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Friends of Hearthstone Inc

EIN 39-1579731 · Appleton, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HEARTHSTONE HISTORIC HOUSE MUSEUM'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE AND INTERPRET ITS UNIQUE INTERSECTION OF TECHNOLOGY, HISTORY, AND ART REPRESENTED BY THE 1882 RESIDENCE MAKING IT TANGIBLE.RELEVANT, AND MEANINGFUL TO THOSE AROUND IT.

Income
$198,478
Spending
$255,106
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
16.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
4
Volunteers
90

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 36 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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    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 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. $173,017 spent. IN 2025, THE MUSEUM PROVIDED INNOVATIVE, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS INCLUDING TOURS FOCUSING ON IT TECHNOLOGICAL HISTORY, IMMIGRATION IN AMERICA, VICTORIAN MOURNING TRADITIONS, VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS AND OTHER TOPICS. THE MUSEUM FEATURED PERMANENT EXHIBITS ON LEWIS LATIMER, EARLY LIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, AND THE FOUNDING OF THE PAPER INDUSTRY. IN ADDITION, THE MUSEUM PROVIDED WIDE-RANGING EDUCATION PROGRAMMING INCLUDING ON-SITE AND VIRTUAL TOURS FOR GRADE SCHOOL STUDENTS BY GRADE BAND AND THROUGH ITS INVENTION CONVENTION PROGRAMMING.

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 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 December 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 July 1987.

    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.