History of Science Society Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SOCIETY'S MISSION IS TO FOSTER INTEREST IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE, PROMOTE DISCUSSION OF SCIENCE'S SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RELATIONS, AND BRING THIS UNDERSTANDING TO OTHERS WORLDWIDE.
- Income
- $518,078
- Spending
- $865,699
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- -0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 118
- Highest pay
- $186,944, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 35 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 67% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 42% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 21 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 June 30, 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)
- $10,572 spent. PUBLICATIONS - THE SOCIETY PUBLISHES TWO JOURNALS: ISIS APPEARS QUARTERLY AND OSIRIS APPEARS ANNUALLY. USING A HIGHLY SELECTIVE PROCESS, THE SOCIETY ENSURES THAT EACH JOURNAL CARRIES THE BEST SCHOLARSHIP IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE. THE EDITORIAL BOARDS HELP THE EDITORS REVIEW THE MANUSCRIPTS UNDER THE OVERALL DIRECTION OF A COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS. ISIS AND OSIRIS ARE SENT TO SOME 3,000 SUBSCRIBERS. THE HSS ALSO PUBLISHES THE ANNUAL ISIS CURRENT BIBLIOGRAPHY (CB) AS A SUPPLEMENT TO ISIS. EACH CB CONTAINS THOUSANDS OF ENTRIES, WHICH ARE ALSO LOADED INTO THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE (HSTM) DATABASE, PUBLISHED BY EBSCO, AND FREELY AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS. NONMEMBERS CAN ACCESS MUCH OF THE BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA AT NO CHARGE AT WWW.ISISCB.ORG.
- $463,286 spent. PRODUCTION OF THE ANNUAL MEETING - THE SINGLE BIGGEST ACTIVITY HANDLED BY THE SOCIETY'S EXECUTIVE OFFICE IS THE ANNUAL MEETING. THESE CONFERENCES ATTRACT APPROXIMATELY 500 SCHOLARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WHO COME TOGETHER TO SHARE RESEARCH IN THE FIELD.TRAVEL GRANTS FUNDED THROUGH THE U.S. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO QUALIFYING ATTENDEES. WE ALSO ASSIST 10 OTHER SOCIETIES IN ADMINISTERING NSF TRAVEL GRANTS WITH THE HSS EXEC DIR SERVING AS THE PI.
- $108,537 spent. THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE SOCIETY MAINTAINS A WEBSITE THAT INCLUDES CURRENT SOCIETY AND PROFESSIONAL NEWS, PROVIDES LINKS AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES, AND A LISTING OF OPEN JOBS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND SIMILAR OPPORTUNITIES; PUBLISHES A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER; AND AWARDSPRIZES AND GRANTS FOR EXEMPLARY SCHOLARSHIP AND TEACHING.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 August 1944.
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.
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