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Martin County Historical Society

EIN 41-0824189 · Fairmont, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE AND SHARE THE HISTORY OF MARTIN COUNTY BY ACQUIRING, CONSERVING, APPROPRIATELY DISPLAYING, AND MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE FOR VIEWING, RESEARCH, AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

Income
$527,902
Spending
$368,886
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
77 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
3
Volunteers
50

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 77.0 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 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 172% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $306,804 spent. EDUCATION: STUDENTS VISIT THE PIONEER MUSEUM ANNUALLY TO ENGAGE IN EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES RELATIVE TO MARTIN COUNTY HISTORY. OTHER VISITORS FREQUENTLY UTILIZE THE RESEARCH LIBRARY TO LEARN ABOUT RELATIVES OR INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS. THERE ARE ALSO OCCASIONAL PRESENTATIONS BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ATTENDED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS. ARTICLES OF HISTORIC PERTINENCE TO MARTIN COUNTY ARE PROVIDED TO THE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND ARE PUBLISHED MONTHLY. IN ADDITION, OUR WEBSITE WWW.FAIRMONT.ORG/MCHS PROVIDES RELEVANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MARTIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AS WELL AS INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF MARTIN COUNTY. THE MUSEUM HAS APPROXIMATELY 2,500 TOTAL VISITORS ANNUALLY, INCLUDING VISITORS FROM MANY OF THE STATES AND MANY FOREIGN COUNTRIES. COMMUNITY BUILDING: POWER POINT AND DVD PRESENTATIONS ON VARIOUS LOCAL HISTORICAL TOPICS INCLUDING MARTIN COUNTY MILITARY VETERAN'S INTERVIEWS ARE PRESENTED FREQUENTLY. IN ADDITION, VARIOUS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS PERIODICALLY HOLD MEETINGS, CLASS REUNIONS, AND FAMILY REUNIONS AT THE MUSEUM. EDUCATION: STUDENTS VISIT THE PIONEER MUSEUM ANNUALLY TO ENGAGE IN EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES RELATIVE TO MARTIN COUNTY HISTORY. OTHER VISITORS FREQUENTLY UTILIZE THE RESEARCH LIBRARY TO LEARN ABOUT RELATIVES OR INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS. THERE ARE ALSO OCCASIONAL PRESENTATIONS BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ATTENDED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS. ARTICLES OF HISTORIC PERTINENCE TO MARTIN COUNTY ARE PROVIDED TO THE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND ARE PUBLISHED MONTHLY. IN ADDITION, OUR WEBSITE WWW.FAIRMONT.ORG/MCHS PROVIDES RELEVANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MARTIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AS WELL AS INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF MARTIN COUNTY. THE MUSEUM HAS APPROXIMATELY 2,500 TOTAL VISITORS ANNUALLY, INCLUDING VISITORS FROM MANY OF THE STATES AND MANY FOREIGN COUNTRIES. COMMUNITY BUILDING: POWER POINT AND DVD PRESENTATIONS ON VARIOUS LOCAL HISTORICAL TOPICS INCLUDING MARTIN COUNTY MILITARY VETERAN'S INTERVIEWS ARE PRESENTED FREQUENTLY. IN ADDITION, VARIOUS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS PERIODICALLY HOLD MEETINGS, CLASS REUNIONS, AND FAMILY REUNIONS AT THE MUSEUM.

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 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 November 6, 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 August 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 October 1957.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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