Oakland County Pioneer & Historical Society

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE AND CONVEY THE HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY MI

Income

$130,250

Spending

$154,832

Spent on programs

58%

Reserves

56.7 months of spending

Largest source of income

donations and private grants, 37%

Employees

2

Highest pay

$43,250, director

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

Fair: 63 out of 100.

• Reserves

  35 of 35

  Spendable reserves would cover 56.7 months of spending.

• Debt

  20 of 20

  It owes 0% of what it owns.

• Living within its means

  0 of 15

  Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

• Income trend

  0 of 15

  Income fell 69% on the year before.

• Spending floor

  8 of 15

  58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 47 out of 100.

• Independent board

  25 of 25

  15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

• Conflict of interest policy

  0 of 15

  Reports no 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.

• Pay set independently

  0 of 5

  Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

• 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.

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. check_circle

   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. check_circle

   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. check_circle

   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. check_circle

   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. check_circle

   How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

   Recognized by the IRS since July 1948.

   Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

6. check_circle

   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.