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Seneca Falls Its a Wonderful Life Museum & Archives

EIN 46-3774882 · Seneca Falls, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSES OF THE MUSEUM, AS SET FORTH IN ITS CONSTITUTION, ARE EXCLUSIVELY EDUCATIONAL IN NATURE, TO WIT: A. TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN THE SENECA FALLS IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE MUSEUM & ARCHIVES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC RELATING TO AND INTERPRETING THE 1946 AMERICAN FILM CLASSIC, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY FRANK CAPRA; THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE FILM'S FICTIONAL SETTING OF BEDFORD FALLS, NY AND REAL-LIFE SENECA FALLS, NY; AND THE THEMATIC CELEBRATION OF FRANK CAPRA'S PERSONAL AND CINEMATIC PHILOSOPHY EXTOLLING THE VALUE OF EACH INDIVIDUAL. B. TO OPERATE, MAINTAIN AND PRESERVE THE MUSEUM AND OPEN IT TO THE PUBLIC ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE. C. TO COLLECT, OWN, HOLD, MAINTAIN, PRESERVE AND MAKE AVAILABLE APPROPRIATE HISTORICAL AND OTHERWISE RELATED OBJECTS, RECORDS AND ARTIFACTS. D. TO ARRANGE, CREATE, MAINTAIN AND PROMOTE APPROPRIATE HISTORICAL AND OTHERWISE RELATED EXHIBITS AND DISPLAYS.

Income
$901,753
Spending
$123,011
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
-15.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 77%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 86% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 464% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% 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

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • 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, 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. $95,038 spent. THE SENECA FALLS IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE MUSEUM IS A MAJOR SPONSOR OF THE ANNUAL "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE FESTIVAL." IN 2024, THE MUSEUM WAS VISITED BY ABOUT 15,000 PEOPLE, FROM 47 STATES AND 18 COUNTRIES. WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON PRESERVING THE HISTORY AND THE MESSAGE OF THE FILM - THE VALUE OF EACH PERSON. WE WORKED WITH THE SUICIDE PREVENTION COALITION AND HAVE THEIR LITERATURE AVAILABLE IN OUR MUSEUM.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.