Douglas County Historical Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 50% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
DOUGLAS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY WORKS TO PRESERVE AND ENLIVEN HISTORICAL INSIGHT IN DOUGLAS COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
- Income
- $350,499
- Spending
- $290,269
- Spent on programs
- 50%
- Reserves
- 40.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 47%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 85
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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 40.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1550% 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: 64 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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)
- $32,430 spent. THE HISTORIC GENERAL CROOK HOUSE MUSEUM AND HEIRLOOM GARDEN IS PRESERVED AND MAINTAINED BY DCHS. GROUP TOURS, RELEVANT EXHIBITS, AND STUDENT PROGRAMMING IS PROVIDED BY DCHS AT THE CROOK HOUSE.
- $62,851 spent. HISTORIC ARTIFACTS AND DOCUMENTS ARE COLLECTED, PRESERVED, AND SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC THROUGH RESEARCH ASSISTANCE, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, AND CLASSES.
- $48,873 spent. THE HISTORY OF DOUGLAS COUNTY IS SHARED THROUGH PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY EXHIBITS ONSITE AND OFFSITE. COMMUNITY-WIDE FREE FAMILY EVENTS ARE OFFERED ANNUALLY TO SHARE THE RICH HISTORY OF DOUGLAS COUNTY WITH ALL AGES AND ETHNIC GROUPS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1959.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.