Connecticut Explored Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 69 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
To educate the general public about the history and cultural heritage of the State of Connecticut and the role the State and its citizens have played as part of the American experience.
- Income
- $248,333
- Spending
- $344,478
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 58%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $77,000, publisher+exdir
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 50% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 39% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 69 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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)
- $225,012 spent. Connecticut Explored, Inc.Form 990-EZ, FYE 8/31/2025Part III, Program Service AccomplishmentsExplanation of program activities and accomplishmentsProgram Accomplishments FY 2024-2025 Four issues of Connecticut Explored, circulation 4800 per issue Volume 23, Number 1: Winter 2024-25: theme of history of food. Articles included Cezar Chavezs visit to Connecticut during the grape boycott; the Fairfield Museum and History Centers curated exhibit on favorite ethnic foods in Fairfield; a photo essay of art at Cos Cob that focused on food, and what Native people drank in the early colonial period. Volume 23, Number 2: Spring 2025: theme of literacy that included articles about educators such as Dr. Henry Barnard and Dr. Benjamin Foster, Jr; Harriet Beecher Stowe, literary activism, and writers on slavery. Volume 23, Number 3: Summer 2025: theme of celebrations. The lead article celebrated the historical contributions of Dr. Lorenzo Greene of Ansonia; Puerto Rican festivals; the 300th anniversary of the Congregational Church in Cheshire.Volume 23, Number 4: Fall 2025: theme of environmental history. Articles included a photo essay about plastic pollution by a Connecticut photographer; shad fishing on the CT River; and land preservation and land trusts. Grating the Nutmeg, the podcast of Connecticut history, had 117,424 unique downloads in total. The staff created new social media pages for the podcast and published 24 semi-monthly episodes on topics including: Where I Live: Connecticut, a social studies book, e-book, and website for third and fourth graders, published in Fall 2017 and in use by more than 20,000 students. Venture Smiths Colonial Connecticut, a social studies book, e-book, and website for grades 5 8, published in September 2019. Additional education resources for K-12 provided via ctexplored.org/teach and CTHistoryforKids.org.Connecticut Explored receives the benefit of substantial contributed services in producing the quarterly magazine, which are not reflected in the functional expenses reported in Form 990, Part IX.Many of the articles in the magazine are written and photographs reprinted with no compensation or minimal honoraria or rights fees, including the state historian who provides a quarterly column without compensation.
- Connecticut Explored receives the benefit of substantial contributed services in producing the quarterly magazine, which are not reflected in the functional expenses reported in Form 990, Part IX.Many of the articles in the magazine are written and photographs reprinted with no compensation or minimal honoraria or rights fees, including the state historian who provides a quarterly column without compensation.
- Less in-kind services not to be included in functional expenses on Form 990, Part IX.0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2012.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.