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Franklin County Historical Society

EIN 31-4383802 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$23.2 million
Spending
$30.7 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
227
Volunteers
203
Highest pay
$639,628, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 September 30, 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 (2)
  1. $23.6 million spent. QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES: THE ORGANIZATION OFFERED A VARIETY OF QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR 678,718 GUESTS. THESE QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES INCLUDED COSI EXHIBITS AND A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: WORKSHOPS, SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, ACCESS FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE, AND OTHER EVENTS. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION-CHILDREN ARE NATURAL BORN SCIENTISTS, EXPLORING AND EXPERIMENTING BEFORE THEY WALK OR TALK. DESIGNED BY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION EXPERTS, COSI'S LITTLE KIDSPACE ENCOURAGES THIS CURIOSITY, NUTURES IMAGINATION, AND PROMOTES LEARNING THROUGH HANDS-ON PLAY. PRESCHOOL WORKSHOPS USE CHILDREN'S LITERATURE TO EXPLORE FAMILIAR TOPICS SUCH AS FLIGHT AND SPACE. FAMILY LEARNING-FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN TO THE FARTHEST REACHES OF SPACE, FAMILIES CAN PLAY AND EXPLORE THEIR WAY THROUGH SEVEN PERMANENT EXHIBIT AREAS. COSI'S EXHIBITS PROVIDE A GUIDED TOUR TO FAMILY FUN WITH INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, AND TALKING POINTS ALONG THE WAY. IN ADDITION, FAMILY SCIENCE QUESTS OFFER A NEW WAY TO EXPLORE COSI BY FOCUSING ON SPECIFIC TOPICS LIKE FORENSICS AND PHYSICS ALONG WITH OUR FAMILY WORKSHOPS. SCIENCE EDUCATION TRANSFORMATION-DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE, COSI'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS PROVIDE EXCITING LEARNING ADVENTURES CREATIVELY DISGUISED AS FUN. COSI'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS SHOWCASE ACTIVITIES THAT HELP THE COMMUNITY LEARN AND GROW.
  2. $191,724 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: COMMUNITY OUTREACH INCLUDES COSI CONNECTS PROVIDING CONTENT DIGITALLY TO BE CONSUMED ANYWHERE, COSI CONNECTS CURBSIDE WHICH BRINGS COSI CONNECTS TO SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES. COSI CONNECTS KIT DISTRBUTIONS TO SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.PROVIDED SCIENCE-THEMED ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGE LEVELS FOR 221,679 PARTICIPANTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 May 1962.

    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.