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Fairfield County Heritage Association

EIN 31-6049796 · Lancaster, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF FAIRFIELD HERITAGE ASSOCIATION IS TO: CONNECT ALL PEOPLE TO THE RICH HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO THROUGH EVENTS, RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND PUBLICATION. TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF PRIDE AND APPRECIATION FOR THE VARIED ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE CITIZENS OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO, PAST AND PRESENT. ALSO TO ENCOURAGE MEANINGFUL PRESERVATION OF ARTIFACTS, STRUCTURES AND PROPERTIES. FCHA IS A 501(C)(3) TAX EXEMPT NON FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION. FCHA OWNS AND OPERATES THE SHERMAN HOUSE AND GEORGIAN MUSEUMS.

Income
$267,769
Spending
$282,469
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
70.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
4
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$60,847, executive di

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: 79 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 70.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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, 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. $276,224 spent. OPERATION OF THE SHERMAN HOUSE MUSEUM AND THE GEORGIAN MUSEUM. AFTERNOON TEAS SERVED WITH SILVER AND LINEN IN THE ELEGANT 1832 GEORGIAN MUSEUM. HISTORY WALK THROUGH CEMETERIES, NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESS AREAS. RE-ENACTORS IN AUTHENTIC COSTUMES PORTRAY THE CITIZENS FROM THE PAST. CANDLELIGHT TOUR OF HISTORIC CHURCHES DECORATED FOR THE HOLIDAYS - HELD EVERY DECEMBER IN DOWNTOWN LANCASTER. CORONET AWARD PROGRAM RECOGNIZES PROPERTY OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. FOR RENOVATION, RESTORATION, PRESERVATION, AREAS OF BEAUTIFICATION, AND NEW BUILDINGS EACH YEAR. INTRIGUING PROGRAMS PRESENTING INFORMATION ON SUBJECTS OF INTEREST INCLUDING ANTIQUES, THE CIVIL WAR, VINTAGE WEDDINGS, FAIRFIELD COUNTY VETERANS, CANALS, AND MUCH MORE. WILLIAM T. SHERMAN MEMORIAL CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE PROMOTES INTEREST IN THE AMERCAN CIVIL WAR AND THE RICH HISTORY SURROUNDING IT. THE CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE MEMBERS MEET TO STUDY ALL ASPECTS OF THE CIVIL WAR. ANNUAL TOUR OF HOMES OPERATION OF THE SHERMAN HOUSE MUSEUM AND THE GEORGIAN MUSEUM. AFTERNOON TEAS SERVED WITH SILVER AND LINEN IN THE ELEGANT 1832 GEORGIAN MUSEUM. HISTORY WALK THROUGH CEMETERIES, NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESS AREAS. RE-ENACTORS IN AUTHENTIC COSTUMES PORTRAY THE CITIZENS FROM THE PAST. CANDLELIGHT TOUR OF HISTORIC CHURCHES DECORATED FOR THE HOLIDAYS - HELD EVERY DECEMBER IN DOWNTOWN LANCASTER. CORONET AWARD PROGRAM RECOGNIZES PROPERTY OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. FOR RENOVATION, RESTORATION, PRESERVATION, AREAS OF BEAUTIFICATION, AND NEW BUILDINGS EACH YEAR. INTRIGUING PROGRAMS PRESENTING INFORMATION ON SUBJECTS OF INTEREST INCLUDING ANTIQUES, THE CIVIL WAR, VINTAGE WEDDINGS, FAIRFIELD COUNTY VETERANS, CANALS, AND MUCH MORE. WILLIAM T. SHERMAN MEMORIAL CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE PROMOTES INTEREST IN THE AMERCAN CIVIL WAR AND THE RICH HISTORY SURROUNDING IT. THE CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE MEMBERS MEET TO STUDY ALL ASPECTS OF THE CIVIL WAR. ANNUAL TOUR OF HOMES

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 October 13, 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 January 1964.

    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 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.