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Dunham Tavern Museum

EIN 34-6555993 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE, DEVELOP, AND SHARE HISTORIC DUNHAM TAVERN AND ITS CAMPUS AS AN EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCE. WE ASPIRE FOR DUNHAM TAVERN AS AN INSTITUTION TO PROVIDE AN URBAN GREEN SPACE IN MIDTOWN CLEVELAND, AND TO RETURN THE TAVERN TO ITS ROOTS BY SERVING AS A PLACE FOR URBAN HISTORY, EDUCATION, NATURE, AND COMMUNITY.

Income
$809,715
Spending
$287,735
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
37.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
3
Volunteers
28
Highest pay
$80,149, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 37.5 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 64% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 79% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 May 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. $240,179 spent. ONCE A STAGECOACH STOP ON THE BUFFALO-CLEVELAND-DETROIT POST ROAD, THE 1824 HOME OF RUFUS AND JANE PRATT DUNHAM IS THE OLDEST BUILDING STILL STANDING ON ITS ORIGINAL SITE IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND. IN STARK CONTRAST TO THE CITYSCAPE THAT SURROUNDS IT, DUNHAM TAVERN MUSEUM & GARDENS OFFERS A GLIMPSE OF HISTORY AND INSIGHT INTO THE LIFESTYLES OF EARLY OHIO SETTLERS AND TRAVELERS. AMAZINGLY, THE STRUCTURE HAS PERSISTED AS A WITNESS TO NEARLY 200 YEARS OF HISTORY AND CHANGE ON EUCLID AVENUE. STAGECOACH STOPS TO CAR DEALERSHIPS, MILLIONAIRE'S ROW TO URBAN RENEWAL . . . DUNHAM HAS REMAINED. DUNHAM TAVERN MUSEUM & GARDENS-AN INCLUSIVE PLACE THAT INSPIRES AND ENRICHES LIVES THROUGH HISTORY, NATURE, AND COMMUNITY. HISTORY NEVER RESTS BUT IS RETOLD BY EACH GENERATION. THE DUNHAM TAVERN HAS WITNESSED CLEVELAND'S HISTORY AND AMAZINGLY SURVIVED FOR ALMOST TWO CENTURIES. AS WE ENTER OUR THIRD CENTURY, DUNHAM TAVERN MUSEUM & GARDENS IS A PLACE WHERE ONE MAY EXPLORE AND CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. WHILE WE HONOR THE DUNHAMS OF "PIONEER" DAYS, WE ALSO CELEBRATE EACH SUCCESSIVE GENERATION RIGHT UP TO TODAY THAT MADE NEW LIVES IN CLEVELAND. WE STRIVE TO FOSTER A RENEWED APPRECIATION OF NATURE AND OUR LANDSCAPE - EXPERIENCED AT OUR OUTDOOR EVENTS OR SIMPLY BY A CASUAL STROLL AND REFLECTION ON THE HERITAGE TRAIL. DUNHAM TAVERN MUSEUM & GARDENS IS A COMMUNITY ANCHOR THAT PRESERVES HISTORY WHILE CREATING A VITAL GATHERING SPACE THAT CONTINUES TO INSPIRE AND CELEBRATE A CHANGING MUSEUM FOR A RESILIENT NEIGHBORHOOD. JUST AS DUNHAM'S HISTORY REFLECTS PRESERVATION AND ADAPTATION WITHIN CHANGING NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXTS, TODAY IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT TO CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF DUNHAM TAVERN MUSEUM & GARDENS. A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION OPPORTUNITY EXISTS TO PRESERVE DUNHAM'S HISTORY WHILE IMAGINING A VISIONARY FUTURE THAT SUSTAINS AND ELEVATES US AS A SIGNIFICANT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSET AND A REGIONAL CULTURAL DESTINATION. DUNHAM IS AT THE HEART OF THE NEWLY DEFINED MIDTOWN CIVIC DISTRICT. WITH INCREASED PLANNING AND INVESTMENT ALONG E. 66TH STREET AND THE EUCLID HEALTHTECH CORRIDOR, THE DUNHAM CAMPUS CAN BECOME AN INSPIRING, WELCOMING 21ST CENTURY PUBLIC SPACE THAT ENSURES DUNHAM TAVERN MUSEUM & GARDENS REMAINS A VITAL MIDTOWN INSTITUTION. ONCE A STAGECOACH STOP ON THE BUFFALO-CLEVELAND-DETROIT POST ROAD, THE 1824 HOME OF RUFUS AND JANE PRATT DUNHAM IS THE OLDEST BUILDING STILL STANDING ON ITS ORIGINAL SITE IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND. IN STARK CONTRAST TO THE CITYSCAPE THAT SURROUNDS IT, DUNHAM TAVERN MUSEUM & GARDENS OFFERS A GLIMPSE OF HISTORY AND INSIGHT INTO THE LIFESTYLES OF EARLY OHIO SETTLERS AND TRAVELERS. AMAZINGLY, THE STRUCTURE HAS PERSISTED AS A WITNESS TO NEARLY 200 YEARS OF HISTORY AND CHANGE ON EUCLID AVENUE. STAGECOACH STOPS TO CAR DEALERSHIPS, MILLIONAIRE'S ROW TO URBAN RENEWAL . . . DUNHAM HAS REMAINED. DUNHAM TAVERN MUSEUM & GARDENS-AN INCLUSIVE PLACE THAT INSPIRES AND ENRICHES LIVES THROUGH HISTORY, NATURE, AND COMMUNITY. HISTORY NEVER RESTS BUT IS RETOLD BY EACH GENERATION. THE DUNHAM TAVERN HAS WITNESSED CLEVELAND'S HISTORY AND AMAZINGLY SURVIVED FOR ALMOST TWO CENTURIES. AS WE ENTER OUR THIRD CENTURY, DUNHAM TAVERN MUSEUM & GARDENS IS A PLACE WHERE ONE MAY EXPLORE AND CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. WHILE WE HONOR THE DUNHAMS OF "PIONEER" DAYS, WE ALSO CELEBRATE EACH SUCCESSIVE GENERATION RIGHT UP TO TODAY THAT MADE NEW LIVES IN CLEVELAND. WE STRIVE TO FOSTER A RENEWED APPRECIATION OF NATURE AND OUR LANDSCAPE - EXPERIENCED AT OUR OUTDOOR EVENTS OR SIMPLY BY A CASUAL STROLL AND REFLECTION ON THE HERITAGE TRAIL. DUNHAM TAVERN MUSEUM & GARDENS IS A COMMUNITY ANCHOR THAT PRESERVES HISTORY WHILE CREATING A VITAL GATHERING SPACE THAT CONTINUES TO INSPIRE AND CELEBRATE A CHANGING MUSEUM FOR A RESILIENT NEIGHBORHOOD. JUST AS DUNHAM'S HISTORY REFLECTS PRESERVATION AND ADAPTATION WITHIN CHANGING NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXTS, TODAY IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT TO CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF DUNHAM TAVERN MUSEUM & GARDENS. A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION OPPORTUNITY EXISTS TO PRESERVE DUNHAM'S HISTORY WHILE IMAGINING A VISIONARY FUTURE THAT SUSTAINS AND ELEVATES US AS A SIGNIFICANT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSET AND A REGIONAL CULTURAL DESTINATION. DUNHAM IS AT THE HEART OF THE NEWLY DEFINED MIDTOWN CIVIC DISTRICT. WITH INCREASED PLANNING AND INVESTMENT ALONG E. 66TH STREET AND THE EUCLID HEALTHTECH CORRIDOR, THE DUNHAM CAMPUS CAN BECOME AN INSPIRING, WELCOMING 21ST CENTURY PUBLIC SPACE THAT ENSURES DUNHAM TAVERN MUSEUM & GARDENS REMAINS A VITAL MIDTOWN INSTITUTION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 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 May 2025.

    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 October 1942.

    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.