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The Stars and Stripes National Museum and Library

EIN 43-1597579 · Bloomfield, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EDUCATION ABOUT THE MILITARY NEWSPAPER IN WARS AND CONFLICTS

Income
$354,641
Spending
$206,771
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
19 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
4

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 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.0 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 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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. $124,740 spent. EDUCATION - PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL EVENTS FOR GRADES PRE K- 12. VARIOUS ACTIVITIES ARE PROVIED FOR CHILREN AT A MONTHLY KIDS DAY AND JOURNALIZM SUMMER CAMP. THIS INCLUDES PROGRAMS ON SPECIFIC ENVENTS IN HISTORY, CRAFTS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. OVER 5,000 HAVE ATTENDED THESE EVENTS THIS YEAR.
  2. $33,266 spent. EXHIBITS: EXHIBITS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION THRU VISUAL AND INTERACTIVE VENUES. EXHIBITS DEVOTED TO CIVIL, WWI AND WWII, VIET NAM AND RECENT CONFLICTS ARE ON DISPLAY. A WALK-THRU GUIDED TOUR IS PROVIDED AS WELL AS INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS. APPROXIMATELY 10,000 - 12,000 VISITORS A YEAR. A LIBRARY CONTAINING A VAST SUPPLY OF THE STARS & STRIPES NEWSPAPERS IS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AND RESEARCH. AN ORIGINAL 1861 PUBLICATION OF THE FIRST NEWSPAPER,ONE OF FOUR IN EXISTANCE, IS AVAILABLE. MANY ENJOY READING THESE NEWSPAPERS. WE ALSO HAVE FREE MONTHLY HISTORY PROGRAMS, FREE KIDS PROGRAMS, A 1 WEEK JOURNALISM SUMMER CAMP AND LIVING HISTORY EVENTS AT LEAST THREE A YEAR. IN ADDITION, WE DO VETERAN HISTORY PROJECTS FOR THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PRESERVATION. WE HAVE TRAVELING EXHIBITS AND OUR BARN IS A LIVING HISTORY EXHIBIT WITH WWII BARRACKS, ETC.
  3. EXHIBITS: EXHIBITS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION THRU VISUAL AND INTERACTIVE VENUES. EXHIBITS DEVOTED TO CIVIL, WWI AND WWII, VIET NAM AND RECENT CONFLICTS ARE ON DISPLAY. A WALK-THRU GUIDED TOUR IS PROVIDED AS WELL AS INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS. APPROXIMATELY 10,000 - 12,000 VISITORS A YEAR. A LIBRARY CONTAINING A VAST SUPPLY OF THE STARS & STRIPES NEWSPAPERS IS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AND RESEARCH. AN ORIGINAL 1861 PUBLICATION OF THE FIRST NEWSPAPER,ONE OF FOUR IN EXISTANCE, IS AVAILABLE. MANY ENJOY READING THESE NEWSPAPERS. WE ALSO HAVE FREE MONTHLY HISTORY PROGRAMS, FREE KIDS PROGRAMS, A 1 WEEK JOURNALISM SUMMER CAMP AND LIVING HISTORY EVENTS AT LEAST THREE A YEAR. IN ADDITION, WE DO VETERAN HISTORY PROJECTS FOR THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PRESERVATION. WE HAVE TRAVELING EXHIBITS AND OUR BARN IS A LIVING HISTORY EXHIBIT WITH WWII BARRACKS, ETC.

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 March 1992.

    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.

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