Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Organization of American Historians

EIN 47-0426520 · Bloomington, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Organization promotes excellence in the scholarship, teaching, and presentation of American history, and encourages wide discussion of historical questions and equitable treatment of all practitioners.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
8.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 74%
Employees
39
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$159,967, executive director

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    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

    0 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 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 (4)
  1. $1.2 million spent. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN HISTORY-PUBLISHED FOUR TIMES A YEAR, THE JOURNAL OF AMERICAN HISTORY IS THE LEADING SCHOLARLY PUBLICATION AND THE JOURNAL OF RECORD IN AMERICAN HISTORY. IN ADDITION TO THE PRINT ISSUES, THE JOURNAL CREATES A WIDE RANGE OF ONLINE PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE BIANNUAL TEACHING OF THE JOURNAL OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND SPECIAL PROJECTS. ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN HISTORIANS (OAH) MEMBERS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO A VAST CITATION DATABASE, RECENT SCHOLARSHIP ONLINE. THE JOURNAL MAKES SELECTED CONTENT FREELY AVAILABLE, INCLUDING WEB SITE REVIEWS, THE TEXTBOOKS AND TEACHING SECTION, AND THE RECENT SCHOLARSHIP PRINT LISTING. APPROXIMATELY 8,200 COPIES ARE PRINTED EACH QUARTER AND THE JOURNAL IS CONSIDERED A PRIMARY BENEFIT TO OUR MEMBERS. (Expenses $ 106,213 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 9,156) OTHER PUBLICATIONS-DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN HISTORIANS (OAH) PUBLISHED FOUR ISSUES OF A DIGITAL MAGAZINE, THE AMERICAN HISTORIAN. THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. THIS PUBLICATION IS CONSIDERED A MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT AND IS DELIVERED ONLINE.
  2. $670,363 spent. ANNUAL MEETING - HELD ANNUALLY, THE OAH ANNUAL MEETING IS A SCHOLARLY CONFERENCE FOR AMERICAN HISTORIANS. THE CONFERENCE INCLUDES BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AN EXHIBIT HALL FOR HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS, ACADEMIC SESSIONS, TOURS, RECEPTIONS, AN AWARD PRESENTATION CEREMONY, AND TEACHING HISTORY WORKSHOPS.
  3. $179,491 spent. COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS-BECAUSE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S REPUTATION IN THE FIELD, THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN HISTORIANS (OAH) ENJOYS A VIBRANT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. THIS ENTAILS COLLABORATING ON A VARIETY OF HISTORICAL SCHOLARLY PROJECTS INCLUDING RESEARCH, INTERPRETATION, AND PUBLIC OUTREACH. IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, THE ORGANIZATION COORDINATED 40 DIFFERENT PROJECTS. THE OAH ALSO PARTNERS WITH THE AMERICAN HISTORY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION OF CHINA AND THE JAPANESE ASSOCIATION FOR AMERICAN STUDIES TO ADMINISTER INTERNATIONAL RESIDENCY PROGRAMS FOR AMERICAN, CHINESE, AND JAPANESE SCHOLARS. (Expenses $ 106,213 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 9,156) OTHER PUBLICATIONS-DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN HISTORIANS (OAH) PUBLISHED FOUR ISSUES OF A DIGITAL MAGAZINE, THE AMERICAN HISTORIAN. THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. THIS PUBLICATION IS CONSIDERED A MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT AND IS DELIVERED ONLINE.
  4. $106,213 spent. OTHER PUBLICATIONS-DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN HISTORIANS (OAH) PUBLISHED FOUR ISSUES OF A DIGITAL MAGAZINE, THE AMERICAN HISTORIAN. THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. THIS PUBLICATION IS CONSIDERED A MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT AND IS DELIVERED ONLINE.

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

  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 June 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 November 1937.

    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.