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Summit County Historical Society of Akron Ohio

EIN 34-0766170 · Akron, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SOCIETY WAS FOUNDED IN 1924 FOR THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF WRITING A CENTENNIAAL HISTORY OF AKRON, OHIO. TODAY, OUR MISSION IS TO PRESERVE AND INTERPRET THE HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY AND AKRON, AND TO EDUCATE REGIONAL COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND EVENTS THAT HAVE SHAPED OUR RICH HISTORY. WE OWN AND MANAGE PERKINS STONE MANSION, HOME OF AKRON'S FOUNDING FAMILY; JOHN BROWN HOUSE, HOME OF THE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ABOLITIONIST; AND OLD STONE SCHOOL IN DOWNTOWN AKRON. MAJOR PROGRAMS INCLUDE DISCOVERY TRUNKS, 4TH GRADE OUTREACH, ADULT OUTREACH, SPECIAL EVENTS INCLUDING SHEEP HERDING DEMONSTRATIONS FOR THE FLOCK OF SHEEP ON PROPERTY, FREE FAMILY DAY OPPORTUNITIES EACH SUMMER AND FALL, WALKING AND HOUSE TOURS.

Income
$435,300
Spending
$480,799
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
8.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 50%
Employees
28

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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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.

  • 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, 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 (2)
  1. $441,449 spent. THE SOCIETY SERVES ALL RESIDENTS OF SUMMIT COUNTY WITH MANY FREE PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO EDUCATE OUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS,MANY IN LOW INCOME AND MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILIES. EVENTS HOSTED BY THE SOCIETY FOCUS ON OUR CULTURAL HISTORY WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON OUR YOUTH SUMMIT, JUNETEENTH, JOHN BROWN INSTITUTE FALL LECTURE, NORTH AMERICAN FIRST PEOPLES DAY AND MORE. MANY FORMER RESIDENTS AND RESEARCHERS CONTACT THE AGENCY TO LOCATE RESOURCES. ARTIFACTS, BOTH THREE DIMENSIONAL AND TWO DIMENSIONAL, ARE FEATURED THROUGHOUT SUMMIT COUNTY WITH SPECIAL EXHIBITS, DIGITAL EXHIBITS AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THE SOCIETY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CARING FOR AND PRESERVING 10 STRUCTURES OF WHICH THE LARGEST INCLUDE THE PERKINS STONE MANSION, THE HOME OF AKRON'S AND SUMMIT COUNTY'S FOUNDING FAMILY; THE JOHN BROWN HOUSE, RENTED BY THE ABOLITIONIST WHO SPARKED THE END OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES; AND THE OLD STONE SCHOOL. THE SOCIETY SERVES ALL RESIDENTS OF SUMMIT COUNTY WITH MANY FREE PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO EDUCATE OUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS,MANY IN LOW INCOME AND MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILIES. EVENTS HOSTED BY THE SOCIETY FOCUS ON OUR CULTURAL HISTORY WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON OUR YOUTH SUMMIT, JUNETEENTH, JOHN BROWN INSTITUTE FALL LECTURE, NORTH AMERICAN FIRST PEOPLES DAY AND MORE. MANY FORMER RESIDENTS AND RESEARCHERS CONTACT THE AGENCY TO LOCATE RESOURCES. ARTIFACTS, BOTH THREE DIMENSIONAL AND TWO DIMENSIONAL, ARE FEATURED THROUGHOUT SUMMIT COUNTY WITH SPECIAL EXHIBITS, DIGITAL EXHIBITS AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THE SOCIETY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CARING FOR AND PRESERVING 10 STRUCTURES OF WHICH THE LARGEST INCLUDE THE PERKINS STONE MANSION, THE HOME OF AKRON'S AND SUMMIT COUNTY'S FOUNDING FAMILY; THE JOHN BROWN HOUSE, RENTED BY THE ABOLITIONIST WHO SPARKED THE END OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES; AND THE OLD STONE SCHOOL.
  2. THE SOCIETY SERVES ALL RESIDENTS OF SUMMIT COUNTY WITH MANY FREE PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO EDUCATE OUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS, MANY IN LOW INCOME AND MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILIES. EVENTS HOSTED BY THE SOCIETY FOCUS ON OUR CULTURAL HISTORY WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON OUR YOUTH SUMMIT, JUNETEENTH, JOHN BROWN INSTITUTE FALL LECTURE, NORTH AMERICAN FIRST PEOPLES DAY AND MORE. MANY FORMER RESIDENTS AND RESEARCHERS CONTACT THE AGENCY TO LOCATE RESOURCES. ARTIFACTS, BOTH THREE DIMENSIONAL AND TWO DIMENSIONAL, ARE FEATURED THROUGHOUT SUMMIT COUNTY WITH SPECIAL EXHIBITS, DIGITAL EXHIBITS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THE SOCIETY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CARING FOR AND PRESERVING 10 STRUCTURES OF WHICH THE LARGEST INCLUDE THE PERKINS STONE MANSION, THE HOME OF AKRON'S AND SUMMIT COUNTY'S FOUNDING FAMILY; THE JOHN BROWN HOUSE, RENTED BY THE ABOLITIONIST WHO SPARKED THE END OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES; AND OLD STONE SCHOOL. THE SOCIETY SERVES ALL RESIDENTS OF SUMMIT COUNTY WITH MANY FREE PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO EDUCATE OUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS, MANY IN LOW INCOME AND MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILIES. EVENTS HOSTED BY THE SOCIETY FOCUS ON OUR CULTURAL HISTORY WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON OUR YOUTH SUMMIT, JUNETEENTH, JOHN BROWN INSTITUTE FALL LECTURE, NORTH AMERICAN FIRST PEOPLES DAY AND MORE. MANY FORMER RESIDENTS AND RESEARCHERS CONTACT THE AGENCY TO LOCATE RESOURCES. ARTIFACTS, BOTH THREE DIMENSIONAL AND TWO DIMENSIONAL, ARE FEATURED THROUGHOUT SUMMIT COUNTY WITH SPECIAL EXHIBITS, DIGITAL EXHIBITS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THE SOCIETY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CARING FOR AND PRESERVING 10 STRUCTURES OF WHICH THE LARGEST INCLUDE THE PERKINS STONE MANSION, THE HOME OF AKRON'S AND SUMMIT COUNTY'S FOUNDING FAMILY; THE JOHN BROWN HOUSE, RENTED BY THE ABOLITIONIST WHO SPARKED THE END OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES; AND OLD STONE SCHOOL.

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 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 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 March 1944.

    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.