Army Historical Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
See Sch O
- Income
- $8.1 million
- Spending
- $10.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 57%
- Reserves
- -27.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 38
- Volunteers
- 45
- Highest pay
- $284,673, president
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
Weak: 13 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 375% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1557% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 46 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $5.1 million spent. 2025 National Museum Program: The foundation operated all revenue-generating activities for the National Museum of the United States Army. The U.S. Army owns, operates, and maintains the Museum, while the Foundation is responsible for revenue generation, fundraising, and membership. Revenue-generating activities include but are not limited to, special events, retail service, food services (cafe and catering), and simulators.
- $673,319 spent. Historical and Education Programs: The Army Historical Foundation (AHF) offers a free inquiry service on matters related to Army history. The service is provided by AHF staff historians who research in the Foundation's military library, at the U.S. Army Center of Military History, the National Archives, and online resources. AHF staff responds to inquiries from members, donors, and the general public nationwide. Three issues of On Point magazine were published in 2025. They featured articles by notable military historians covering a wide range of Army history and artwork, as well as book reviews related to Army history. The Distinguished Writing Awards program, established over 25 years ago, recognizes authors who have significantly contributed to literature on U.S. Army history. In 2025, the Foundation presented monetary awards to authors of five books and two articles. In 2025, the Foundation continued to develop digital program opportunities across multiple social media channels to include interviews with a World War II Veteran and Museums with Army stories as well as continuing to improve its keystone Battle Ride program that now engages with noted Army and military historians and has expanded beyond the immediate DMV area with hopes to expand as part of the Foundation's 250th programming being presented in later years.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1985.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.