Chagrin Falls Historical Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CHAGRIN HISTORY CENTER DISCOVERS, PRESERVES, AND SHARES EVIDENCE OF AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF CHAGRIN FALLS AND VICINITY TO ENABLE ALL WHO LIVE, WORK, AND VISIT THE AREA TO APPRECIATE ITS PAST, UNDERSTAND ITS PRESENT, AND PLAN FOR ITS FUTURE.
- Income
- $632,211
- Spending
- $291,569
- Spent on programs
- 61%
- Reserves
- 67.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 84%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 126
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: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 67.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 54% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1561% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 73 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $175,718 spent. THE CHAGRIN FALLS HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM ACQUIRES, COLLECTS, PRESERVES AND SHARES ARTIFACTS FROM OUR VILLAGE AND VICINITY, FROM ITS EARLIEST TIMES (IT WAS SETTLED IN 1833), INCLUDING A LARGE COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND OBJECTS OWNED BY EARLY SETTLERS, SUCH AS CLOTHING, KITCHEN TOOLS, HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE AND PERSONAL EFFECTS, AS WELL AS A SUBSTANTIAL DOLL COLLECTION DONATED BY A FORMER MUSEUM CURATOR. THE COLLECTION INCLUDES A NUMBER OF PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY THE VILLAGES MILLS, FOUNDRIES AND FACTORIES THAT WERE ORIGINALLY WATER-POWERED BY THE CHAGRIN RIVER, WHICH ATTRACTED THE FIRST SETTLERS FROM MILL TOWNS IN NEW ENGLAND. THE MUSEUM ALSO HAS COLLECTIONS OF ARTWORKS BY TWO WELL KNOWN PRIMITIVE ARTISTS HENRY CHURCH, JR. AND MAX BARNARD WHO LIVED IN THE VILLAGE MOST OF THEIR LIVES. THE MUSEUM ALSO MAITAINS ARCHIVES WITH RECORDS OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES, AND MICROFILMS OF OUR EARLY LOCAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER, THE CHAGRIN FALLS EXPONENT. THE CHAGRIN FALLS HISTORICAL SOCIETY OFFERS ENJOYABLE AND UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR BOTH SCHOOL CHILDREN AND ADULTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTS AN ANNUAL HISTORIC CHAGRIN FALLS HOME AND GARDEN TOUR AND SPIRITS ALIVE TOUR OF EVERGREEN HILL CEMETERY. ADDITIONAL SERVICES INCLUDE GUIDED WALKING TOURS OF THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT AND THE WESTSIDE HISTORIC DISTRICT AS WELL AS THE POLICE CAR TOURS. IN 2024 THE ORGANIZATION COMPLETED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BARRIBALL CARRIAGE HOUSE PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND COLLECTION STORAGE. $91,969 OF DONATED SERVICES AND IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS WERE RECEIVED FROM THE BUILDER AND SUB-CONTRACTORS.
- $758 spent. THE ORGANIZATION DISSEMINATES HISTORICAL INFORMATION AND CREATES INTEREST IN THE PAST BY PUBLISHING A SOCIETY NEWSLETTER, SUBMISSION OF ARTICLES TO THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER, AND PUBLISHING BOOKS AND THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA (FACEBOOK, TWITTER, ETC.)
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1966.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.