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Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance

EIN 26-4160755 · Havertown, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceWeak25 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CORPORATION IS ORGANIZED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE, LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC, RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, INCLUDING: TO COMMEMORATE, HONOR, AND INTERPRET THE HISTORIES OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WHO LIVED AT PENNHURST STATE SCHOOL AND HOSPITAL (PENNHURST). TO PROMOTE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE STRUGGLE FOR DIGNITY AND FULL CIVIL RIGHTS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, USING THE LITTLE-KNOWN HISTORY AT PENNHURST. TO EDUCATE CITIZENS IN LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF PENNHURST. TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PRESERVATION AND ADAPTIVE RE-USE OF THE FORMER PENNHURST STATE SCHOOL AND HOSPITAL. TO BE PART OF A AN EFFORT TO CREATE A WORLD-CLASS NATIONAL MUSEUM TO HONOR AND MEMORIALIZE THE ONGOING CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS STRUGGLE OF AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES IN A LOCATION OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.

Income
$248,341
Spending
$8,296
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
11.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $4,882 spent. PURPOSE OF THE CLIR GRANT IS TO DIGITALIZE PAPER DOCUMENTS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE NOW-CLOSED PENNHURST STATE SCHOOL AND HOSPITAL IN CHESTER COUNTY PA, AND THE 40-YEAR HISTORY OF THE SELF-ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR OURSELVES. ONCE DIGITALIZED, THESE HISTORICAL RECORDS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO RESEARCHERS, HISTORIANS, AND OTHERS WORLDWIDE STUDYING THESE EFFORTS, BY CREATING A WEBSITE INCLUDING ALL THESE DIGITALIZED DOCUMENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2010.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.