXPLORED THROUGH A LOCAL LENS. THE COURSE OF STUDY IMMERSES STUDENTS IN A REVIEW OF THE FACTS, TRIALS, AND APPEALS THAT LED TO SUPREME COURT DECISIONS. AT THE END OF THE INQUIRY SESSIONS, STUDENTS COMPLETE A CAPSTONE PROJECT THAT FURTHER SOLIDIFIES THEIR LEARNING AND ENHANCES THEIR CREATIVE SKILLS. EACH FINAL PROJECT IS UNIQUE TO EACH COMMUNITY AND IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO PROMOTE INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACT OF THE CASE.
  2. $500,222 spent. SALE OF BOOKS AND OTHER ITEMS TO HELP EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT AND TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE SUPREME COURT.
  3. $432,065 spent. MEMBERSHIP SERVICES AND PUBLICATIONS: PROGRAM PLANNING AND MANAGEMENTPUBLICATION OF SCHS QUARTERLY - A MEMBER-ORIENTED NEWSLETTER WITH INFORMATIVE ARTICLES ON THE COURT'S PAST, AND TIMELY ANNOUNCEMENTS OF SOCIETY ACTIVITIES AND MEETINGS.PUBLICATION OF THE JOURNAL OF SUPREME COURT HISTORY - A SCHOLARLY COLLECTION OF ARTICLES ON THE COURT'S HISTORY, ITS MEMBERS AND THOSE WHO HAVE APPEARED BEFORE IT. THE JOURNAL IS PUBLISHED THREE TIMES A YEAR AND IS ILLUSTRATED WITH MANY RARE PHOTOGRAPHS, ENGRAVINGS, AND DRAWINGS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 December 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 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.