German Village Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 42% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE GERMAN VILLAGE SOCIETY STRIVES TO MAINTAIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S REPUTATION AS A RECOGNIZED EXAMPLE OF HISTORIC COMMUNITIES IN COLUMBUS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE GVS GOALS ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) GVS LEADS PRESERVATION EFFORTS AND PRESERVATION EDUCATION LEADERSHIP FOR GERMAN VILLAGE PROPERTY OWNERS, CITY OF COLUMBUS AND STATE OF OHIO AFFINITY GROUPS, AND FOR VISITORS THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, HERITAGE TOURISM AND STUDENT EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS. (2) GVS SERVES AS A CONNECTOR ORGANIZATION WITH THE COMMUNITY, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH NEIGHBORS AND GOVERNMENTS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND EXPERIENCES IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, AS WELL AS TO SERVE AS AN IMPORTANT DESTINATION FOR VISITORS TO OUR CITY. (3) GVS PROVIDES STABLE LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE TO SUSTAIN AND GROW OUR MISSION, WHILE PRESERVING ITS 60-YEAR LEGACY. (4) GVS PROVIDES A COMMUNITY HUB, BOTH PHYSICALLY IN OUR BUILDING AND VIRTUALLY, BY ENGAGING, MONITORING AND COORDINATING COMMUNITY EFFORTS ACROSS MANY ORGANIZAT
- Income
- $388,786
- Spending
- $413,645
- Spent on programs
- 42%
- Reserves
- 31.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 4
- Highest pay
- $72,800, executive di
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: 69 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 31.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1542% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (1)
- $171,724 spent. MEMBERS OF THE GERMAN VILLAGE SOCIETY SERVE AS CARETAKERS OF A LEGACY FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND COLLECTIVELY SUPPORT THE MISSION OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND EDUCATION. THE PRIMARY ROLE OF THE SOCIETY IS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE GERMAN VILLAGE COMMISSION PROCESS AND USE OF THE GERMAN VILLAGE GUIDELINES ON ALL EXTERIOR PROJECTS WITHIN THE HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED FOOTPRINT. OUR FIRST AUDIENCE FOR EDUCATION IS THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO MUST NAVIGATE THE GUIDELINES AND COMMISSION PROCESS TO PROPERLY PRESERVE THEIR HISTORIC PROPERTY. THE SECOND AUDIENCE FOR EDUCATION IS GOVERNMENT AND AFFINITY GROUPS WHO WORK WITH US ON PRESERVATION BEST PRACTICES. THE THIRD AUDIENCE FOR EDUCATION IS VISITORS TO OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT TO THAT END, THE GERMAN VILLAGE SOCIETY MAINTAINS A VISITORS CENTER TO WELCOME AND ORIENT VISITORS (AS WELL AS NEW RESIDENTS). IT IS STAFFED ENTIRELY BY VOLUNTEERS, AS ARE THE SOCIETY'S GUIDED FIELD TRIP AND GROUP-TOUR EXPERIENCES TOGETHER, THE VISITORS CENTER AND THE GUIDED TOURS SERVE MORE THAN 15,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR. GERMAN VILLAGE SOCIETY HAS 17 ELECTED BOARD TRUSTEES. THERE ARE 17 COMMITTIES THAT TACKLE EVERYTHING FROM VISIONING FOR THE FUTURE NEEDS OF THE NONPROFIT TO GARDENING, EVENT-PLANNING AND BUSINESS SUPPORT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ALL TOLD, MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE REGULARLY VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO ALL OF THE FUNCTIONS OF GERMAN VILLAGE SOCIETY. MEMBERS OF THE GERMAN VILLAGE SOCIETY SERVE AS CARETAKERS OF A LEGACY FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND COLLECTIVELY SUPPORT THE MISSION OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND EDUCATION. THE PRIMARY ROLE OF THE SOCIETY IS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE GERMAN VILLAGE COMMISSION PROCESS AND USE OF THE GERMAN VILLAGE GUIDELINES ON ALL EXTERIOR PROJECTS WITHIN THE HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED FOOTPRINT. OUR FIRST AUDIENCE FOR EDUCATION IS THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO MUST NAVIGATE THE GUIDELINES AND COMMISSION PROCESS TO PROPERLY PRESERVE THEIR HISTORIC PROPERTY. THE SECOND AUDIENCE FOR EDUCATION IS GOVERNMENT AND AFFINITY GROUPS WHO WORK WITH US ON PRESERVATION BEST PRACTICES. THE THIRD AUDIENCE FOR EDUCATION IS VISITORS TO OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT TO THAT END, THE GERMAN VILLAGE SOCIETY MAINTAINS A VISITORS CENTER TO WELCOME AND ORIENT VISITORS (AS WELL AS NEW RESIDENTS). IT IS STAFFED ENTIRELY BY VOLUNTEERS, AS ARE THE SOCIETY'S GUIDED FIELD TRIP AND GROUP-TOUR EXPERIENCES TOGETHER, THE VISITORS CENTER AND THE GUIDED TOURS SERVE MORE THAN 15,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR. GERMAN VILLAGE SOCIETY HAS 17 ELECTED BOARD TRUSTEES. THERE ARE 17 COMMITTIES THAT TACKLE EVERYTHING FROM VISIONING FOR THE FUTURE NEEDS OF THE NONPROFIT TO GARDENING, EVENT-PLANNING AND BUSINESS SUPPORT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ALL TOLD, MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE REGULARLY VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO ALL OF THE FUNCTIONS OF GERMAN VILLAGE SOCIETY.
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 2024.
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 December 1979.
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.