Detroit Historical Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Detroit Historical Society tells Detroit's stories and why they matter through its exhibits, programs, outreach, and the preservation and dissemination of its artifacts and collections.
- Income
- $5.6 million
- Spending
- $7.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- 7.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 38%
- Employees
- 92
- Volunteers
- 51
- Highest pay
- $294,345, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2545 of 46 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
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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 (3)
- $1.4 million spent. Management and oversight of the Detroit Historical Museum and Dossin Great Lakes Museum - the Detroit Historical Museums provide opportunities for individuals of all ages to experience a variety of historical stories and artifacts. The Detroit Historical Museum is open five days a week, 52 weeks per year. The Dossin Great Lakes Museum is open three days per week for 28 weeks per year and five days per week for 24 weeks per year. Both museums are open for private tours on days they are not open to the public. Together, the museums serve more than 180,000 people annually.
- $1.8 million spent. Public programs - the Detroit Historical Museums' goal is to offer opportunities for constituents to go in-dept on certain historical topics, either through lectures, workshops, films, or tours. The organization hosts approximately 30 community tours annually and approximately 25 in-museum programs. Generally, these programs are targeted at adults and seniors; however, there are special events and programs throughout the year aimed at students and families. The average community tour attendance is 30 people, and the average in-museum program attracts 40 individuals.
- $1.4 million spent. Maintaining more than 300,000 artifacts in the City of Detroit's collection, the Detroit Historical Society ensures the conservation and preservation of artifacts related to the history of the people, places, and events critical to the City of Detroit's history. A team of staff, interns, and volunteers is working to digitize aspects of the collection and place the information online. Even with the abatement of COVID-19, the appetite for digital content continues, and the organization is now focused on digitization as a way to increase accessibility to these artifacts for those that cannot come to the museums. The organization continues to receive several thousand items annually.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.
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 October 1955.
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.