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Catoctin Furnace Historical Society Inc

EIN 52-1038473 · Thurmont, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO STUDY, COMMEMORATE AND PRESERVE THE UNIQUE AND RICH HISTORY OF THE INDUSTRIAL VILLAGE AND RESEARCH AND INTERPRET THE DARK HERITAGE OF THE ENSLAVED AND TO REMIND ALL OF THE WORKERS WHO BUILT THIS NATION

Income
$925,273
Spending
$755,899
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 93%
Employees
0
Volunteers
29

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

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 133% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 (3)
  1. $621,810 spent. PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL STRUCTURES THROUGH TRAINING OF AT RISK STUDENTS CFHS PARTNERS WITH SILVER OAK ACADEMY TO TRAIN AT RISK STUDENTS IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION BUILDING TRADES. THE BUILDINGS IN CATOCTIN FURNACE ARE CA.1810- CA.1830 AND REPRESENT WORKERS HOUSES BUILT BY ENSLAVED LABOR, PROVIDING A UNIQUE SETTING FOR RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION TRAINING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CRAFTSMANSHIP THE PROGRAM TEACHES STUDENTS A LOVE OF HISTORY, MATERIALS, QUALITY WORKMANSHIP AND WORKING WITH THEIR HANDS TO BUILD, RESTORE AND PRESERVE STRUCTURES DESIGNED TO LAST.
  2. $36,331 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION - WORKING WITH GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL VISITORS AND STUDENTS, CFHS PROVIDES MEANINGFUL PROGRAMMING. A COMMITMENT TO RESEARCHING AND INTERPRETING THE DARK HERITAGE OF THE ENSLAVED AT CATOCTIN IS A PRIMARY FOCUS, AS IS KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AS REPARATIVE ACTION.
  3. $15,286 spent. IMPROVEMENTS OF THE LIVES OF VILLAGE RESIDENTS THROUGH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BENEFITS EMANATING FROM THE HISTORIC SITE AND THROUGH VISITATION TO EVENTS, MAKING THE VILLAGE AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK IN AND CARE ABOUT. ANNUAL EVENTS SUCH AS TRADITIONAL VILLAGE CHRISTMAS,THE MARYLAND IRON FESTIVAL, SPIRITS OF THE FURNACE, AND IN THEIR OWN VOICES ENRICH THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO VISIT AND PARTICIPATE, STIMULATING JOBS, TAX REVENUE AND VISITOR SPENDING.

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 November 6, 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 August 1975.

    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 November 4, 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.