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Nahant Historical Society

EIN 23-7431293 · Nahant, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ACQUIRE, PRESERVE AND INTERPRET ARTIFACTS OF NAHANT, MASSACHUSETTS, ILLUSTRATING ITS HISTORY, PREHISTORY AND THAT OF PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH IT, FOR THE ENJOYMENT, EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT OF THE PUBLIC.

Income
$63,666
Spending
$93,365
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
88.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
1
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$31,212, executive director

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

Good: 70 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 88.9 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 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 75% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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. $64,431 spent. TO INVESTIGATE, RECORD, AND PERPETUATE THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NAHANT, AND TO COLLECT, HOLD, AND PRESERVE DOCUMENTS, BOOKS, MEMOIRS, AND ALL OTHER MATTERS ILLUSTRATING ITS HISTORY OR THAT OF INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFIED WITH IT.COLLECTIONS:LOWLANDS BUDDHANAHANT CELEBRATES THE ANONYMOUS RESTORED GIFT OF THE LOWLAND BUDDHA, A JIZO BOSATSU. THIS WORK OF ART ONCE GRACED THE FAMOUS GATE OF THE 1867 ESTATE OF GEORGE ABBOT JAMES AND HIS WIFE ELIZABETH "LILY" LODGE ON EAST POINT IN NAHANT.PAINTINGSTHE SOCIETY HAS ON DISPLAY MANY BEAUTIFUL 19TH CENTURY OIL AND WATERCOLOR PAINTINGS AND ETCHINGS. MOST NOTABLY ARE THE WILLIAM HUSTON 'BASS BEACH, NAHANT' 1880 AND THE JONATHAN MASON'S 'CASTLE ROCK AND EAST POINT, NAHANT FROM MIFFLIN PLACE' 1832. ALSO ON DISPLAY ARE MORE RECENT WORKS BY NAHANT ARTISTS PETE ROGERS, CAROLYN JUNDZILLO COMER, AND NORMAN LALIBERTE.THE BARK "SARAH"LEARN THE STORY BEHIND THIS INTRICATE LARGE PLANK-ON-FRAME SHIP MODEL, A RECREATED "TALL SHIP" IN MINIATURE. FIND OUT ABOUT WINTHROP TAYLOR HODGES, THE MAN WHO SPENT TEN YEARS BUILDING THIS SHIP IN MODEL FORM BASED ON A YOUTHFUL MEMORY. SEE RARE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE OCEAN-GOING SARAH, UPON WHICH HE SAILED IN 1887.NAHANT ON THE ROCKS, LOWELL ROOM GALLERYOUR FIRST FULL EXHIBITION, ENTITLED NAHANT ON THE ROCKS, THIS IS AN INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT SHOWING THE HISTORY OF NAHANT FROM ITS EARLY DAYS AS GRAZING LAND FOR LYNN LIVESTOCK, THROUGH ITS DAYS AS A FISHING COMMUNITY, ITS HEYDAY AS THE SUMMER RESORT COMMUNITY FOR BOSTON'S WEALTHY, AS WELL AS FEATURING LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC NOTABLES AND ARTISTS. RESEARCH AT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETYTHE NAHANT HISTORICAL SOCIETY MAINTAINS ITS COLLECTIONS, A RESEARCH LIBRARY WITH ARCHIVES AT 41 VALLEY ROAD, NAHANT, MASSACHUSETTS TO PRESERVE AND SHARE THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NAHANT. THESE CONSIST OF BOTH PRIMARY, AND SECONDARY SOURCES OF NAHANT'S HISTORY WITH RELATED MATERIALS FROM LYNN, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AND NEW ENGLAND. IN ADDITION THERE ARE SECTIONS ON MARITIME HISTORY, DECORATIVE ARTS AND BIOGRAPHIES ASSOCIATED WITH NAHANT AND AMERICAN HISTORY. THE COLLECTIONS DO NOT CIRCULATE. WE WELCOME YOUR RESEARCH INQUIRIES.

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 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 December 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 January 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.