Sheboygan County Historical Research Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SHEBOYGAN COUNTY HISTORICAL RESEARCH CENTER SERVES THE PUBLIC BY COLLECTING, PRESERVING AND MAKING AVAILABLE THE WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION AND IMAGES OF SHEBOYGAN COUNTY.
- Income
- $266,516
- Spending
- $354,583
- Spent on programs
- 57%
- Reserves
- -8.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 75%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 30
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
Weak: 13 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 50% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 44% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1557% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 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.
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $67,947 spent. HISTORY PUBLICATIONS OUTREACH: Each year more than 100 articles and a number of local history books are published and share the countys stories and resources with its citizens. Articles are researched by staff and volunteers and published in local newspapers, newsletters, online on SCHRCs website and Facebook feeds. The new books are sold in SCHRCs store and online at schrc.org.
- $67,862 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING: Each year more than 50 educational programs are offered to the public. The objective of our programming is to encourage lifelong learning and the development of a deeper understanding of the history around us. Most programs are free of charge. They include Second Saturdays-Journeys into History speakers series,History on the Move local history series,genealogy classes,gravestone cleaning workshops,history-themed book club, annual meeting,and much more. On average about 3000 are served through our programs.
- $64,717 spent. RESEARCH AND USE OF COLLECTIONS: The Sheboygan County Historical Research Center was formed in 1983 to provide a central and safe place to store and use valuable historical documents not saved elsewhere. Since then between 4,000 and 5,000 researchers visit the Research Center each year to use its resources. Last year they came from 26 states,the Netherlands,and Germany. Some 10,000 queries (questions) were answered by phone, email and snail mail. The Research Center is open to the public 50 weeks per year, 4 days per week. Other events occur weekends and evenings. The Research Center has a collection of almost 1,000,000 photographs (images, negatives, slides and digital images) and over 2,000,000 documents. Each year hundreds of collection items are donated by the general public. They are processed, organized and made available for use by the general public. 99% of the collection is open to use by the public.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1987.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.