Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Riley County Historical Society

EIN 48-0646424 · Manhattan, KS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PRESERVATION, PRESENTATION AND PROMOTION OF LOCAL AND KANSAS HISTORY.

Income
$604,478
Spending
$200,634
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 94%
Employees
6
Volunteers
50

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 67% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 73% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • 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.

  • 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 December 31, 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 (5)
  1. $9,713 spent. WOLF HOUSE MUSEUM: 1868 HISTORIC STONE HOUSE MUSEUM FEATURING TOURS, EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS. THROUGH THIS PROPERTY THE SOCIETY RESEARCHES, DOCUMENTS AND EXHIBITS MANHATTAN/RILEY COUNTY HOME LIFE OF THE PAST.
  2. $185,004 spent. SUPPORT FOR THE RILEY COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM THROUGH COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION OF OBJECTS AND RECORDS; PRESERVATION IN ALL FORMS; MUSEUM TOURS, EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS; LIBRARY/ARCHIVES SERVICES; OUTREACH TOURS, PROGRAMS, EXHIBITS; AND DIGITAL PRINT PUBLICATIONS.
  3. RILEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY HISTORIC/EDUCATIONAL PROPERTIES: PIONEER LOG CABIN; ROCKY FORD SCHOOL; MOSES HOUSE; WOLF STUDIO; MANSFIELD HOUSE; EXHIBITS, PRESERVATION, PROGRAMS AND TOURS.
  4. $1,204 spent. SUPPORT OF THE GOODNOW HOUSE MUSEUM: 1861 STONE HOME OF FREE STATE EDUCATOR ISAAC GOODNOW, THROUGH PRESERVATION, TOURS, EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS. THIS IS A KANSAS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PARTNERSHIP SITE.
  5. SUPPORT OF THE GOODNOW HOUSE MUSEUM: 1861 STONE HOME OF FREE STATE EDUCATOR ISAAC GOODNOW, THROUGH PRESERVATION, TOURS, EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS. THIS IS A KANSAS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PARTNERSHIP SITE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 October 1977.

    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.