Friends of Drake Well Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL, INC., IS A NONPROFIT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION THAT ACTIVELY SUPPORTS THE ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF DRAKE WELL MUSEUM AND PARK AND ITS ASSOCIATED SITE, HISTORIC PITHOLE CITY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL AND MUSEUM COMMISSION. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL SUPPORTS DRAKE WELL MUSEUM BY PROVIDING STAFFING FOR THE SITE, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDING THE SCHOOL TOUR PROGRAM, MARKETING/PROMOTION AND OUTREACH, PRESERVATION OF THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTIONS, AND MORE.
- Income
- $218,328
- Spending
- $279,019
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 16 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 90
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: 85 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 28% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $232,798 spent. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR ALL THE EVENTS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS PRESENTED BY DRAKE WELL MUSEUM AND PARK AND ITS ASSOCIATED SITE OF HISTORIC PITHOLE CITY. THIS SUPPORT INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO MARKETING AND PROMOTING ALL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS (ADVERTISING, FLYERS, SOCIAL MEDIA, LOCAL NEWS MEDIA), PURCHASING SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS NEEDED FOR THE EVENTS AND PROGRAMS, SECURING NEARLY 15,000 IN EVENT SPONSORSHIPS (FY 24-25), AND ASSISTING WITH THE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH EVENT AND PROGRAM. DRAKE WELL MUSEUM AND PARK HOLDS AT LEAST NINE DIFFERENT EVENTS EACH YEAR; THESE DO NOT INCLUDE FUNDRAISING EVENTS. MAIN EVENTS FOR THE SITE INCLUDE THE WISDOM & MORE LECTURE SERIES HELD EVERY THURSDAY EVENING IN MARCH (86 ATTENDEES TOTAL IN LAST FISCAL YEAR), DISCOVERY DAYS CHILDREN'S SUMMER CAMP ON THURSDAYS IN JULY (67 CAMPERS TOTAL IN LAST FISCAL YEAR), DRAKE DAY CELEBRATION IN AUGUST (426 ATTENDEES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR), AND THE FALL GAS UP IN SEPTEMBER (315 ATTENDEES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR) WHICH SHOWCASES VARIOUS EQUIPMENT FROM THE EARLY OILFIELDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. DRAKE WELL MUSEUM HAD 18,098 VISITORS TO THE SITE IN FY 2024-25; OVER 1,940 OF THESE VISITORS WERE PROGRAM AND EVENT ATTENDEES. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL ALSO PROVIDED MARKETING, SUPPLIES, SPONSORSHIPS, AND PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR EVENTS AT HISTORIC PITHOLE CITY INCLUDING ITS CABIN FEVER PARTY IN FEBRUARY, LANTERN TOURS IN OCTOBER, AND ITS SUMMER SEASON OPERATION WHICH INCLUDED EDUCATIONAL HISTORICAL DEMONSTRATIONS AS WELL AS TOUR GUIDES. IN ADDITION TO PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL ALSO SUPPORTS DRAKE WELL MUSEUM'S SCHOOL TOUR PROGRAM BY PROVIDING FUNDING TO COVER ALL ADMISSION COSTS FOR SCHOOLS WISHING TO TOUR THE SITE. SCHOOLS CAN ALSO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR TRANSPORTATION COSTS TO GET TO AND FROM THE MUSEUM. THE SCHOOL TOUR PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS. DRAKE WELL MUSEUM HAD 2,599 SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM 44 DIFFERENT SCHOOL GROUPS VISIT THE SITE IN FY 2024-25. THE SCHOOLS WERE A MIXTURE OF PUBLIC, PRIVATE, HOMESCHOOL, AND CHARTER INSTITUTIONS WITH GRADES REPRESENTED FROM KINDERGARTEN TO 12TH GRADE. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL ALSO DID MARKETING FOR THE SCHOOL TOURS IN LOCAL NEWS MEDIA AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL ALSO ASSISTS DRAKE WELL MUSEUM IN ITS EDUCATIONAL MISSION BY PUBLISHING EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL FOR THE PUBLIC AND ITS MEMBERSHIP ON THE MUSEUM'S WEBSITE AS WELL AS ITS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL PUBLISHES THE AWARD-WINNING OILFIELD JOURNAL EVERY OTHER YEAR FOR THE PUBLIC AND MEMBERSHIP. THE PUBLICATION IS A SCHOLARLY JOURNAL OF 86-88 PAGES OF ARTICLES FOCUSED ON THE EARLY PETROLEUM INDUSTRY OF PENNSYLVANIA. THE JOURNAL IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH GRANTS SECURED BY FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL. ASIDE FROM PROGRAMS, SCHOOL TOURS, AND PUBLICATIONS, FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL ALSO ASSISTS THE MUSEUM IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION OF ITS EXHIBITS AND COLLECTIONS, FURTHERING ITS EDUCATIONAL MISSION. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL SECURED BOTH CASH AND IN-KIND DONATIONS TO RESTORE A 1978 NITRO TRUCK, USED BY THE OTTO CUPLER TORPEDO COMPANY TO REVITALIZE OLD OIL WELLS USING NITROGLYCERIN. THE TRUCK WILL BE USED TO EDUCATE VISITORS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN ON THIS IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY IN PENNSYLVANIA. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL HAS ALSO PROVIDED FUNDING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR NEW INTERPRETIVE OUTDOOR SIGNAGE AT HISTORIC PITHOLE CITY, ALLOWING VISITORS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE LAYOUT AND CULTURE OF A 19TH CENTURY OIL BOOMTOWN. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR ALL THE EVENTS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS PRESENTED BY DRAKE WELL MUSEUM AND PARK AND ITS ASSOCIATED SITE OF HISTORIC PITHOLE CITY. THIS SUPPORT INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO MARKETING AND PROMOTING ALL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS (ADVERTISING, FLYERS, SOCIAL MEDIA, LOCAL NEWS MEDIA), PURCHASING SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS NEEDED FOR THE EVENTS AND PROGRAMS, SECURING NEARLY 15,000 IN EVENT SPONSORSHIPS (FY 24-25), AND ASSISTING WITH THE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH EVENT AND PROGRAM. DRAKE WELL MUSEUM AND PARK HOLDS AT LEAST NINE DIFFERENT EVENTS EACH YEAR; THESE DO NOT INCLUDE FUNDRAISING EVENTS. MAIN EVENTS FOR THE SITE INCLUDE THE WISDOM & MORE LECTURE SERIES HELD EVERY THURSDAY EVENING IN MARCH (86 ATTENDEES TOTAL IN LAST FISCAL YEAR), DISCOVERY DAYS CHILDREN'S SUMMER CAMP ON THURSDAYS IN JULY (67 CAMPERS TOTAL IN LAST FISCAL YEAR), DRAKE DAY CELEBRATION IN AUGUST (426 ATTENDEES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR), AND THE FALL GAS UP IN SEPTEMBER (315 ATTENDEES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR) WHICH SHOWCASES VARIOUS EQUIPMENT FROM THE EARLY OILFIELDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. DRAKE WELL MUSEUM HAD 18,098 VISITORS TO THE SITE IN FY 2024-25; OVER 1,940 OF THESE VISITORS WERE PROGRAM AND EVENT ATTENDEES. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL ALSO PROVIDED MARKETING, SUPPLIES, SPONSORSHIPS, AND PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR EVENTS AT HISTORIC PITHOLE CITY INCLUDING ITS CABIN FEVER PARTY IN FEBRUARY, LANTERN TOURS IN OCTOBER, AND ITS SUMMER SEASON OPERATION WHICH INCLUDED EDUCATIONAL HISTORICAL DEMONSTRATIONS AS WELL AS TOUR GUIDES. IN ADDITION TO PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL ALSO SUPPORTS DRAKE WELL MUSEUM'S SCHOOL TOUR PROGRAM BY PROVIDING FUNDING TO COVER ALL ADMISSION COSTS FOR SCHOOLS WISHING TO TOUR THE SITE. SCHOOLS CAN ALSO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR TRANSPORTATION COSTS TO GET TO AND FROM THE MUSEUM. THE SCHOOL TOUR PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS. DRAKE WELL MUSEUM HAD 2,599 SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM 44 DIFFERENT SCHOOL GROUPS VISIT THE SITE IN FY 2024-25. THE SCHOOLS WERE A MIXTURE OF PUBLIC, PRIVATE, HOMESCHOOL, AND CHARTER INSTITUTIONS WITH GRADES REPRESENTED FROM KINDERGARTEN TO 12TH GRADE. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL ALSO DID MARKETING FOR THE SCHOOL TOURS IN LOCAL NEWS MEDIA AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL ALSO ASSISTS DRAKE WELL MUSEUM IN ITS EDUCATIONAL MISSION BY PUBLISHING EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL FOR THE PUBLIC AND ITS MEMBERSHIP ON THE MUSEUM'S WEBSITE AS WELL AS ITS SOCIAL MEDIA PLA
- FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL PERFORMS ALL MARKETING, PROMOTION, AND OUTREACH FOR DRAKE WELL MUSEUM AND PARK AND ITS ASSOCIATED SITE OF HISTORIC PITHOLE CITY. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL REVITALIZED THE MUSEUM'S OUTREACH PROGRAM AT THE END OF FY 24-25 BY HIRING A FULL-TIME OUTREACH COORDINATOR AND HAVING THAT PERSON ATTEND VARIOUS COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL EVENTS IN AN EFFORT TO PROMOTE DRAKE WELL MUSEUM AND BRING IN MORE VISITORS TO THE SITE. THE COORDINATOR AND VOLUNTEERS HOST INFORMATIONAL TABLES AT COUNTY FAIRS, COMMUNITY FESTIVALS, AND OTHER SIMILAR EVENTS WHERE THEY CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE MUSEUM AND ITS EXHIBITS/GROUNDS, ITS MISSION, THE HISTORY OF THE EARLY PETROLEUM INDUSTRY OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND SCHEDULING TOURS AND VISITS. THE COORDINATOR ALSO ATTENDS CONVENTIONS FOR BUS TOUR COMPANIES AND ACTIVELY CONTACTS TOUR COMPANIES AND SIMILAR BUSINESSES TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO VISIT DRAKE WELL MUSEUM. IN ADDITION TO THE OUTREACH PROGRAM, FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL ALSO DEVELOPS, RELEASES, AND FUNDS ALL MARKETING MATERIALS FOR THE MUSEUM INCLUDING PRESS RELEASES, POSTERS AND FLYERS, PRINT ADVERTISEMENTS, RADIO ADVERTISEMENTS, AND DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGNS ON WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL ALSO PROVIDES THE FUNDING FOR THE MUSEUM'S WEBSITE. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL PERFORMS ALL MARKETING, PROMOTION, AND OUTREACH FOR DRAKE WELL MUSEUM AND PARK AND ITS ASSOCIATED SITE OF HISTORIC PITHOLE CITY. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL REVITALIZED THE MUSEUM'S OUTREACH PROGRAM AT THE END OF FY 24-25 BY HIRING A FULL-TIME OUTREACH COORDINATOR AND HAVING THAT PERSON ATTEND VARIOUS COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL EVENTS IN AN EFFORT TO PROMOTE DRAKE WELL MUSEUM AND BRING IN MORE VISITORS TO THE SITE. THE COORDINATOR AND VOLUNTEERS HOST INFORMATIONAL TABLES AT COUNTY FAIRS, COMMUNITY FESTIVALS, AND OTHER SIMILAR EVENTS WHERE THEY CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE MUSEUM AND ITS EXHIBITS/GROUNDS, ITS MISSION, THE HISTORY OF THE EARLY PETROLEUM INDUSTRY OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND SCHEDULING TOURS AND VISITS. THE COORDINATOR ALSO ATTENDS CONVENTIONS FOR BUS TOUR COMPANIES AND ACTIVELY CONTACTS TOUR COMPANIES AND SIMILAR BUSINESSES TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO VISIT DRAKE WELL MUSEUM. IN ADDITION TO THE OUTREACH PROGRAM, FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL ALSO DEVELOPS, RELEASES, AND FUNDS ALL MARKETING MATERIALS FOR THE MUSEUM INCLUDING PRESS RELEASES, POSTERS AND FLYERS, PRINT ADVERTISEMENTS, RADIO ADVERTISEMENTS, AND DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGNS ON WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL ALSO PROVIDES THE FUNDING FOR THE MUSEUM'S WEBSITE.
- FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL EMPLOYS UP TO 9 DIFFERENT STAFF THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO SUPPORT THE OPERATION AND MISSION OF DRAKE WELL MUSEUM AND ITS ASSOCIATED SITE HISTORIC PITHOLE CITY. THE ORGANIZATION'S STAFF INCLUDES A FULL-TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHO OVERSEES ALL FUNDRAISING, DEVELOPMENT, AND MARKETING FOR THE MUSEUM AS WELL AS ASSISTING WITH THE MANY DIFFERENT PROJECTS, PROGRAMS AND EVENTS HELD BY THE MUSEUM. THERE IS ALSO A FULL-TIME OUTREACH COORDINATOR WHO OVERSEES THE NEW OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR THE MUSEUM, AND A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE WHO PERFORMS ALL CUSTODIAL DUTIES FOR THE MUSEUM AS WELL AS ASSISTING WITH ADMISSIONS AND CURATORIAL PROJECTS. IN ADDITION TO THE THREE FULL-TIME STAFF, FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL ALSO EMPLOYS A PART- TIME BOOKKEEPER, AND TWO PART-TIME STAFF TO OPERATE THE MUSEUM'S ADMISSIONS POINT OF SALES AND GIFT SHOP. THREE SEASONAL PART-TIME STAFF, FUNDED THROUGH A PRIVATE GRANT, ASSIST WITH THE OPERATION AND HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION OF DRAKE WELL MUSEUM'S FULL SCALE WORKING REPLICA OF THE ORIGINAL DRAKE WELL OF 1859. ANOTHER SEASONAL PART-TIME EMPLOYEE IS THE PITHOLE COORDINATOR WHICH OVERSEES OPERATIONS OF HISTORIC PITHOLE CITY, AN ASSOCIATED SITE OF THE MUSEUM, DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. FINALLY, FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL PROVIDES FUNDING THROUGH PRIVATE GRANTS FOR THE HIRING OF TWO STUDENT INTERNS EVERY SUMMER. THESE INTERNS ASSIST WITH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDING THE CHILDREN'S SUMMER CAMP, CURATORIAL PROJECTS, SCHOOL TOURS, AND THE OPERATION AND INTERPRETATION OF HISTORIC PITHOLE CITY. FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL EMPLOYS UP TO 9 DIFFERENT STAFF THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO SUPPORT THE OPERATION AND MISSION OF DRAKE WELL MUSEUM AND ITS ASSOCIATED SITE HISTORIC PITHOLE CITY. THE ORGANIZATION'S STAFF INCLUDES A FULL-TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHO OVERSEES ALL FUNDRAISING, DEVELOPMENT, AND MARKETING FOR THE MUSEUM AS WELL AS ASSISTING WITH THE MANY DIFFERENT PROJECTS, PROGRAMS AND EVENTS HELD BY THE MUSEUM. THERE IS ALSO A FULL-TIME OUTREACH COORDINATOR WHO OVERSEES THE NEW OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR THE MUSEUM, AND A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE WHO PERFORMS ALL CUSTODIAL DUTIES FOR THE MUSEUM AS WELL AS ASSISTING WITH ADMISSIONS AND CURATORIAL PROJECTS. IN ADDITION TO THE THREE FULL-TIME STAFF, FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL ALSO EMPLOYS A PART- TIME BOOKKEEPER, AND TWO PART-TIME STAFF TO OPERATE THE MUSEUM'S ADMISSIONS POINT OF SALES AND GIFT SHOP. THREE SEASONAL PART-TIME STAFF, FUNDED THROUGH A PRIVATE GRANT, ASSIST WITH THE OPERATION AND HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION OF DRAKE WELL MUSEUM'S FULL SCALE WORKING REPLICA OF THE ORIGINAL DRAKE WELL OF 1859. ANOTHER SEASONAL PART-TIME EMPLOYEE IS THE PITHOLE COORDINATOR WHICH OVERSEES OPERATIONS OF HISTORIC PITHOLE CITY, AN ASSOCIATED SITE OF THE MUSEUM, DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. FINALLY, FRIENDS OF DRAKE WELL PROVIDES FUNDING THROUGH PRIVATE GRANTS FOR THE HIRING OF TWO STUDENT INTERNS EVERY SUMMER. THESE INTERNS ASSIST WITH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDING THE CHILDREN'S SUMMER CAMP, CURATORIAL PROJECTS, SCHOOL TOURS, AND THE OPERATION AND INTERPRETATION OF HISTORIC PITHOLE CITY.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1984.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.