American Civil War Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MUSEUM IS TO BE THE PREEMINENT CENTER FOR THE EXPLORATION OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR AND ITS LEGACIES FROM MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES: UNION AND CONFEDERATE, ENSLAVED AND FREE AFRICAN AMERICANS, SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS.
- Income
- $2.7 million
- Spending
- $4.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 49%
- Employees
- 54
- Volunteers
- 107
- Highest pay
- $279,537, ceo & presid
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 56% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (2)
- $2.9 million spent. THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MUSEUM (ACWM) WAS CREATED IN 2013, BRINGING TOGETHER THE MUSEUM OF THE CONFEDERACY (MOC) AND THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR CENTER AT HISTORIC TREDEGAR (ACWC). A NEW 501(C)3 WAS FORMED TO OPERATE THE ENTERPRISE WHILE PRESERVING ASSETS OF THE PREDECESSOR INSTITUTIONS AS SUBSIDIARIES OF THE NEW MUSEUM. THE MOC'S WORLD-CLASS ARTIFACT AND ARCHIVAL COLLECTION REMAINS WITHIN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MUSEUM COLLECTION, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL LITERARY SOCIETY, AUSPICES. THE ACWC RETAINS ITS COLLECTIONS AND LICENSE AGREEMENTS. ALL ASSETS ARE USED TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MUSEUM. THE ACWM OPERATES THREE LOCATIONS: ACWM - HISTORIC TREDEGAR, ACWM - WHITE HOUSE OF THE CONFEDERACY, AND ACWM - APPOMATTOX.
- $565,626 spent. IN ADDITION TO ITS EXHIBITS PROGRAM, THE MUSEUM OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT FURTHER ITS MISSION. YEAR-ROUND TOURS ARE OFFERED TO SCHOOL, YOUTH AND ADULT VISITORS AT EACH OF ITS THREE LOCATIONS. THE MUSEUM OFFERS LECTURES, BOOK SIGNINGS, COMMUNITY-WIDE SPECIAL EVENTS, LIVING HISTORY, LIVE THEATER AND OTHER PERFORMING ARTS, SYMPOSIA AND TEACHER WORKSHOPS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH INCLUDES PROVIDING PERSONNEL FOR LECTURES AND PRESENTATIONS RELATED TO THE PERIOD FOR A VARIETY OF OFF-SITE PROGRAMS. THE MUSEUM ALSO PUBLISHES A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE THAT SHOWCASES ITS IMPRESSIVE AND UNSURPASSED COLLECTION; NEW SCHOLARSHIP; INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS TO BETTER ENGAGE ITS MEMBERSHIP, DONORS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 February 2015.
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.