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Association for the Preservation of Historic Congressional Cemetery

EIN 52-1071828 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HISTORIC CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY PRESERVES, PROMOTES, AND PROTECTS OUR HISTORIC AND ACTIVE BURIAL GROUND. WE RESPECTFULLY CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF THOSE INTERRED HERE THROUGH EDUCATION, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
9.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
15
Volunteers
2,500
Highest pay
$118,638, president

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: 86 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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.

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $396,883 spent. CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY: ACTIVE BURIAL GROUND AND CONSERVATION OF THE GROUNDS, PHYSICAL ARTIFACTS, BUILDINGS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CEMETERY. CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY OFFERS A UNIQUE WINDOW INTO AMERICAN HISTORY. AS THE PREMIER BURIAL GROUND FOR 19TH CENTURY WASHINGTON, CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY BEGAN COLLECTING AN ASSEMBLY OF PROMINENT CIVIC LEADERS, ARCHITECTS, MILITARY OFICERS, AND MEN OF COMMERCE. IN TIME CAME THE LEADERS OF CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTS, EXPLORERS OF THE WORLD, ARTISTS, AND DIPLOMATS. THIS COLLECTION OF OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS ALLOWS US TO TELL THE AMERICAN STORY FROM AN UNTOLD NUMBER OF ASPECTS AND MAKES CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY A UNIQUE HISTORIC PLACE - MAKING ITS PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION EFFORTS ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT.
  2. $272,350 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: SHARE THE STORIES OF THOSE WHO ARE BURIED HERE IN TOURS, NEWSLETTER ARTICLES, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
  3. $252,200 spent. K9 CORPS AT HISTORIC CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY: THE K9 CORPS AT HISTORIC CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY IS A MEMBERSHIP DOGWALKING PROGRAM, BRINGING LIFE, COMMUNITY, AND VOLUNTEERISM TO THIS EXTRAORDINARY BURIAL GROUND. THE K9 CORPS MEMBERSHIP DUES PROVIDE FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE GROUNDS AND ASSISTS WITH ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. OUR DOGWALKING COMMUNITY MAKES UP A MAJOR PORTION OF OUR VOLUNTEER EFFORTS. FROM SPRING CLEAN-UPS TO TREE REMOVALS TO ARCHIVING, WE COUNT ON THE DOGWALKERS TO WADE IN AND HELP MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

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 October 1976.

    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.