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Over-The-Rhine Museum

EIN 47-5262845 · Cincinnati, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE OVER-THE-RHINE MUSEUM INSPIRES UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CREATED AND LIVED IN CINCINNATI'S HISTORIC OVER-THE-RHINE NEIGHBORHOOD BY WORKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VISITORS TO UNCOVER, PRESENT AND PRESERVE THEIR STORIES IN AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE.

Income
$383,811
Spending
$113,264
Spent on programs
52%
Reserves
35.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$51,957, operations m

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 35.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 70% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 59% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    52% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 (2)
  1. $17,073 spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMS - OTRM OFFERS A VARIETY OF OUTSTANDING AND ENTERTAINING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHTING OVER-THE-RHINE'S RICH HISTORY. WALKING THE STORY TOUR PROGRAM OFFERS FOUR DIFFERENT 2-HOUR WALKING TOURS THROUGHOUT CINCINNATI'S HISTORIC OVER-THE-RHINE NEIGHBORHOOD, EACH OFFERING FASCINATING AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES LEAD BY OUR KNOWLEDGABLE AND AND PASSIONATE GUIDES. THREE ACTS IN OVER-THE-RHINE, A QUARTERLY LECTURE SERIES FEATURING THREE GUEST STORY-TELLERS WHO DISCUSS RESEARCH OR FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS TO GIVE PARTICIPANTS A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF OVER-THE-RHINE AND THE EVOLVING FABRIC OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. STOREFRONT EXHIBITION, PERSONAL STORIES FROM THE RESIDENTS OF 3 WEST MCMICKEN AVENUE IN THE NEWLY RESTORED WINDOWS OF THE MUSEUM BUILDING. ORAL HISTORY PROJECT RECORDS THE HISTORIES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED, WORKED, WORSHIPPED AND PLAYED IN OVER-THE-RHINE. THESE STORIES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S PAST GIVE US RICH PERSPECTIVE ON THE BREADTH AND DEPTH OF THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY. PUBLIC PROGRAMS - OTRM OFFERS A VARIETY OF OUTSTANDING AND ENTERTAINING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHTING OVER-THE-RHINE'S RICH HISTORY. WALKING THE STORY TOUR PROGRAM OFFERS FOUR DIFFERENT 2-HOUR WALKING TOURS THROUGHOUT CINCINNATI'S HISTORIC OVER-THE-RHINE NEIGHBORHOOD, EACH OFFERING FASCINATING AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES LEAD BY OUR KNOWLEDGABLE AND AND PASSIONATE GUIDES. THREE ACTS IN OVER-THE-RHINE, A QUARTERLY LECTURE SERIES FEATURING THREE GUEST STORY-TELLERS WHO DISCUSS RESEARCH OR FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS TO GIVE PARTICIPANTS A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF OVER-THE-RHINE AND THE EVOLVING FABRIC OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. STOREFRONT EXHIBITION, PERSONAL STORIES FROM THE RESIDENTS OF 3 WEST MCMICKEN AVENUE IN THE NEWLY RESTORED WINDOWS OF THE MUSEUM BUILDING. ORAL HISTORY PROJECT RECORDS THE HISTORIES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED, WORKED, WORSHIPPED AND PLAYED IN OVER-THE-RHINE. THESE STORIES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S PAST GIVE US RICH PERSPECTIVE ON THE BREADTH AND DEPTH OF THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY.
  2. $41,751 spent. MUSEUM DEVELOPMENT - IN 2020, OTRM PURCHASED A FORMER TENEMENT BUILDING AT 3 WEST MCMICKEN AVENUE IN CINCINNATI AND HIRED A FULL-TIME DIRECTOR OF MUSEUM ADMINISTRATION. SINCE THEN, OTRM HAS DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE BUILDING, LOCATION AND HISTORY TOWARD ACCURATE RESTORATION AND BEGUN OUR RENOVATION WITH THE STOREFRONT WINDOWS. IN 2022, OTRM USED AHA, NEH AND HAILE FOUNDATION FUNDS TO HIRE PART-TIME STAFF AND TO CONDUCT WORKSHOPS ON RESTORATION AND MUSEUM PLANNING. AS WE COLLECT AND EXPLORE THE STORIES OF THE MANY PEOPLE WHO CALLED THIS PLACE HOME, WE CONTINUE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR RESTORATION AND TO ESTABLISH AN OPERATING MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER THAT WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

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 2015.

    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.