American Political Items Collectors
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To provide information on American Political Campaigns and emphemera.
- Income
- $84,127
- Spending
- $84,085
- Reserves
- 16 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 85%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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)
- $31,825 spent. Primary Exempt Purpose -The American Political Items Collectors, Inc. APIC provides information on the history of American Political Campaigns and Ephemera to members and the general public, cooperating with the media, museums, and authors. APIC publishes a quarterly journal of campaign history, The Keynoter. and provides museum internships to qualified college students to work at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.
- $27,809 spent. Program Service Accomplishments - The APIC publishes the Keynoter Journal which is produced 4 times per year. It is a historical journal of political campaign history that goes to all members and museums and libraries upon request. A monthly newsletter is produced by a non-APIC hobby newspaper which is sent free to all APIC members. APIC pays a publication fee to the newspaper to offset subscription fees.
- $17,883 spent. Membership Rosters & Updates - The Membership Roster is a listing of all members and their particular areas of interest, the specialty chapters, local chapters, the ethics code, the Hobby Protection Act and APIC by-laws. A copy is made available to each member.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.