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Pioneer and Historical Society of Muskingum County Ohio

EIN 31-6059490 · Zanesville, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PIONEER AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY BELIEVES THAT AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF OUR HISTORIC HERITAGE IS ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAINING A UNIQUE AND MEANINGFUL IDENTITY AS A COMMUNITY. THE MISSION OF THE SOCIETY IS TO CELEBRATE AND PRESEERVE THE HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE AND TO ASSURE THAT THIS LEGACY IS PASSED ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS. TOWARDS THIS END WE WILL: EDUCATE AND ENGAGE A DIVERSE PUBLIC THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS; MAINTAIN OUR MUSEUM BUILDINGS AND COLLECTIONS; SUPPORT RESEARCH; PUBLISH HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS; AND MANAGE THE SOCIETY OPENLY, ETHICALLY, AND PROFESSIONALLY.

Income
$184,922
Spending
$151,584
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
65.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
3
Highest pay
$3,938, board of tru

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. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 65.2 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 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $151,022 spent. OPERATION OF TWO MUSEUMS FETURING ARTIFACTS RELATED TO THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO AND SOUTHEASTERN OHIO. TOURS ARE GIVEN TO SCHOOL GROUPS, ORGANIZED ADULT GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS TO FURTHER THEIR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
  2. $562 spent. TWICE YEARY PUBLICATIONS OF "MUSKINGUM JOURNAL", A BOOKLET CONTAINING MONOGRAPHS ON THE HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY AND SOUTHEASTERN OHIO. DISTRIBUTED FREE TO MEMBERS AND TO ALL HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LIBRARIES IN MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
  3. PROGRAMS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON TOPICS RELATED TO THE HISTORY OF OHIO

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1966.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.