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Historic Polegreen Church Foundation

EIN 54-1588657 · Mechanicsvlle, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC POLEGREEN CHURCH SITE AND COMMEMORATE THE STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN COLONIAL VIRGINIA BY THE REV. SAMUEL DAVIES AND THE HANOVER DISSENTERS. THE FOUNDATION INTERPRETS THESE IMPORTANT HISTORIC EVENTS THROUGH OUR PROGRAMMING. THE FOUNDATION ORGANIZES AN ANNUAL SCHEDULE OF ON-SITE LIVING HISTORY REENACTMENTS, COMMUNITY GATHERINGS, A LECTURE SERIES AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH TO LOCAL AND REGIONAL SCHOOLS THROUGH LESSON PLAN AND ON-SITE FIELD TRIPS.

Income
$358,930
Spending
$186,257
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 72%
Employees
0

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

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 more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 48% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 138% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

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

  • 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. $106,284 spent. EVENTS/PROGRAMS - THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC POLEGREEN CHURCH SITE AND COMMEMORATE THE STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONLONIAL VIRGINIA BY THE REV. SAMUEL DAVIES AND THE HANOVER DISSENTERS. THE FOUNDATION INTERPRETS THESE IMPORTANT HISTORIC EVENTS THROUGH OUR PROGRAMING. THE FOUNDATION ORGANIZES AN ANNUAL SCHEDULE OF ON-SITE LIVING HISTORY REENACTMENTS, COMMUNITY GATHERINGS, A LECTURE SERIES AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH TO LOCAL AND REGIONAL SCHOOLS THROUGH LESSON PLAN AND ON-SITE FIELD TRIPS.
  2. $4,410 spent. NEWSLETTER - THE FOUNDATION USES A NEWSLETTER MAILING TWICE PER YEAR TO UPDATE ITS SUPPORTERS OF EVENTS AND PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO VARIOUS ASPECTS OF ITS HISTORY. THE NEWSLETTER IS DISTRIBUTED AT LOCAL LIBRARIES AND PUBLIC VENUES AS WELL AS NEARLY 2,000 MAILING ADDRESSES.
  3. $2,513 spent. WEBSITE - WWW.HISTORICPOLEGREEN.ORG SERVES AS THE FOUNDATION'S URL. THIS SITE IS VISITED FREQUENTLY AND UPDATED WITH OTHER PROGRAMMING AND EVENT INFORMATION SUCH AS AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION'S FOUNDER AND RELATED RESOURCES. A VIRTUAL VISIT OF THE SITE'S TIMELINE OF THE HISTORY OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO THE INTERNET TOURIST. THE FOUNDATION ACCEPTS DONATIONS ONLINE ON THE GIVE PAGE ON THE SITE.

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 November 6, 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 June 1992.

    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 November 4, 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.