Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Maplewood Area Historical Society Inc

EIN 41-1893832 · Maplewood, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak20 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE AND INTERPRET THE HISTORY OF MAPLEWOOD AND ITS PEOPLE AND ENSURE THIS LEGACY IS PASSED ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$99,904
Spending
$216,913
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 40%
Employees
6
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$47,000, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 20 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 244% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 117% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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, 2023, 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. $189,132 spent. PRESERVED THE 12 HISTORIC STRUCTURES, DATING BACK TO 1891, THAT COMPRISE THE BRUENTRUP HERITAGE FARM, WHILE HOSTING OVER 50 EVENTS FOCUSING ON MAPLEWOOD AREA AND MINNESOTA HISTORY WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE INDIGENOUS DAKOTA, YANKEE AMERICAN, GERMAN IMMIGRANT, AND HMONG REFUGEE PEOPLE'S ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 15,000 VISITORS. CURATED AND SAFEGUARDED ARTIFACTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND DOCUMENTS THAT CAPTURE THE RICH HISTORY OF THE MAPLEWOOD AREA FROM 1,100 CE TO TODAY. WELCOMED 402 ELEMENTARY-AGED CHILDREN TO THE MUSEUM FOR TEN WEEKS OF SUMMER DAY CAMPS, IMMERSING THEM IN LOCAL HISTORY, CULTURE, AND HISTORIC FOODWAYS. OFFERED A PAID INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR THREE POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS PURSUING STUDIES IN MUSEUM STUDIES, HISTORY, AND AMERICAN STUDIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, 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 2023.

    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 1999.

    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.