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White House Historical Association

EIN 52-0749685 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 47% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE WHITE HOUSE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION IS A NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOUNDED IN 1961 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENHANCING THE UNDERSTANDING, APPRECIATION AND ENJOYMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE MANSION. THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THE ASSOCIATION'S BOOKS AND PRODUCTS ARE USED TO FUND THE ACQUISITION OF HISTORIC FURNISHINGS FOR THE PERMANENT WHITE HOUSE COLLECTION, ASSIST IN THE PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC ROOMS AND FURTHER ITS EDUCATIONAL MISSION.

Income
$72.9 million
Spending
$29.7 million
Spent on programs
47%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
110
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$521,865, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 59% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 116% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    47% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 September 30, 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. $6.3 million spent. SALES OF BOOKS, THE OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE ORNAMENT AND OTHER ITEMS HELP TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE AND PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE WHITE HOUSE. (Expenses $ 728,010 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) WEBSITE AND DIGITAL ASSETS: THE WHHA DIGITAL LIBRARY HOLDS MORE THAN 30,000 IMAGES OF THE WHITE HOUSE SPANNING ITS ENTIRE HISTORY, INCLUDING EXTERIOR VIEWS, IMAGES OF ROOMS AND FURNISHINGS, AND PHOTOS OF EVENTS INCLUDING INAUGURATIONS AND HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS. IN SUPPORT OF THE ASSOCIATION'S EDUCATIONAL MISSION, EACH IMAGE HAS ACCOMPANYING HISTORICAL INFORMATION, PROVIDED FREE TO THE PUBLIC.
  2. $4.6 million spent. EDUCATION, CONFERENCES, SEMINARS, AND OTHER PROGRAMS: THE WHITE HOUSE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION HAS SEVERAL PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL-PUBLIC. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY, THE ASSOCIATION HOSTED A COLLOQUIUM ON FOOD HISTORY AND THE WHITE HOUSE IN OCTOBER 2023. THE RUBENSTEIN CENTER CONTINUES TO HOST WHITE HOUSE HISTORY LIVE, A MONTHLY VIRTUAL PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM HAD MORE THAN 600,000 VIEWS IN 2024. THE SLAVERY IN THE PRESIDENT'S NEIGHBORHOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE WAS LAUNCHED IN FEBRUARY 2020. IT INCLUDES A LANDING PAGE ON THE ASSOCIATION'S WEBSITE FEATURING AN INTERACTIVE TIMELINE, AN INDEX OF IDENTIFIED ENSLAVED PEOPLE WHO WORKED AT THE WHITE HOUSE, A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE DECATUR HOUSE SLAVE QUARTERS, AND NEW SCHOLARSHIP ON THE ENSLAVED AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO BUILT AND MAINTAINED THE WHITE HOUSE. IN JULY 2024, THE ASSOCIATION HOSTED ITS ANNUAL WHITE HOUSE HISTORY TEACHER INSTITUTE TO HELP PROVIDE TEACHERS WITH INFORMATION AND LESSON PLANS REGARDING WHITE HOUSE HISTORY. NEARLY 1,000 TEACHERS HAVE BEEN THROUGH OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AND THROUGH THEM WE HAVE REACHED MORE THAN 520,000 STUDENTS. THE RUBENSTEIN CENTER HISTORIANS PROVIDED ROBUST CONTENT FOR THE ASSOCIATIONS WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND ANSWERED QUERIES FROM THE PRESS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE HISTORIANS GAVE INTERVIEWS TO SIRIUS XM'S POTUS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, THE WASHINGTON POST, THE NEW YORK TIMES, NPR, USA TODAY, CNN, FOX FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS.
  3. $2.4 million spent. PUBLISHING: THE WHITE HOUSE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION'S SCHOLARLY PRESS PRODUCES AWARD-WINNING TITLES ON A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS RELATED TO THE HISTORY OF THE PRESIDENT'S HOUSE, FROM ITS ARCHITECTURE, GARDENS, FINE AND DECORATIVE ARTS TO THE PRESIDENTS AND FIRST LADIES WHO HAVE LIVED THERE OVER THE YEARS. SIGNIFICANT NEW BOOKS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 WERE: WINE AND THE WHITE HOUSE: A HISTORY (3RD EDITION), THE OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT: COLLECTED STORIES OF A HOLIDAY TRADITION (5TH EDITION), BLAIR HOUSE: THE PRESIDENT'S GUEST HOUSE (3RD EDITION), RECIPES FROM THE PRESIDENT'S RANCH: FOOD PEOPLE LIKE TO EAT (6TH PRINTING), THE WEST WING TOUR SCRIPT, THE HISTORY OF THE OVAL OFFICE, ROCCO KEEPS THE BEAT!: MUSIC AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND FIRST LADIES MAKE HISTORY. WHITE HOUSE HISTORY QUARTERLY ISSUES INCLUDED "THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE SEA," "ON THE MOVE," "MILITARY ROLES AND THE WHITE HOUSE," "AFTER THE WHITE HOUSE, "INAUGURAL TRADITIONS." THE CUMULATIVE INDEX TO THE QUARTERLY, WAS UPDATED IN 2024 TO INCLUDE ISSUES 1 THROUGH 70. THE ASSOCIATION'S BOOKS RECEIVED 28 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AWARDS IN THE FOLLOWING COMPETITIONS: BEST BOOK, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, COMMUNICATOR, ERIC HOFFER, NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE, NEXT GENERATION INDIE, AND SHELF UNBOUND BEST INDIE. (Expenses $ 728,010 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) WEBSITE AND DIGITAL ASSETS: THE WHHA DIGITAL LIBRARY HOLDS MORE THAN 30,000 IMAGES OF THE WHITE HOUSE SPANNING ITS ENTIRE HISTORY, INCLUDING EXTERIOR VIEWS, IMAGES OF ROOMS AND FURNISHINGS, AND PHOTOS OF EVENTS INCLUDING INAUGURATIONS AND HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS. IN SUPPORT OF THE ASSOCIATION'S EDUCATIONAL MISSION, EACH IMAGE HAS ACCOMPANYING HISTORICAL INFORMATION, PROVIDED FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 2025.

    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 April 1963.

    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.