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Jamestowne Society Inc

EIN 54-0964184 · Williamsburg, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood87 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO UNITE DESCENDANTS OF JAMESTOWN SETTLERS PRIOR TO 1700, SUPPORT ARCHAELOGICAL EXCAVATIONS AT JAMESTOWN, PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND PUBLICATIONS, CONSERVE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS FROM THE COLONIAL PERIOD, AND PROMOTE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HISTORIC JAMESTOWNE.

Income
$491,201
Spending
$383,210
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
-8.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
2
Volunteers
410
Highest pay
$62,275, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 31 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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)
  1. $100,000 spent. JAMESTOWN REDISCOVERY- AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT OF JAMESTOWN REDISCOVERY INVESTIGATING THE REMAINS OF THE ORIGINAL ENGLISH SETTLEMENT AT JAMESTOWN ESTABLISHED IN THE VIRGINIA COLONY ON MAY 14, 1607. CRITICAL ARCHAEOLOGY: SMITHFIELD RESCUE EXCAVATIONS- THIS ARCHAEOLOGY DIG IS EXCAVATING ONE OF THE MOST THREATENED AREAS OF JAMESTOWN DUE TO CLIMATE-RELATED CHALLENGES. SMITHFIELD IS ONE OF THE LOWEST ELEVATION AREAS ON THE PROPERTY AND HAS ROUTINELY FLOODED DUE TO INCREASING STORM AND TIDAL EVENTS. STRUCTURAL FOOTPRINTS, BURIALS, AND THOUSANDS OF ARTIFACTS HAVE BEEN RECOVERED. TRIAL AND TRIBULATIONS: REINTERPRETING 17TH-CENTURY WOMEN'S HISTORY AT JAMESTOWN THIS PROJECT RESULTED IN FOUR NEW FIRST-PERSON WOMEN'S HISTORY PROGRAMS. THESE LIVING HISTORY PROGRAMS EXAMINES WOMEN'S PROPERTY RIGHTS, AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES THROUGH CHARACTER-DRIVEN INTERPRETATIONS OF SPECIFIC FIGURES LIKE LADY FRANCES BERKELEY, SARAH DRUMMOND, VIRGINIA FARRAR, AND ANNE FLETCHER.
  2. $10,971 spent. ALICE MASSEY-NESBITT FELLOWSHIP- EACH YEAR THE SOCIETY AWARDS A $10,000 FELLOWSHIP TO SUPPORT THE COMPLETION OF A GRADUATE THESIS OR ESSAY ON THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF VIRGINIA BEFORE 1700.AWARDED TO REBECCA LOVELL, GRADUATE STUDENT UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, FOR HER THESIS GENTLEMAN, SOLDIERS, DIVERS OTHERS: EARLY MODERN MASCULINITY AT JAMESTOWNE, 1607-1622
  3. $44,601 spent. TWO PROJECTS WERE FUNDED IN 2024.BRUNSWICK COUNTY CHANCERY RECORDS WERE DIGITIZED AND MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE IN VIRGINIA MEMORY. THE RECORDS BEGAN IN 1781 AND HAVE BEEN SCANNED THROUGH 1857. SURRY COUNTY MISSING WILL BOOK 10 1834-1839. BOOK 10 WAS STOLEN AND BURIED IN A WOODED AREA AND DISCOVERED IN 1869. ONLY TO BE STOLEN AGAIN. NEWLY REDISCOVERED IN 2024, THE BOOK NEEDED CLEANING AND PAGES DEACIDIFIED. NECESSARY MENDING WILL BE NEEDED FOR SEVERAL PAGES. THE BOOK WAS SCANNED AND MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.