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Knoxville History Project

EIN 47-2675784 · Knoxville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE KNOXVILLE HISTORY PROJECT IS TO RESEARCH AND PROMOTE THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE. THE KNOXVILLE HISTORY PROJECTS (KHP) STORIES, PROGRAMS, AND PUBLICATIONS BOTH EDUCATE AND HELP RESIDENTS AND VISITORS UNDERSTAND THE CITYS PAST, AS WELL AS ITS COMPLICATED BUT DYNAMIC HERITAGE, AND TO GAIN AN APPRECIATION FOR THE CITYS CULTURE. KHP ALSO CONDUCTS HISTORICAL RESEARCH ON BUILDINGS AND PLACES. THE ORGANIZATIONS BIGGEST SINGLE PROJECT, THE KNOXVILLE MERCURY NEWSPAPER, LAUNCHED IN 2015 CEASED PRODUCTION IN JULY 2017. REMAINING ASSETS FROM THE MERCURY WERE SOLD IN 2017 AND EARLY 2018 INCLUDING BALANCE OF NOTES PAYABLE IN THE AMOUNT OF 100,000 (SHOWN AS CAPITAL GAIN/LOSS) WHICH RESULTED IN CANCELLATION OF INDEBTEDNESS INCOME. FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF THE MERCURY, KHP HAS CONTINUES TO FOCUS ITS MISSION ENTIRELY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

Income
$293,105
Spending
$237,731
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
20.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
3

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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.

  • 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 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. $170,921 spent. THE MISSION OF THE KNOXVILLE HISTORY PROJECT IS TO RESEARCH AND PROMOTE THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE. THE KNOXVILLE HISTORY PROJECTS (KHP) STORIES, PROGRAMS, AND PUBLICATIONS BOTH EDUCATE AND HELP RESIDENTS AND VISITORS UNDERSTAND THE CITYS PAST, AS WELL AS ITS COMPLICATED BUT DYNAMIC HERITAGE, AND TO GAIN AN APPRECIATION FOR THE CITYS CULTURE. KHP ALSO CONDUCTS HISTORICAL RESEARCH ON BUILDINGS AND PLACES. THE ORGANIZATIONS BIGGEST SINGLE PROJECT, THE KNOXVILLE MERCURY NEWSPAPER, LAUNCHED IN 2015 CEASED PRODUCTION IN JULY 2017. REMAINING ASSETS FROM THE MERCURY WERE SOLD IN 2017 AND EARLY 2018 INCLUDING BALANCE OF NOTES PAYABLE IN THE AMOUNT OF 100,000 (SHOWN AS CAPITAL GAIN/LOSS) WHICH RESULTED IN CANCELLATION OF INDEBTEDNESS INCOME. FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF THE MERCURY, KHP HAS CONTINUES TO FOCUS ITS MISSION ENTIRELY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DESCRIBED ABOVE. THE MISSION OF THE KNOXVILLE HISTORY PROJECT IS TO RESEARCH AND PROMOTE THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE. THE KNOXVILLE HISTORY PROJECTS (KHP) STORIES, PROGRAMS, AND PUBLICATIONS BOTH EDUCATE AND HELP RESIDENTS AND VISITORS UNDERSTAND THE CITYS PAST, AS WELL AS ITS COMPLICATED BUT DYNAMIC HERITAGE, AND TO GAIN AN APPRECIATION FOR THE CITYS CULTURE. KHP ALSO CONDUCTS HISTORICAL RESEARCH ON BUILDINGS AND PLACES. THE ORGANIZATIONS BIGGEST SINGLE PROJECT, THE KNOXVILLE MERCURY NEWSPAPER, LAUNCHED IN 2015 CEASED PRODUCTION IN JULY 2017. REMAINING ASSETS FROM THE MERCURY WERE SOLD IN 2017 AND EARLY 2018 INCLUDING BALANCE OF NOTES PAYABLE IN THE AMOUNT OF 100,000 (SHOWN AS CAPITAL GAIN/LOSS) WHICH RESULTED IN CANCELLATION OF INDEBTEDNESS INCOME. FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF THE MERCURY, KHP HAS CONTINUES TO FOCUS ITS MISSION ENTIRELY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DESCRIBED ABOVE.
  2. THE MISSION OF THE KNOXVILLE HISTORY PROJECT IS TO RESEARCH AND PROMOTE THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE. THE KNOXVILLE HISTORY PROJECTS (KHP) STORIES, PROGRAMS, AND PUBLICATIONS BOTH EDUCATE AND HELP RESIDENTS AND VISITORS UNDERSTAND THE CITYS PAST, AS WELL AS ITS COMPLICATED BUT DYNAMIC HERITAGE, AND TO GAIN AN APPRECIATION FOR THE CITYS CULTURE. KHP ALSO CONDUCTS HISTORICAL RESEARCH ON BUILDINGS AND PLACES. THE ORGANIZATIONS BIGGEST SINGLE PROJECT, THE KNOXVILLE MERCURY NEWSPAPER, LAUNCHED IN 2015 CEASED PRODUCTION IN JULY 2017. REMAINING ASSETS FROM THE MERCURY WERE SOLD IN 2017 AND EARLY 2018 INCLUDING BALANCE OF NOTES PAYABLE IN THE AMOUNT OF 100,000 (SHOWN AS CAPITAL GAIN/LOSS) WHICH RESULTED IN CANCELLATION OF INDEBTEDNESS INCOME. FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF THE MERCURY, KHP HAS CONTINUES TO FOCUS ITS MISSION ENTIRELY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DESCRIBED ABOVE.
  3. THE MISSION OF THE KNOXVILLE HISTORY PROJECT IS TO RESEARCH AND PROMOTE THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE. THE KNOXVILLE HISTORY PROJECTS (KHP) STORIES, PROGRAMS, AND PUBLICATIONS BOTH EDUCATE AND HELP RESIDENTS AND VISITORS UNDERSTAND THE CITYS PAST, AS WELL AS ITS COMPLICATED BUT DYNAMIC HERITAGE, AND TO GAIN AN APPRECIATION FOR THE CITYS CULTURE. KHP ALSO CONDUCTS HISTORICAL RESEARCH ON BUILDINGS AND PLACES. THE ORGANIZATIONS BIGGEST SINGLE PROJECT, THE KNOXVILLE MERCURY NEWSPAPER, LAUNCHED IN 2015 CEASED PRODUCTION IN JULY 2017. REMAINING ASSETS FROM THE MERCURY WERE SOLD IN 2017 AND EARLY 2018 INCLUDING BALANCE OF NOTES PAYABLE IN THE AMOUNT OF 100,000 (SHOWN AS CAPITAL GAIN/LOSS) WHICH RESULTED IN CANCELLATION OF INDEBTEDNESS INCOME. FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF THE MERCURY, KHP HAS CONTINUES TO FOCUS ITS MISSION ENTIRELY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

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? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    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 September 2015.

    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.

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.