National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN THE UNITED STATES PROTECTS SIGNIFICANT PLACES REPRESENTING OUR DIVERSE CULTURAL EXPERIENCES BY TAKING DIRECT ACTION AND INSPIRING BROAD PUBLIC SUPPORT.
- Income
- $104.9 million
- Spending
- $91.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 14.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 65%
- Employees
- 369
- Volunteers
- 704
- Highest pay
- $524,811, president & ceo
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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)
- $34.9 million spent. HISTORIC PRESERVATION & CONSERVATION: PRESERVATION SERVICES INCLUDES: 1) WORK TO SAVE THREATENED HISTORIC PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY; 2) RESEARCH, INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT BODIES WITH RESPECT TO CONTEMPORARY PRESERVATION ISSUES AND REHABILITATION PROJECTS RELATED TO IMPORTANT HISTORIC BUILDINGS, LANDSCAPES, AND LANDMARKS; 3) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE/GRANTS AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT THROUGH PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE ACTION FUND, THE BACKING HISTORIC SMALL RESTAURANTS, AND THE NATIONAL FUND FOR SACRED PLACES GRANT PROGRAMS; THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS, LANDSCAPES, AND COLLECTIONS; PUBLIC INTERPRETATION OF HISTORIC PLACES; CAPACITY-BUILDING; PRESERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAMS, CONFERENCES, AND RETENTION OF PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS; 4) PARTNERSHIPS WITH STATE AND LOCAL PRIVATE NONPROFIT PRESERVATION GROUPS TO DEVELOP RESOURCES TO PROMOTE PRESERVATION AS A SOLUTION TO IMPORTANT NATIONAL ISSUES, SUPPORT THE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC SITES, AND ADVANCE BEST PRACTICES IN PRESERVATION.
- $34.0 million spent. HISTORIC SITES - THE NATIONAL TRUST AND ITS PARTNERS ARE THE STEWARDS OF 27 NATIONAL TRUST HISTORIC SITES WHICH ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THEY ARE A NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT COLLECTION OF HISTORIC PLACES THAT INCLUDE A WIDE VARIETY OF ARCHITECTURAL STYLES, STRUCTURES, LANDSCAPES, AND OBJECT COLLECTIONS THAT BRING DIVERSE STORIES OF AMERICAN HISTORY TO LIFE. IN 2024/2025, THE NATIONAL TRUST OWNED AND MANAGED 10 OF THESE SITES; OWNED 11 SITES (ONE THROUGH A LONG-TERM LEASE) THAT ARE MANAGED BY INDEPENDENT LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS; AND PROVIDED LIMITED SUPPORT TO SIX OTHER SITES THAT ARE OWNED AND MANAGED BY OTHER ENTITIES. THESE HISTORIC SITES WELCOMED OVER 1,282,000 VISITORS IN 2024/2025. THE HISTORY, STORIES, PEOPLE, COLLECTIONS, ARCHITECTURE, AND LANDSCAPES OF THESE SITES ARE INTERPRETED TO ON-SITE VISITORS, AND THROUGH DIGITAL PROGRAMS, SOCIAL MEDIA, WEBSITES, AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION TO MILLIONS MORE. THE SITES SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EVENTS, AND UNIQUE GATHERING PLACES FOR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS. THE NATIONAL TRUST AND ITS PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS MAINTAIN THE SITES AS GOOD MODELS FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT, INTERPRETATION, AND COMPREHENSIVE STEWARDSHIP.
- $8.4 million spent. HISTORIC PRESERVATION & CONSERVATION: EDUCATION - COMMUNICATES THE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, THREATS TO HISTORIC PLACES, AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN SAVING HISTORIC PLACES TO MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC. PRODUCES AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE, WEBINARS, AND IN-PERSON TRAININGS, QUARTERLY MAGAZINE, PROFESSIONAL JOURNAL, AUDIENCE NEWSLETTERS, AND WEBSITES TO HIGHLIGHT IMPORTANT PRESERVATION ISSUES, COMMUNICATE PRESERVATION SUCCESSES, AND STIMULATE NEW INTEREST IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION. TO INSPIRE ACTION BY THE PUBLIC, STAGES MEDIA CAMPAIGNS SUCH AS THE 11 MOST ENDANGERED HISTORIC PLACES LIST. PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE LEGAL AND POLICY ASPECTS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION. HISTORIC PRESERVATION & CONSERVATION: MEMBERSHIP OUTREACH - EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE IMPORTANCE OF AND TECHNIQUES FOR PRESERVING THE NATION'S ARCHITECTURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE. HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION: PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE: 1) "PRESERVATION," THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE CHRONICLING INDIVIDUALS AND PROGRAMS WORKING TO SAVE HISTORIC PLACES; 2) "FORUM JOURNAL," A SCHOLARLY JOURNAL SERVING A NETWORK OF PRESERVATION PROFESSIONALS, STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS; 3) WWW.SAVINGPLACES.ORG AND WWW.SAVINGPLACES.ORG/PRESERVATION-LEADERSHIP-FORUM (PRESERVATION LEADERSHIP FORUM) OFFER ONLINE CONTENT AND EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS THAT INSPIRE AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND PRESERVATIONISTS AT ALL LEVELS.
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 November 6, 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 1950.
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 November 4, 2026.
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