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Crown Hill Heritage Foundation Inc

EIN 31-1104060 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 54 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

It is the mission of the CHHF to preserve and celebrate the architectural, cultural and natural heritage of the city's oldest urban green space, Crown Hill Cemetery.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 81%
Employees
0
Volunteers
900
Highest pay
$243,712, president

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 56% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 54 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 25

    8 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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)
  1. $963,212 spent. Historic preservation is the cornerstone of CHHF's mission. Crown Hill Cemetery was founded as a "Rural Cemetery" for Indianapolis in 1863 in the middle of the Civil War. The CHHF founded in 1984 preserves and celebrates Crown Hill's 555 acres of land, 25 miles of winding roads, 3 miles of brick and wrought iron fence, 6 historic structures, 60 historic family mausoleums, and more than 225,000 monuments and markers that are beautiful works of art commemorating past generations. In 2025 staff, volunteers, and preservationists restored the historic 1904 Sentry House, 2 family mausoleums, and 600 monuments.
  2. With more than 11,000 inventoried trees and 137 unique species, Crown Hill is regarded as "the single best place for tree lovers in the city." The CHHF secured Level II accreditation status for The Crown Hill Arboretum from the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program. The CHHF established an outdoor learning lab in the South Woods of the Crown Hill Arboretum that includes a pollinator garden, student/picnic seating area, nature trail, and urban prairie. In 2025 staff, volunteers, and arborists planted 300 new trees and led 85 Crown Hill Cemetery & Arboretum guided tours.
  3. Crown Hill Cemetery is a vast community resource serving as a cemetery, an arboretum, a cultural landmark, and a unique outdoor classroom. The CHHF offers K-thru-12 standards-based field trips at no cost to Hoosier students in order to make learning opportunities available to all. The CHHF provides Crown Hill Homeschool Day, Indiana's largest, free educational day with over 40 exhibitors, educational institutions, and cultural organizations. The CHHF collaborates with colleges and universities to provide internships, research, and volunteer opportunities. In 2025 staff, volunteers, and educators engaged 8,000 participants in CHHF programs including 4,500 students in free field trips and Homeschool Day.

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 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 November 6, 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 2025.

    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 April 1985.

    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 November 4, 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.