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Centre County Historical Society

EIN 25-1323768 · State College, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO DISCOVER, COLLECT, PRESERVE, INTERPRET, EDUCATE, ADVOCATE, PRESENT, AND PROMOTE THE COUNTY'S HISTORY AND CULTURE.

Income
$342,593
Spending
$230,699
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
34.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
3
Volunteers
350
Highest pay
$39,833, 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% 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

    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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (3)
  1. $178,876 spent. 1. The Centre County Historical Society's (CCHS) historic properties: Centre Furnace Mansion and the Boogersburg School. The operation, maintenance, preservation, and oversight of these properties is critical for all of the society's efforts.2. Engagement with membership and the public about the history and culture of Centre County through a quarterly publication, website, social media, the online Centre County Encyclopedia of History & Culture, elementary school and regular visitor tours, history talks, exhibitions, and events.3. Preservation and maintenance of archival and object collections that are available to researchers and the public year-round.
  2. 4. Fostering and partnering with local and statewide organizations to promote and advocate for Centre County history and historic resources. Fostering and partnering with other organizations who maintain and promote history and culture of Centre County. 5. CCHS focuses first and foremost on preserving the recently restored Centre Furnace Mansion, historic Furnace Stack and surrounding grounds, on the National Register of Historic Places, that compose the most significant historical site in Centre county for the following reasons: A) They commemorate the birth of the iron industry in Centre County and environs. Centre furnace went into blast in 1792, the first iron furnace in what soon after became Centre County (in 1800) and the second in Central Pennsylvania.
  3. B) Half a century later, Centre Furnace Mansion became the birthplace of The Penn State University. On June 26, 1855, a committee of the board of trustees of the newly chartered Farmers' High School Of Pennsylvania visited the site to view the proposal of 200 acres of land offered freely by Centre Furnace iron master Gen. James Irvin. On September 12, 1855, after viewing other proposed sites and after much debate, the trustees approved the motion of trustee president Frederick Watts to accept the Centre county site. The farmers' high school opened for collegiate instruction in 1859 and today has grown into the Pennsylvania State University, ranked among the top 100 global research universities.

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 2024.

    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 August 1977.

    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.