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Firelands Historical Society

EIN 34-4471422 · Norwalk, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROMOTES AND PRESERVES THE HISTORY AND GENEALOGY OF THE FIRELANDS AREA IN NORTHERN OHIO AT THE FIRELANDS MUSEUM AND LANING-YOUNG RESEARCH CENTER LOCATED ON CASE AVE., NORWALK, OHIO.

Income
$83,986
Spending
$49,016
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 53%
Employees
0
Volunteers
24

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

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $12,936 spent. FIRELANDS MUSEUM- THE FIRELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY OPERATES THE FIRELANDS MUSEUM AT 4 CASE AVE., NORWALK, OHIO. THE MUSEUM IS THE OLDEST OPERATING MUSEUM IN OHIO. HOUSED WITHIN THE THREE-STORY MUSEUM BUILDING IS A LARGE COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS AND ANTIQUES INCLUDING A CIVIL WAR ERA GUN COLLECTION. THE MUSEUM IS OPERATED BY AN ALL VOLUNTEER STAFF AND CURATOR.
  2. $6,539 spent. LANING-YOUNG RESEARCH CENTER- THE FIRELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MUSEUM OPERATES THE LANING-YOUNG RESEARCH CENTER AT 7 CASE AVE., NORWALK, OHIO. HOUSED WITHIN THE RESEARCH CENTER IS A COLLECTION OF LOCAL, COUNTY AND VARIOUS STATE HISTORIES, FAMILY GENEALOGICAL RECORDS, LOCAL RECORDS AND A VAST COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FIRELANDS AREA. THE RESEARCH CENTER ALSO HOUSES A NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN ARTIFACT COLLECTION AS WELL AS A COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT AND FARM ITEMS USED ON FARMS WITHIN THE FIRELANDS AREA.
  3. $5,398 spent. PROGRAMS AND DISPLAYS- AS PART OF ITS MISSION, THE FIRELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPONSORED 15 HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS AND THE PUBLIC DURING 2024. DURING THE YEAR, THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY CONTINUED TO ADD ARTIFACTS AND DISPLAYS TO ITS NORTHERN AMERICAN INDIAN EXHIBIT AT THE LANING-YOUNG RESEARCH CENTER.
  4. $16,897 spent. THE FIRELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTED VARIOUS INFORMATIVE PROGRAMS TO ITS MEMBERS, GUESTS AND SCHOLARS DEALING WITH THE LOCAL HISTORY AND GENEALOGY OF THE FIRELANDS AREA.
  5. THE FIRELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTED VARIOUS INFORMATIVE PROGRAMS TO ITS MEMBERS, GUESTS AND SCHOLARS DEALING WITH THE LOCAL HISTORY AND GENEALOGY OF THE FIRELANDS AREA.

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 September 1959.

    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.

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