Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Waupaca Historial Society Inc

EIN 39-1096279 · Waupaca, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceWeak47 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE WAUPACA HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE WAUPACA AREA AND TO SHARE THAT HISTORY WITH OTHERS. WE DO THIS THROUGH OUR LIBRARY AND ARTIFACT COLLECTIONS, SPECIAL EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS, AND TOURS OF OUR FACILITIES THAT WE OFFER TO INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, FAMILIES AND STUDENTS. OUR SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. THE WAUPACA HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH THE FOLLOWING PROJECT: MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING OUR FOUR HISTORIC BUILDINGS. DEVELOPING AND OFFERING HISTORICAL PROGRAMS ON A MONTHLY BASIS. OFFERING TOURS OF OUR HISTORIC BUILDINGS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. CREATING ROTATING EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS AT THE HOLLY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY CENTER. ACTIVELY COLLECTING AND CATALOGING HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS AND ARTIFACTS OF SIGNIFICANCE TO THE WAUPACA AREA. SUPPORTING GENEALOGICAL AND LOCAL HISTORICAL RESEARCH. SERVE AS A RESOURCE AND PARTNER FOR OUR COMMUNITY, LOCAL LEADERSHIP, BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS.

Income
$188,182
Spending
$94,288
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
40.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
1
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$40,192, director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 40.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 50% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 184% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% 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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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, 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 (1)
  1. $91,848 spent. THE MISSION OF THE WAUPACA HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE WAUPACA AREA AND TO SHARE THAT HISTORY WITH OTHERS. WE DO THIS THROUGH OUR LIBRARY AND ARTIFACT COLLECTIONS, SPECIAL EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS, AND TOURS OF OUR FACILITIES THAT WE OFFER TO INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, FAMILIES AND STUDENTS. OUR SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. THE WAUPACA HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH THE FOLLOWING PROJECT: MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING OUR FOUR HISTORIC BUILDINGS. DEVELOPING AND OFFERING HISTORICAL PROGRAMS ON A MONTHLY BASIS. OFFERING TOURS OF OUR HISTORIC BUILDINGS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. CREATING ROTATING EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS AT THE HOLLY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY CENTER. ACTIVELY COLLECTING AND CATALOGING HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS AND ARTIFACTS OF SIGNIFICANCE TO THE WAUPACA AREA. SUPPORTING GENEALOGICAL AND LOCAL HISTORICAL RESEARCH. SERVE AS A RESOURCE AND PARTNER FOR OUR COMMUNITY, LOCAL LEADERSHIP, BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS. THE MISSION OF THE WAUPACA HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE WAUPACA AREA AND TO SHARE THAT HISTORY WITH OTHERS. WE DO THIS THROUGH OUR LIBRARY AND ARTIFACT COLLECTIONS, SPECIAL EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS, AND TOURS OF OUR FACILITIES THAT WE OFFER TO INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, FAMILIES AND STUDENTS. OUR SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. THE WAUPACA HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH THE FOLLOWING PROJECT: MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING OUR FOUR HISTORIC BUILDINGS. DEVELOPING AND OFFERING HISTORICAL PROGRAMS ON A MONTHLY BASIS. OFFERING TOURS OF OUR HISTORIC BUILDINGS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. CREATING ROTATING EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS AT THE HOLLY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY CENTER. ACTIVELY COLLECTING AND CATALOGING HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS AND ARTIFACTS OF SIGNIFICANCE TO THE WAUPACA AREA. SUPPORTING GENEALOGICAL AND LOCAL HISTORICAL RESEARCH. SERVE AS A RESOURCE AND PARTNER FOR OUR COMMUNITY, LOCAL LEADERSHIP, BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS.

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 October 13, 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 November 2000.

    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 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.