Passes our checks

Plymouth Historical Society

EIN 38-6096477 · Plymouth, MI

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

What it says it does

PRESERVING, TEACHING AND PRESENTING HISTORY THROUGH INSPIRING MUSEUM EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS AND ARCHIVAL MATERIALS.

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

Weak: 33 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
0 of 35
Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 44% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15
Income fell 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 15
58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
11 of 11 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.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)

$158,633 spent. OPERATED AND MANAGED PUBLIC MUSEUM EXHIBITS INCLUDING HANDS-ON EXHIBITS FOR CHILDREN, LIFE-SIZE STREET-OF-SHOPS REFLECTING 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY LIFE IN PLYMOUTH AND THE STATE'S LARGEST ABRAHAM LINCOLN COLLECTION.
$16,758 spent. OFFERED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THROUGH FIVE DIFFERENT CURRICULUM-DRIVEN, MEAP SENSITIVE SOCIAL HISTORY CLASSES.
$42,648 spent. MAINTAINED MUSEUM ARCHIVES AND LIBRARY COLLECTIONS OF HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS INCLUDING BOOKS, PHOTOGRAPHS, DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS RELATING TO PLYMOUTH AND MICHIGAN HISTORY, CIVIL WAR HISTORY AND GENEAOLOGY

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

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 May 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 1959.
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.