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White River Valley Historical Society

EIN 43-1650276 · Forsyth, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WHITE RIVER VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY PROTECTS, PRESERVES, AND PROMOTES THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE UPPER WHITE RIVER VALLEY, CONCENTRATING ON TANEY COUNTY, MISSOURI.

Income
$168,677
Spending
$203,947
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 89%
Employees
10
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$24,199, journal editor & webmaster

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

Fair: 58 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 46 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    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, 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 (4)
  1. $22,500 spent. THE COUNTY OF TANEY PAYS THE WHITE RIVER VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO SCAN AND INDEX THEIR ARCHIVES. THESE PUBLIC RECORDS ARE THUS PRESERVED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AT THE SOCIETY.
  2. $592 spent. THE WHITE RIVER VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY PROVIDES TWO AREA LOCATIONS THAT DISPLAY EXHIBITS WHICH DEPICT THE CULTURE OF THE EARLY SETTLERS IN TANEY COUNTY. THESE EXHIBITS PORTRAY TIME RELATED LIVING CONDITIONS, ARTIFACTS, AND THE COMMERCIAL ASPECTS OF THE TIME PERIODS. THESE EXHIBITS ARE RESTYLED PERIODICALLY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A BROADER BASED EDUCATION TO AREA RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. GIFT SHOPS SELL BOOKS AND MEMORABILIA DEPICTING THE HISTORY OF EARLY TANEY COUNTY. THE FORSYTH LOCATION HOUSES AN EXTENSIVE RESEARCH LIBRARY WHICH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND ALL ACADEMIA.
  3. $135,077 spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACCRUE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR THE FRIENDLY SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS OF THE ORGANIZATION.
  4. ALL OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACCRUE TO 135077. 0. 0.

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 December 1993.

    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.