Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Sturgis Historical Society

EIN 38-3263074 · Sturgis, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE FOR THE PRESERVATION AND PROMOTE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HISTORY OF THE CITY OF STURGIS, MICHIGAN, INCLUDING ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A MUSEUM DEDICATED TO THE HISTORY OF THE CITY.

Income
$191,531
Spending
$243,571
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
1
Volunteers
20

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

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 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 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 113% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 48% 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

    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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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, 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 (5)
  1. $2,011 spent. ENCOURAGING INTEREST IN LOCAL HISTORY AMONG THE CITIZENS OF STURGIS MICHIGAN
  2. $24,375 spent. FUNDING OF VIDEO PRODUCTIONS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND PROVIDE A PERMANENT RECORD OF THE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS, STORIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT CONSTITUTE THE HISTORY OF STURGIS, MICHIGAN
  3. $160,317 spent. MAINTAIN A LOCAL MUSEUM AND COLLECTION OF LOCAL ARTIFACTS FOR DISPLAY AS WELL AS SPONSORING EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AT THE MUSEUM TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PROVIDE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE LOCAL HISTORY OF STURGIS, MICHIGAN
  4. $45,738 spent. MAINTAIN A LOCAL MUSEUM AND COLLECTION OF LOCAL ARTIFACTS FOR DISPLAY AS WELL AS SPONSORING EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AT THE MUSEUM TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PROVIDE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE LOCAL HISTORY OF STURGIS, MICHIGAN.
  5. MAINTAIN A LOCAL MUSEUM AND COLLECTION OF LOCAL ARTIFACTS FOR DISPLAY AS WELL AS SPONSORING EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AT THE MUSEUM TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PROVIDE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE LOCAL HISTORY OF STURGIS, MICHIGAN.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 2025.

    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 March 1996.

    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.

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.