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New Castle Historical Society

EIN 51-0072188 · Hst Newcastle, DE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE HISTORY OF NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE. TO PRESERVE AND ENTHUSIASTICALLY PROMOTE AWARENESS OF OUR NEW CASTLE HISTORY AND TREASURES TO ITS MEMBERS, CITIZENS, AND VISITORS; AND TO SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES.

Income
$208,929
Spending
$301,276
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
20.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
18
Volunteers
54
Highest pay
$59,066, excecutive d

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: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 44% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Good: 82 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $251,688 spent. NEW CASTLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OPERATES FOUR HISTORY MUSEUMS-THE AMSTEL HOUSE, THE DUTCH HOUSE, THE OLD LIBRARY MUSEUM, AND THE ARSENAL. THE MUSEUMS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE MUSEUMS OFFER SPECIAL TOURS FOR ELEMENTARY, HIGH SCHOOL, AND COLLEGE STUDENTS. THE SOCIETY ALSO EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE HISTORY OF NEW CASTLE THROUGH EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS, CONCERTS, LECTURES, AND PUBLICATIONS. OUR COLLECTIONS AND ARCHIVES ARE AVAILABLE TO RESEARCHERS INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF NEW CASTLE'S RICH HERITAGE. THE NEW CASTLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PROMOTES HISTORICAL AWARENESS AND ENCOURAGES THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURE, ARCHAELOGICAL RESOURCES, AND THE MATERIAL CULTURE OF NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE.

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 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 2024.

    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 June 1942.

    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.