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Highland County Historical Society Inc

EIN 31-6056566 · Hillsboro, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceWeak18 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY INCLUDING ALL PERTINANT EVENTS, ACTIVITIES, AND PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE FORMING OF THE COUNTY AND ITS FOUNDERS HISTORY. TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE TOWNS HISTORY AND HOW IT CAME INTO EXISTENCE.

Income
$158,146
Spending
$117,505
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
52.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 80%
Employees
1
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$17,000, director

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

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 52.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% 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

Weak: 18 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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.

  • 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

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. $117,505 spent. PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY THROUGH PUBLIC AWARENESS. ARTIFACTS AND JOURNALS ARE ON DISPLAY ALONG WITH HISTORICAL FACTS OF THE PEOPLE, PERSONS, AND THINGS THAT OCCURRED IN HIGHLAND COUNTY THAT AFFECTED THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. TOURS OF VARIOUS HOUSES ARE AVAILABLE THAT PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT PART OF AMERICA'S HISTORY .THE MUSEUM IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE FROM SPRING TO FALL TWO DAYS A WEEK. IT IS OPENED BY APPOINTMENT FOR SCHOOL GROUPS, SCOUT TROOPS, AND OTHERS. HISTORIC PROGRAMS ARE PRESENTED AT VARIOUS TIMES OF THE YEAR. THIS PAST YEAR THE SOCIETY HAS RECEIVED DONATIONS TO REPAIR THE BUILDING HOUSING THE MUSEUM AND TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO THE HANDICAPPED.

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

  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 2024.

    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 December 1965.

    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.