Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Morrison County Historical Society

EIN 41-0911403 · Little Falls, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MORRISON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION AND SHARING OF MORRISON COUNTY'S HISTORY.

Income
$247,239
Spending
$216,515
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
16.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 56%
Employees
3
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$48,648, executive 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% 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

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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. $202,580 spent. THE MORRISON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (MCHS) IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO COLLECTING, PRESERVING AND SHARING MORRISON COUNTY HISTORY. IT OWNS AND OPERATES THE CHARLES A. WEYERHAEUSER MEMORIAL MUSEUM IN LITTLE FALLS, MN.ON JANUARY 16, ALESHA OUREN FILLED THE MUSEUM MANAGER POSITION AFTER WORKING THROUGH THE LAURA JANE MUSSER GRANT PHOTO PROJECT. SHE WAS PAID WITH FUNDS FROM THE MUSSER GRANT UNTIL IT DEPLETED IN MAY, AND SHE BEGAN RECEIVING PAYROLL.THE PLANS FOR MCHS'S RIVERBANK RESTORATION PROJECT WENT INTO MOTION EARLY 2025. THE FIRST ROUND OF BIDS FROM MARCH 17 WERE REJECTED, ALL OVER $1 MILLION, THEN THE BOARD ACCEPTED THE PACKAGE FROM SUNRAM CORPORATION OF CORCORAN, MN AFTER THE SECOND ROUND OF BIDS. THE PLANS TO REPLACE THE ROOF ALSO WENT INTO EFFECT IN 2025. THE BOARD ACCEPTED A BID FROM THE EQUITY BUILDERS & CONSTRUCTION SERVICES ON MAY 27.MCHS CONTINUED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MORRISON COUNTY FAIR. OUR EXHIBIT AT THE SANTA HOUSE THIS YEAR FOCUSED ON MORRISON COUNTY IN THE 1980S. THE OVERALL RECEPTION WAS INCREDIBLY POSITIVE, WITH GUESTS SHARING THEIR OWN MEMORIES OF THE 80S.2025 WAS MCHS'S THIRD YEAR PARTICIPATING IN THE CHARMED BIKE RIDE AS PART OF VISIT LITTLE FALLS. CHILDREN WHO COLLECT CHARMS FROM EVERY LOCATION ARE ENTERED INTO A DRAWING TO WIN A BIKE FROM A LOCAL BIKE SHOP. CARRIED OUT A PHASE III ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY ON OUR PROPERTY AFTER DISCOVERY OF NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIFACTS ON THE PROPERTY, REQUIRED BY THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS BEFORE THE RIVERBANK PROJECT COULD BEGIN.IN JULY 2025, MCHS OPENED A TEMPORARY EXHIBIT OF PHOTOGRAPHS UP AND DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WITH ASSOCIATED POEMS CALLED "THE RIVER CONNECTS US." THIS WAS ON DISPLAY THROUGH AUGUST. HOSTED OUR ANNUAL MEETING AT HOLY FAMILY CHURCH IN BELLE PRAIRIE WITH GUEST SPEAKER NIKKI RAJALA ON SEPTEMBER 25, AND LECTURES ON WOMEN AND THEIR ROLES IN THE FUR TRADE.MCHS RECEIVED A COLLECTIONS DONATION OF FATHER PIERZ MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, ACTIVE FROM 1952-1968, SENIOR CLASS PHOTOS, NEARLY EVERY COLLAGE. AN EXHIBIT DISPLAYING THE CLASS PHOTOS, ALONG WITH ARTICLES ABOUT SCHOOL ACTIVITIES PUBLISHED IN THE PIERZ JOURNAL, OPENED IN EARLY OCTOBER TO GREAT ACCLAIM FROM THE COMMUNITY. THE EXHIBIT WILL BE ON DISPLAY THROUGH MARCH.CONSTRUCTION ON BOTH THE RIVERBANK AND ROOF BEGAN THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 14. THE ROOF WAS FINISHED WITHIN TWO WEEKS, AND THE RIVERBANK WORK WENT ON UNTIL THE FIRST SNOWFALL. WORK WILL RESUME IN THE SPRING.2025 WAS MCHS' SECOND YEAR PARTICIPATING IN THE LITTLE FALLS CHRISTMAS TOURS AS THE NUTCRACKER SUITE. OUR NUTCRACKER COLLECTION GROWS, WITH BOARD AND STAFF BRING IN MORE. THIS YEAR, WE STAYED OPEN ON SUNDAY FOR BOTH WEEKENDS. WE RECEIVED A STEADY FLOW OF ATTENDANCE, TOTALING 301 VISITORS. THE EXHIBIT WILL BE ON DISPLAY THROUGH THE END OF JANUARY 2026.MCHS STAFF ASSISTED ON AND OFF-SITE RESEARCHERS IN ANSWERING THEIR RESEARCH QUESTIONS.MAINTAINED AN ACTIVE ONLINE PRESENCE VIA OUR BLOG/WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, AND YOUTUBE.GREW THE MCHS COLLECTIONS THROUGH DONATIONS FROM MEMBERS AND FRIENDS.NUMBER OF MEMBERS IN 2025: 160NUMBER OF COLLECTIONS DONORS: 35NUMBER OF RESEARCHERS: 75NUMBER OF VISITORS: 2,707NUMBER OF WEBSITE VISITORS: 122,378

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 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 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 February 1978.

    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.

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.