Securities and Exchange Commission Historical Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 44% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THROUGH ITS VIRTUAL MUSEUM AND ARCHIVE AT WWW.SECHISTORICAL.ORG, SHARES, PRESERVES AND ADVANCES KNOWLEDGE OF THE HISTORY OF FINANCIAL REGULATION BY AND THROUGH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. (CONTINUED ON SCH. O)THIS MISSION IS FULFILLED THROUGH THE VIRTUAL MUSEUM AND ARCHIVE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION, WHICH OFFERS A UNIQUE COLLECTION OF MATERIALS ACCESSIBLE FOR FREE AT WWW.SECHISTORICAL.ORG.
- Income
- $462,536
- Spending
- $422,770
- Spent on programs
- 44%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $211,073, executive director
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. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1544% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 90% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 25 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 (1)
- $187,294 spent. THE ONLINE VIRTUAL MUSEUM AND ARCHIVE AT WWW.SECHISTORICAL.ORG CONTAINS A RICH RESOURCE OF PRIMARY AND UNIQUE MATERIALS ON THE CREATION, GROWTH AND IMPACT OF CAPITAL MARKETS REGULATION FROM THE 20TH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT. THE VIRTUAL MUSEUM HOUSES A DIGITAL COLLECTION OF MATERIALS SELECTED FOR INCLUSION BECAUSE OF THE HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE SUBJECT MATTER. TO DATE, THE PERMANENT COLLECTION INCLUDES ORAL HISTORIES, ROUNDTABLES AND PANEL PROGRAMS FEATURING EXPERTS FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE SECURITIES MARKETS - REGULATORY, CORPORATE, LEGISLATIVE, INVESTOR, AND ACADEMIC - WHO HAVE HAD A DIRECT AND SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN, OR IMPACT UPON, THE FUNCTIONING OF THE U.S. CAPITAL MARKETS. OTHER ITEMS IN THE MUSEUM INCLUDE LETTERS, PHOTOS, SPEECHES, PAPERS AND OTHER MATERIALS RELEVANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)OVERSIGHT AND HISTORY OF THE SECURITIES MARKETS. THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION OF MATERIALS ASSISTS RESEARCHERS AND THE PUBLIC IN UNDERSTANDING HOW THE STATUTES, REGULATIONS AND POLICIES FOR THE CAPITAL MARKETS HAVE DEVELOPED AND BEEN INTERPRETED FROM THE 1900'S TO THE PRESENT. ENTRANCE TO THE VIRTUAL MUSEUM IS FREE TO ANYONE WITH INTERNET ACCESS.
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 April 2000.
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.