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Sauk County Historical Society Inc

EIN 39-0866622 · Baraboo, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE SAUK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS TO PROTECT AND MAINTAIN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY BY COLLECTING, PRESERVING, AND EXHIBITING ARTIFACTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND DOCUMENTS RELATIVE TO THAT HISTORY, BY DISSEMINATING KNOWLEDGE VIA COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS, BY PROVIDING RESEARCH SERVICES, AND BY ASSISTING OTHER HISTORICAL SOCIETIES IN SAUK COUNTY.

Income
$242,735
Spending
$309,565
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
25.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
6
Volunteers
48

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

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    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 August 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 (3)
  1. $15,592 spent. THE VANORDEN MANSION 'PROJECTS' ARE THE LARGEST PROGRAM GROUP WE HAVE - WHICH IS ANNUAL ADMISSIONS TO THE MANSION AS A MUSEUM, CHRISTMAS EVENTS LIKE OUR HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AND TOUR OF HISTORIC HOMES. WE HAVE A SERIES OF THEMED EVENTS EACH YEAR WHICH GENERATE LOTS OF INCOME FOR US, BEHIND MEMBERSHIPS AND MISC. DONATIONS.
  2. $18,951 spent. EACH YEAR WE CELEBRATE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY WITH A PROGRAM TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE COUNTY AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTS ABOUT THE HO-CHUNK (WINNEBAGO) NATIVE AMERICANS NEAR US. THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY COUNTY FUNDS.
  3. $275,022 spent. OTHER EVENTS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1917.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.