Passes our checks

Havre De Grace Decoy Museum Inc

EIN 52-1513642 · Hvre De Grace, MD

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

What it says it does

THE PRESERVATION, EDUCATION, AND INTERPRETATION OF THE ART AND HISTORY OF DECOY MAKING IN THE UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY REGION

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 25.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
12 of 12 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.
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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)

$337,333 spent. PROVIDE VARIOUS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT DEMONSTRATE THE ART, HISTORY AND INTERPRETATION OF DECOY MAKING. ANNUAL VENDOR FESTIVAL CONDUCTED THE FIRST WEEKEND IN MAY. THIS FESTIVAL IS ATTENDED BY ABOUT 100 EXHIBITORS AND FESTURES VARIOUS DECOY CARVING COMPETITIONS. THE FESTIVAL IS ATTENDED BY IN EXCESS OF 1,000 VISITORS.
ADDED AFRICAN AMERICAN DECOY MAKERS EXHIBIT TO THE OVERALL ARRAY OF EXHIBITS. IT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN DECOY EXHIBIT IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS EXHIBIT FEATURES A NUMBER OF AFRICAN AMERICAN DECOY CARVERS WITHIN THE UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY REGION AS WELL AS OTHERS THROUGH OUT THE UNITED STATES. CARVERS INCLUDED IN THE EXHIBIT ARE PIED JONES (CRISFIELD, MD), SHERMAN JONES (CRISFIELD, MD), SAMUEL GIBSON (TRAPPE, MD), DOUGLAS GIBSON (MILFORD, MD), AND JAMES JOHNSON (TEMPERANCEVILLE, VA).

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 June 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 May 1989.
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.