Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PHLF WORKS WITHIN A 250-MILE RADIUS OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA TO: IDENTIFY AND SAVE HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT PLACES; RENEW HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS, TOWNS, AND URBAN AREAS; PRESERVE HISTORIC FARMS AND HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED LANDSCAPES; AND EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE PITTSBURGH REGION'S RICH ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE.
- Income
- $2.8 million
- Spending
- $2.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 63
- Highest pay
- $369,060, co-founder
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
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 30% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 25 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $699,793 spent. PHLF'S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OFFERS A VARIETY OF SERVICES AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ON LOCAL HISTORY, ARCHITECTURE, AND URBAN PLANNING, WHICH INCLUDE WALKING AND BUS TOURS OF ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORICAL SITES FOR BOTH THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND SCHOOL CHILDREN; INSERVICE CLASSES FOR TEACHERS; RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION OF BOOKLETS AND BROCHURES; AND CLASSROOM PROGRAMS FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL CHILDREN. PHLF MAINTAINS THE JAMES VAN TRUMP LIBRARY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND PROVIDES RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ON ARCHITECTURE, URBAN PLANNING AND PRESERVATION TOPICS, AND A SECOND LIBRARY, THE FRANK B. FAIRBANKS RAIL TRANSPORTATION ARCHIVE.
- $8,356 spent. PHLF PROVIDES SERVICES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, EXPENDS FUNDS, AND MAKES GRANTS TO SUPPORT PRESERVATION ACTIVITIES OF NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS THAT UNDERTAKE PROJECTS TO PRESERVE, RESTORE, AND REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES WITH A FOCUS ON LOW TO MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES. PHLF CREATES PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND HELP PRESERVE ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARKS AND HISTORIC NEIGBORHOODS WITHIN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
- $1.4 million spent. PHLF USES FUNDS TO ACQUIRE, RESTORE, AND REUSE HISTORICALLY AND ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURES TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. PHLF PROMOTES APPRECIATION OF HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS BY OPENING BUILDINGS TO THE PUBLIC, OFFERING TOURS, AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON METHODS OF PRESERVING HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS.
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
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 December 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 March 1965.
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.
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