Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Chippewa County Historical Society Inc

EIN 41-1242811 · Montevideo, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE HISTORICAL BUILDINGS AND ARTIFACTS FOR EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC.

Income
$215,141
Spending
$164,406
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
7.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
2
Volunteers
143
Highest pay
$39,640, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 73% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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, 2024, 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. $114,421 spent. SPECIAL EVENTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: HERITAGE WEEK - 1094 STUDENTS AND ADULTS ATTENDED THIS ANNUAL HISTORY PROGRAM HELD AT HISTORIC CHIPPEWA CITY, WHERE SCHOOL CHILDREN ATTEND EDUCATIONAL CLASSES AND LEARN ABOUT THE LATE 1800S/EARLY 1900S. ANNUAL BANQUET - 75 PEOPLE ATTENDED THIS EVENT WHICH IS HELD ON CONJUNCTION WITH OUR ANNUAL MEETING. THIS EVENT IS MOVED THROUGHOUT CHIPPEWA COUNTY AND INCLUDES A PROGRAM ON LOCAL HISTORY. CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE - 342 PEOPLE ATTENDED THIS EVENT HELD AT HISTORIC CHIPPEWA CITY. THEMED ANNUALLY, WITH DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITS. HORSE POWER EVENT, HELD AT THE SWENSON FARM MUSEUM, 250 PEOPLE ATTENDED THIS LIVING HISTORY PROGRAM WHICH SHOW FARM LIFE IN THE EARLY 1900S. FIELD WORK IS DONE BY HORSES, AND ARTISTS AND EXHIBITS ARE FEATURED IN THE HOUSE, BARN, AND ON THE GROUNDS. MISSION SUNDAY - 36 PEOPLE ATTENDED THIS EVENT. MISSION SUNDAY IS HELD ANNUALLY THE SECOND SUNDAY IN JULY. WORSHIP SERVICE IS HELD WITH A GUEST PASTOR EACH YEAR. THE DAKOTA ASCENSION CHOIRS SINGS SEVERAL DAKOTA HYMNS. A POTLUCK PICNIC IS HELD NEAR THE LAC QUI PARLE DAM AREA. MISSION SUNDAY CELEBRATES THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND HERITAGE OF THE DAKOTA AND MISSIONARY DESCENDANTS. THEY ALSO HOLD SOCIAL EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND CHILDREN. THESE CONSISTED OF COOKIES WITH SANTA - 75 PARTICIPANTS; TRICK OR TREAT STREET - 45 PARTICIPANTS; FRIGHT NIGHT - 295 PARTICIPANTS; PARANORMAL EVENT - 120 PARTICIPANTS; WELCOMING WEEK - 53 PARTICIPANTS; MOTHER'S DAY TEA - 16 PARTICIPANTS; AND DAD'S DAY - 43 PARTICIPANTS. SPECIAL EVENTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: HERITAGE WEEK - 1094 STUDENTS AND ADULTS ATTENDED THIS ANNUAL HISTORY PROGRAM HELD AT HISTORIC CHIPPEWA CITY, WHERE SCHOOL CHILDREN ATTEND EDUCATIONAL CLASSES AND LEARN ABOUT THE LATE 1800S/EARLY 1900S. ANNUAL BANQUET - 75 PEOPLE ATTENDED THIS EVENT WHICH IS HELD ON CONJUNCTION WITH OUR ANNUAL MEETING. THIS EVENT IS MOVED THROUGHOUT CHIPPEWA COUNTY AND INCLUDES A PROGRAM ON LOCAL HISTORY. CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE - 342 PEOPLE ATTENDED THIS EVENT HELD AT HISTORIC CHIPPEWA CITY. THEMED ANNUALLY, WITH DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITS. HORSE POWER EVENT, HELD AT THE SWENSON FARM MUSEUM, 250 PEOPLE ATTENDED THIS LIVING HISTORY PROGRAM WHICH SHOW FARM LIFE IN THE EARLY 1900S. FIELD WORK IS DONE BY HORSES, AND ARTISTS AND EXHIBITS ARE FEATURED IN THE HOUSE, BARN, AND ON THE GROUNDS. MISSION SUNDAY - 36 PEOPLE ATTENDED THIS EVENT. MISSION SUNDAY IS HELD ANNUALLY THE SECOND SUNDAY IN JULY. WORSHIP SERVICE IS HELD WITH A GUEST PASTOR EACH YEAR. THE DAKOTA ASCENSION CHOIRS SINGS SEVERAL DAKOTA HYMNS. A POTLUCK PICNIC IS HELD NEAR THE LAC QUI PARLE DAM AREA. MISSION SUNDAY CELEBRATES THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND HERITAGE OF THE DAKOTA AND MISSIONARY DESCENDANTS. THEY ALSO HOLD SOCIAL EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND CHILDREN. THESE CONSISTED OF COOKIES WITH SANTA - 75 PARTICIPANTS; TRICK OR TREAT STREET - 45 PARTICIPANTS; FRIGHT NIGHT - 295 PARTICIPANTS; PARANORMAL EVENT - 120 PARTICIPANTS; WELCOMING WEEK - 53 PARTICIPANTS; MOTHER'S DAY TEA - 16 PARTICIPANTS; AND DAD'S DAY - 43 PARTICIPANTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 January 1969.

    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.