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President Lincolns Cottage at the Soldiers Home

EIN 47-1453864 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE PRESERVE PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S COTTAGE (PLC) TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE TRUE SPIRIT OF THE LINCOLNS, BUILD EMPATHY, AND INSPIRE THEM TO ACT UPON THEIR OWN BRAVE IDEAS FOR JUSTICE.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
25
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$191,118, ceo & 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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 25

    15 of 15 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (2)
  1. $1.0 million spent. THE AUTHENTIC HISTORIC PLACE, THE LEGACY OF WHAT ABRAHAM LINCOLN ACCOMPLISHED WHILE IN RESIDENCE, AND NEW PERSPECTIVES ON LINCOLN'S PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LIFE. PLC ACCOMPLISHES THIS THROUGH A WIDE VARIETY OF COMPELLING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS INCLUDING: SIGNATURE GUIDED TOURS OF THE COTTAGE AND SELF-GUIDED EXPERIENCES OF EXHIBITS AND THE LANDSCAPE; ANNUAL PROGRAMS FOR THE PUBLIC INCLUDING SCHOLAR SESSIONS, OUR Q&ABE PODCAST, LINCOLN IDEAS FORUM, AND THE STUDENTS OPPOSING SLAVERY INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT. ADDITIONALLY, PLC HOSTS A VARIETY OF RESPONSIVE PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS TO BEST SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDES BOTH DIGITAL AND IN-PERSON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOOL GROUPS THAT DIRECTLY LINK THE PAST AND PRESENT, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO HISTORICAL ENSLAVEMENT (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) AND LINCOLN'S WORK ON THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.SPECIAL INITIATIVES INCLUDE PLC'S 'EMPATHY AND CONNECTION: AMERICA AT 250' PROGRAM. THE COTTAGE HAS BEEN WORKING TO LEVERAGE THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY OF THE NATION'S SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL, OR 250TH ANNIVERSARY, ON JULY 4, 2026, TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO GAIN A FULLER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR NATION'S PAST AND THEIR VISION AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ITS FUTURE. OUR AMERICA AT 250 PROGRAM FOCUSES ON 3 AREAS: INTEGRATING AMERICA AT 250 THEMES INTO OUR OWN PROGRAMMING (BOTH NEW AND EXISTING), PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES FOR MUSEUM PROFESSIONALS, AND LEVERAGING THE ANNIVERSARY TO EXPAND THE COTTAGE'S REACH AND SUSTAINABILITY BEYOND 2026
  2. $503,897 spent. PRESERVATION:WE PRESERVE PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S COTTAGE BY STEWARDING, RESTORING, AND MAINTAINING THE HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURES AND SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE; PERIODICALLY ACQUIRING, MANAGING, CARING FOR, AND USING MUSEUM COLLECTIONS FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES; AND PROVIDING ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT STEWARDSHIP AND PRESERVATION INCLUDING MARKETING, OUTREACH, AND SPECIAL PROPERTY USE RENTALS, SUCH AS FILMING OR PRIVATE EVENTS.

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 2014.

    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.

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