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West Virginia Mine Wars Museum a Non-Profit Corporation

EIN 46-4504369 · Matewan, WV

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WEST VIRGINIA MINE WARS MUSEUM PRESERVES AND SHARES STORIES ABOUT THE STRUGGLES OF COAL MINERS AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR WORKERS' RIGHTS, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND JUSTICE IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY. AS A PEOPLE'S HISTORY MUSEUM, WE LIFT UP THE LEGACY OF A MULTI-RACIAL, MULTI-LINGUAL EFFORT TO UNIONIZE THE COALFIELDS. WE FOSTER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE MINE WARS ERA AND THE INJUSTICES THAT STILL CONFRONT WORKING PEOPLE IN APPALACHIA, THE NATION, AND AROUND THE WORLD. FINALLY, THE MUSEUM EDUCATES YOUTH, BUILDS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND PROMOTES REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$364,225
Spending
$387,479
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
5
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$66,619, executive director

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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% 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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $126,795 spent. EXHIBITIONS: PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY INSTALLMENTS - OUR EXHIBITS ARE METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND CONTINUALLY ENHANCED. ALONGSIDE OUR PERMANENT ON-SITE EXHIBITS, WE PRESENT FREE ONLINE EXHIBITIONS THAT EXPAND OUR GLOBAL REACH. WE ALSO HOST THE SOLIDARITY GALLERY, A ROTATING GALLERY OF ART AND HISTORY-BASED INSTALLATIONS THAT HIGHLIGHT THE WORKS OF REGIONAL ARTISTS AND STORIES. ADDITIONALLY, WE OVERSEE COURAGE IN THE HOLLERS, A DISTINCTIVE SERIES OF PLACE-BASED INTERPRETIVE INSTALLATIONS AND MONUMENTS THAT DOT THE LANDSCAPE OF SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. THESE INSTALLATIONS ARE CRAFTED IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
  2. $60,653 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMMING - OUR MUSEUM'S EDUCATION PROGRAM OFFERS A DIVERSE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING TAILORED LESSON PLANS FOR TEACHERS, IMMERSIVE CLASSROOM FIELD TRIPS, EXHIBITIONS SHOWCASING STUDENT WORK, AND AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF SUPPLEMENTARY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ACCESSIBLE BOTH ONSITE AND ONLINE. WE ARE COMMITTED TO NURTURING LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. BEYOND YOUTH EDUCATION, WE PROVIDE CAPTIVATING PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS, SUCH AS BOOK READINGS, FILM SCREENINGS, ENLIGHTENING LECTURES, AND AN ONLINE INTERVIEW SERIES THAT FEATURES ENGAGING CONVERSATIONS WITH DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS, MUSICIANS, ACTORS, AND INFLUENTIAL LOCAL FIGURES.
  3. $68,581 spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMMING - OUR MUSEUM IS DEDICATED TO DELIVERING A DYNAMIC ARRAY OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT CATER TO OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. THESE ENDEAVORS ENCOMPASS THE PUBLICATION OF A BI-ANNUAL PRINT JOURNAL THAT ENCAPSULATES OUR MISSION AND VISION, A CAREFULLY CURATED IN-PERSON AND DIGITAL ARCHIVE THAT SAFEGUARDS OUR REGIONAL HERITAGE, AND A DIVERSE SPECTRUM OF SPECIAL EVENTS. THESE EVENTS ENCOMPASS COMMEMORATIVE GATHERINGS, AWARD CEREMONIES, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY DIALOGUES, AND SPECIALIZED TRAINING SESSIONS.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2017 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2017.

    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 November 2018.

    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.

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