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Wayne County Historical Society

EIN 42-1049099 · Corydon, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO OPERATE HISTORICAL MUSEUM AND LIBRARY WHICH COLLECTS, PRESERVES, AND MAKES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ARTIFACTS AND DOCUMENTS OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE TO SOUTH-CENTRAL IOWA.

Income
$88,804
Spending
$114,704
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
1
Volunteers
12

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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years 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

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% 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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $110,326 spent. HISTORY MUSEUM CONSERVATION PROGRAM: OPERATED PRAIRIE TRAILS MUSEUM, INCLUDING THE HERITAGE BARN, OF WAYNE COUNTY, IOWA. THE MUSEUM CONTAINS EXTENSIVE EXHIBITS AND COLLECTIONS OF LOCAL ARTIFACTS, INCLUDING HISTORICAL FARM EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS. THE MUSEUM IS OPEN DAILY FROM APRIL 15 TO OCTOBER 31, AND OTHER TIMES BY APPOINTMENT. ESTIMATED 2000 PERSONS SERVED.
  2. $1,225 spent. HISTORY MUSEUM PROGRAMS, GENERAL COORDINATED AND CONDUCTED COMMUNITY EVENTS COMMEMORATING, TEACHING, AND SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT LOCAL HISTORY. EVENTS INCLUDE FOURTH OF JULY FREEDOM RING, PIONEER FALL FESTIVAL, AND OTHER INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS, ALL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. ESTIMATED 500 PERSONS SERVED.
  3. HISTORY MUSEUM AUDIENCE SERVICES: OPERATED HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL LIBRARY WITHIN MUSEUM. VOLUNTEER STAFF MEMBERS ASSIST VISITORS WITH HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND PROVIDE COPIES OF INFORMATION FOR NOMINAL FEES. MUSEUM MAKES AVAILABLE BOOKS, NEWSPAPERS, PAMPHLETS, MAPS, AND RELATED COMMEMORATIVE ITEMS OF LOCAL HISTORY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. ESTIMATED 400 PERSONS SERVED.

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 October 13, 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 October 1964.

    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 October 21, 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.