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Boone County Historical Society

EIN 43-6073788 · Columbia, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 45% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE AND MISSION OF THE BOONE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (BCHS) IS TO PRESERVE BOONE COUNTYS CULTURE AND HISTORY FOR THE BENEFIT OF FUTURE GENERATIONS. THROUGH ITS BOONE COUNTY HISTORY & CULTURE CENTER, THE SOCIETY COLLECTS, PRESERVES, AND EXHIBITS HISTORIC ARTIFACTS AND WORKS OF ART. CONCERTS AND EVENTS CELEBRATING LITERATURE AND AUTHORS ARE TWO ADDITIONAL EFFORTS TO EMBRACE AND CELEBRATE LOCAL CULTURE. THE HISTORY & CULTURE CENTER IS COMPRISED OF THE WALTERS HISTORY GALLERIES, THE MONTMINY ART GALLERY, THE RIVER HORSE PAVILION, A GENEALOGY LIBRARY, A DIGITAL IMAGING LAB, AND THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAT COMPRISE THE VILLAGE AT BOONE JUNCTION. THE SOCIETY ALSO MANAGES AND CURATES THE HISTORIC MAPLEWOOD HOUSE IN COOPERATION WITH THE CITY OF COLUMBIA.

Income
$693,582
Spending
$487,045
Spent on programs
45%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
7

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 47% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    45% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    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

    0 of 10

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $221,315 spent. THE MISSION OF THE SOCIETY INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, COLLECTING, STUDYING, PERSERVING AND EXHIBITING HISTORIC ARTIFACTS. THE SOCIETY RECOGNIZES HISTORIC SITES AND INTERPRETS AND DISSEMINATES INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY. THE SOCIETY OWNS AND OPERATES THE WALTERS-BOONE COUNTY HISTORY MUSEUM, THE MONTIMINY ART GALLERY, THE RIVER-HORSE PAVILION, AND THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAT COMPRISE THE VILLAGE AT BOONE JUNCTION.

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 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 January 1968.

    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.