Passes our checks

Mary Ball Washington Museum & Library Inc

EIN 54-0975119 · Lancaster, VA

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

What it says it does

EXHIBITION OF HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS, PROVISION OF GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH SERVICES, PROVISION OF A RESEARCH LIBRARY AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS.

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 25.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 61% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
14 of 14 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.
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 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 (3)

$141,200 spent. MARY BALL MUSEUM AND LIBRARY EXECUTED COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES TO PROPERLY DOCUMENT, PRESERVE, STORE, AND DISPLAY ITS HISTORICAL OBJECTS AND ARCHIVAL RECORDS. IT ORGANIZED AND PRESENTED MUSEUM EXHIBITS ON LOCAL HISTORY TOPICS. IT MAINTAINED SEVERAL HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND LANDSCAPES WITHIN A NATIONALLY-REGISTERED HISTORIC DISTRICT AND OPERATED THE MUSEUM BUILDINGS AND EXHIBIT GALLERIES TO THE PUBLIC.
$18,630 spent. OPERATED ITS GENEALOGY AND HISTORY RESEARCH LIBRARY TO THE PUBLIC. IT INCREASED ITS PRINT, DIGITAL, AND ONLINE HOLDINGS THROUGH NEW BOOK PURCHASES, JOURNAL SUBSCRIPTIONS, RECEIPT OF BOOK DONATIONS, AND EXPANSION OF DATABASES.
$19,489 spent. PRESENTED MANY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT AREA HISTORY, GENEALOGY, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THESE INCLUDED SCHOLARLY LECTURES, LOCAL AUTHOR TALKS, LIVING HISTORY DEMONSTRATIONS, AREA SITE VISITS, AND PUBLISHED RESEARCH ARTICLES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1959.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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