Passes our checks

Columbus Historical Society

EIN 31-1308995 · Columbus, OH

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

What it says it does

PRESERVE THE MULTI-CULTURAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS AND SHARE THAT HISTORY WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% 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 85% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 223% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

Independent board
25 of 25
23 of 23 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15
Has a 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
10 of 10
Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15
Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)

$52,491 spent. ARCHIVES: ACCESSIONING MULTI-CULTURAL ARTIFACTS INTO PERMANENT ARCHIVES. RECORD KEEPING AND PRESERVATION OF THE ARTIFACTS. TRAINING OF INTERNS AND WORK-STUDY STUDENTS FROM LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
$47,926 spent. MUSEUM: HOSTING SEVERAL EXHIBITIONS ON LOCAL HISTORY INCLUDING AN EXHIBITION ON THE 1970'S MUSIC SCENE IN COLUMBUS. ALL EXHIBITIONS WERE WELL RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY.
$9,129 spent. EVENTS AND PRESENTATIONS: WE PRESENTED A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND SPEAKER-LED PRESENTATIONS. VENUES INCLUDED OUR FACILITY AS WELL AS MANY COMMUNITY WIDE LOCATIONS. THOSE THAT HAD ATTENDANCE LIMITS USUALLY HAD A WAITING LIST. ALL EVENTS WERE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WITHOUT CHARGE.
$4,564 spent. PUBLICATIONS: OUR INTERNET MONTHLY NEWSLETTER HAS AN EMAIL LIST OF ABOUT 5,000. WE PROVIDE REGULAR POSTINGS TO FACEBOOK AND OTHER SITES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 November 1991.
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.