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Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society

EIN 54-1017712 · Dayton, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SO THAT OUR COMMUNITIES FIND INSPIRATION AND CONNECTION IN THE RICH HISTORIES OF HARRISONBURG AND ROCKINGHAM, WE KEEP AND TELL THE STORIES OF THE AREA AND ITS PEOPLE AND THEIR INFLUENCES ON OUR LIVES AND SHARED FUTURE. WE FULFILL OUR MISSION BY: PRESERVING, SHARING, INNOVATING, PARTNERING.

Income
$234,085
Spending
$404,148
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
17.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
5
Volunteers
46
Highest pay
$65,025, 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 73% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $272 spent. ROCKTOWN HISTORY INITIATED THE FORMATION OF VA250 COMMITTEES IN HARRISONBURG AND ROCKINGHAM COUNTY AND COORDINATED, ALONG WITH HARRISONBURG TOURISM, REGULAR MEETINGS TO STIMULATE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE 2026 COMMEMORATIVE YEAR. ROCKTOWN HISTORY ALSO DESIGNED A TRIFOLD BROCHURE TO ESTABLISH AMERICA'S 250TH AS AN "EVENT FOR EVERYONE" WITH THEMES TO HELP INSPIRE CONNECTION, ACTIVITY, AND VOLUNTEERISM.
  2. $8,860 spent. THE ROCKINGHAM COUNTY BASEBALL LEAGUE CELEBRATED 100 YEARS IN 2024. AS ONE OF THE OLDEST CONTINUOUS LEAGUES IN THE NATION, THE RCBL GAMES HAVE LONG BEEN A TRUE COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE. TO COMMEMORATE THIS HISTORY, ROCKTOWN HISTORY INSTALLED AN EXHIBITION, HOSTED A PANEL DISCUSSION, AND CREATED A DIGITAL 360-DEGREE EXHIBITION FOR ONLINE VIEWING. THE EXHIBITION WAS ON DISPLAY FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER TO MIRROR THE MAJOR LEAGUE CALENDAR. "GAME TICKET" BOOKMARKS WERE DISTRIBUTED AT EACH OF THE RCBL BALLFIELDS AND OTHER VENUES TO PROVIDE REDUCED MUSEUM ENTRY FOR VISITORS.
  3. $313,767 spent. ROCKTOWN HISTORY EXPANDED ITS FREE PROGRAMMING WITH MORE TOPICS AND MORE ACCESSIBILITY, INCLUDING SOME DIGITAL PLATFORMS. NINE MONTHLY TRADITIONAL THURSDAY TALKS PRESENTED MUSIC FROM THE MOUNTAIN SAXHORN BAND, A LOOK AT THE LIVES OF APPALACHIAN WOMEN, AND RECOGNITION OF MASSANUTTEN VILLAGE'S 50TH YEAR. TWENTY TWO COFFEE MILLS EVENTS INTRODUCED A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS IN A MORE CASUAL SETTING. A MONTHLY HISTORY BOOK CLUB BEGAN TO MEET IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION MASSANUTTON CHAPTER. OTHER EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH INCLUDED THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER, INNUMERABLE RESPONSES TO RESEARCH REQUESTS, THE INTRODUCTION OF ONLINE RETAIL FOR OUR UNIQUE TITLES, AND TOURS FOR PRIVATE GROUPS, INCLUDING CITIZENSHIP CLASSES FOR SKYLINE LITERACY.
  4. $29,464 spent. THE AUDIO/VISUAL ORIENTATION PROGRAM UNDER DEVELOPMENT MET MILESTONES WHICH REQUIRED THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW A/V SYSTEM IN THE LECTURE HALL AND PAYMENT FOR DIGITAL DESIGN WORK. THIS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE AN HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY AND HARRISONBURG BY FOLLOWING THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE INTO, OUT OF, AND WITHIN THE CENTRAL SHENANDOAH VALLEY. THE A/V EQUIPMENT ALSO BENEFITS OTHER PROGRAMMING IN THE LECTURE HALL.

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 April 1979.

    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.

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