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Montgomery County Historical Society Inc

EIN 52-0795346 · Rockville, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MONTGOMERY HISTORY'S MISSION IS TO COLLECT, PRESERVE, INTERPRET, AND SHARE THE HISTORIES OF ALL OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITIES.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$762,083
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
28.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
9
Volunteers
228
Highest pay
$148,811, executive dir.

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.7 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 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 88% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    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 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 (3)
  1. $324,893 spent. OTHER EDUCATION PROGRAM ACTIVITIESHistory Conversations, our free streaming program, was presented 49 times in fy25 to 10,567 households. We offered speakers bureau presentations on historical topics of Local and regional significance in venues such as senior centers, professional Organizations, neighborhood associations, religious institutions, civic groups, and More. We held multiple walking tours across the community at points of historic significance. Our Montgomery County History Conference was held on October 19, 2024, on Montgomery Colleges Rockville campus and attracted a large, diverse, and enthusiastic audience.
  2. $123,507 spent. COLLECTIONS, PUBLICATIONS AND MUSEUM ACTIVITIESMHs historic periodical, The Montgomery County Story, released a fall and spring edition. The fall edition highlighted five objects added to collections in the last five years to commemorate Montgomery Historys 80th anniversary. The spring edition was part one of a two-part history spanning more than 60 years and features an in-depth look at the founding and operational history of the Poor Farm and Almshouse. Our artifact collection was in temporary storage for FY25. We received seventeen donations totaling 160 objects. Approximately 1000 objects were inventoried, photographed, and cataloged in our online collections management system.
  3. $115,606 spent. LIBRARY AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICESMH released The Reed Brothers Dodge online exhibit site in September, which details the history of one of Maryland's oldest family-owned car dealerships. Several of our online exhibits were updated with new content. MH contracted an experienced oral history project manager to run the Black Resistance Oral History Initiative. She interviewed five Black elders over the course of FY25. MH created a landing page for the county's 250th Anniversary events and initiatives, including additional new pages of content for related content.

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 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 June 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 September 1951.

    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.