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Outagamie County Historical Society Inc

EIN 39-1298304 · Appleton, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood87 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO DISCOVER AND APPRECIATE THE RICH HISTORY AND NATURAL WORD IN THE FOX VALLEY AREA.

Income
$836,463
Spending
$804,220
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
17
Volunteers
91
Highest pay
$91,074, executive di

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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

Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $565,015 spent. FOUNDED IN 1872 AS A PIONEER ASSOCIATION, THE OUTAGAMIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INSPIRES PEOPLE TO DISCOVER AND APPRECIATE THE RICH HISTORY AND NATURAL WORLD IN THE FOX VALLEY THROUGH EXHIBITION, EDUCATION, AND COLLECTIONS. NOW AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS THE HISTORY MUSEUM AT THE CASTLE, DUE TO ITS LOCATION IN A FORMER MASONIC TEMPLE, THE ORGANIZATION IS A THRIVING CULTURAL INSTITUTION WITH DEEP TIES TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THE HISTORY MUSEUM AT THE CASTLE EXPANDED ITS MISSION IN 2025 TO INCLUDE NATURAL HISTORY. TO FACILITATE THAT ADDITION, THE HISTORY MUSEUM HIRED TWO MUSEUM SPECIALISTS AND INCORPORATED THE WEIS EARTH SCIENCE COLLECTION, CONSISTING OF 38,054 SPECIMENS, INTO ITS REGULAR OPERATIONS. BY PRESERVING THE WEIS EARTH SCIENCE COLLECTION LOCALLY, THE PUBLIC WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO LIVELY EARTH SCIENCE EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMMING THAT BENEFIT FOX VALLEY RESIDENTS, SCHOOLS, AND UNIVERSITIES. ADDING THE WEIS COLLECTION TO THE HISTORY MUSEUM'S DYNAMIC LOCAL HISTORY OFFERINGS IS ALSO EXPECTED TO GROW THE REGION'S TOURIST ECONOMY. IN ADDITION, THE HISTORY MUSEUM CONTINUED TO ENGAGE AUDIENCES WELL BEYOND ITS WALLS. THE MUSEUM SUPPORTS A SERIES OF FREE TRAVELING POP-UP EXHIBITS ON RELEVANT LOCAL HISTORY TOPICS. IN 2024 THE MUSEUM ADDED OUR AFGHAN NEIGHBORS TO THAT CATALOGUE OF EXHIBITS. WORLD RELIEF FOX VALLEY AND THE HISTORY MUSEUM PARTNERED TO CONDUCT ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS WITH EIGHT AFGHAN REFUGEES FORCED TO FLEE AFGHANISTAN IN 2021 AND RESETTLE IN THE FOX CITIES. THEIR STORIES BECAME THE BASIS FOR THIS GROUNDBREAKING EXHIBITION. THE EXHIBIT TOURED THROUGHOUT NORTHEAST AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN IN 2025. APPROXIMATELY 149,430 PEOPLE VIEWED OUR AFGHAN NEIGHBORS, INCLUDING STOPS AT THE HOLIDAY FOLK FAIR IN MILWAUKEE AND THE STATE CAPITAL IN MADISON. IN PURSUING OUR MISSION, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS FOSTER COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT BUILD SOCIAL COHESION AND MEET LOCAL CHALLENGES. DOING SO EXPANDS EXPECTATIONS FOR WHAT A MUSEUM, AND OUR COMMUNITY, CAN BE. FOUNDED IN 1872 AS A PIONEER ASSOCIATION, THE OUTAGAMIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INSPIRES PEOPLE TO DISCOVER AND APPRECIATE THE RICH HISTORY AND NATURAL WORLD IN THE FOX VALLEY THROUGH EXHIBITION, EDUCATION, AND COLLECTIONS. NOW AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS THE HISTORY MUSEUM AT THE CASTLE, DUE TO ITS LOCATION IN A FORMER MASONIC TEMPLE, THE ORGANIZATION IS A THRIVING CULTURAL INSTITUTION WITH DEEP TIES TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THE HISTORY MUSEUM AT THE CASTLE EXPANDED ITS MISSION IN 2025 TO INCLUDE NATURAL HISTORY. TO FACILITATE THAT ADDITION, THE HISTORY MUSEUM HIRED TWO MUSEUM SPECIALISTS AND INCORPORATED THE WEIS EARTH SCIENCE COLLECTION, CONSISTING OF 38,054 SPECIMENS, INTO ITS REGULAR OPERATIONS. BY PRESERVING THE WEIS EARTH SCIENCE COLLECTION LOCALLY, THE PUBLIC WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO LIVELY EARTH SCIENCE EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMMING THAT BENEFIT FOX VALLEY RESIDENTS, SCHOOLS, AND UNIVERSITIES. ADDING THE WEIS COLLECTION TO THE HISTORY MUSEUM'S DYNAMIC LOCAL HISTORY OFFERINGS IS ALSO EXPECTED TO GROW THE REGION'S TOURIST ECONOMY. IN ADDITION, THE HISTORY MUSEUM CONTINUED TO ENGAGE AUDIENCES WELL BEYOND ITS WALLS. THE MUSEUM SUPPORTS A SERIES OF FREE TRAVELING POP-UP EXHIBITS ON RELEVANT LOCAL HISTORY TOPICS. IN 2024 THE MUSEUM ADDED OUR AFGHAN NEIGHBORS TO THAT CATALOGUE OF EXHIBITS. WORLD RELIEF FOX VALLEY AND THE HISTORY MUSEUM PARTNERED TO CONDUCT ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS WITH EIGHT AFGHAN REFUGEES FORCED TO FLEE AFGHANISTAN IN 2021 AND RESETTLE IN THE FOX CITIES. THEIR STORIES BECAME THE BASIS FOR THIS GROUNDBREAKING EXHIBITION. THE EXHIBIT TOURED THROUGHOUT NORTHEAST AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN IN 2025. APPROXIMATELY 149,430 PEOPLE VIEWED OUR AFGHAN NEIGHBORS, INCLUDING STOPS AT THE HOLIDAY FOLK FAIR IN MILWAUKEE AND THE STATE CAPITAL IN MADISON. IN PURSUING OUR MISSION, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS FOSTER COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT BUILD SOCIAL COHESION AND MEET LOCAL CHALLENGES. DOING SO EXPANDS EXPECTATIONS FOR WHAT A MUSEUM, AND OUR COMMUNITY, CAN BE.

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 December 1969.

    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.