Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center of Virginia Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 73 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
To establish a unique Lewis & Clark exploratory center for scientific and educational purposes, open to and for the benefit of the public with focus on the conception, origin and legacy of the Lewis & Clark expedition.
- Income
- $93,154
- Spending
- $126,649
- Spent on programs
- 50%
- Reserves
- -23.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 50%
- Employees
- 2
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
Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 36% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1550% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 73 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
Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $63,327 spent. In 2024 we continued serving small and medium groups but not large groups, in order to protect the health and well-being of our employees. We served public, private, and homeschool groups and taught them about the Lewis and Clark Expedition and its local roots. We gave tours to adult groups and tourists from both in-state and out-of-state.We ran outdoor arts programs for visitors of all ages related to exploration, such as journaling based on the Lewis and Clark journals and photography that connects historical exploration with modern skills. We continued research and exhibition planning for an expanded interpretation of York, the enslaved member of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. We worked on watershed issues in partnership with other area nonprofits and presented student-made watershed videos created on field trips to the Exploratory Center. We continued to write for the Thomas Jefferson Planning District watershed newsletter.In 2024 we implemented the school lesson plan and interactive art exhibition developed for the City of Charlottesvilles Sister Cities Commission. We made presentations on York to other organizations, such as the United Way, and we researched and published articles on history and museum interpretation in a regional newspaper and a national magazine, including articles focused on York. Throughout the year, we worked with volunteers from the University of Virginia on renovating our full-sized boat replicas and collaborated with scholars to further develop a French foreign language tour.As hosts, we carried forward and completed planning for the 2024 Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation national conference, which took place in Charlottesville in September 2024. We participated in the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundations governance (including one Board of Directors membership) and in the broader planning for their conference. We continued to open our building to events for other nonprofits and government agencies, participated in the BAA Rivanna River Festival, hosted a conference for teachers of deaf and blind students organized by VCU, and hosted a meeting of the Charlottesville Albemarle Tourism Bureau and their stakeholders.In the summer of 2024 we again ran small group camps for children related to exploration. We partnered with CBI Forest School on outdoor programs, including photography, filmmaking, and other skills of exploration. Throughout the fall, we continued our small- to medium-sized field trip programs and adult programs. We offered a variety of community programs, including an event focused on fishing and art projects involving the river and a community event focusing on Indigenous cuisine. We also continued extensive research and program development to support the 2025 LCTHF Annual Meeting.
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
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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2013 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2013.
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 December 2024.
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 December 2014.
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.
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.