Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Historic Richmond Foundation-The William Byrd Branch of Apva Preser

EIN 54-6026404 · Richmond, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF RICHMOND BY PRESERVING OUR DIVERSE HISTORIC BUILDINGS, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND PLACES, SPARKING REVITALIZATION, AND CHAMPIONING OUR DISTINCTIVE ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
8
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$217,998, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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

    5 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 2025, 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 (2)
  1. $531,688 spent. PRESERVATION PROGRAMS: EXPENDITURES ARE FOR PROJECTS TO PRESERVE HOUSES, BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES, SITES, AND OBJECTS IN AND AROUND RICHMOND, VA THAT ARE CONNECTED WITH, ILLUSTRATIVE OF, OR UNIQUE TO THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE RICHMOND AREA. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE RESTORATION WORK AT MONUMENTAL CHURCH, INCLUDING MASONRY AND STUCCO REPAIRS AND OTHER EXTERIOR "SEAL THE ENVELOPE" COATINGS AND REPAIRS, PAINTING, CARPENTRY, AND ROOF, PLASTER, AND DRAINAGE REPAIRS, AS WELL AS ACCESSIBILITY AND LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS, AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION WORK ON HISTORIC HOUSES IN HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS. NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION WORK INCLUDES A PILOT PROGRAM FOCUSED ON FACADE RESTORATIONS IN JACKSON WARD AND CHURCH HILL. ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF ST. JOHN'S MEWS, A COMMUNITY GARDEN IN CHURCH HILL, IS PROVIDED BY HISTORIC RICHMOND EVERY YEAR. OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE UPDATING AND MONITORING EASEMENTS; WORKING WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE COMMISSION OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW TO ENSURE CONTINUED PROTECTION OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES; AND ENCOURAGING THE RESCUE OF NEGLECTED PROPERTIES. IN ADDITION, HISTORIC RICHMOND PROVIDED ASSISTANCE WITH RESTORATION PROJECTS FOR A HISTORIC MASONS' HALL AND WITH RESPECT TO RESTORATION PROJECTS AT A HISTORIC PUMP HOUSE.
  2. $356,324 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS: EXPENDITURES ARE FOR PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORY, ARCHITECTURE, AND CULTURE OF THE RICHMOND, VA AREA. HISTORIC RICHMOND WORKS ACTIVELY TO REDUCE BLIGHT, ADVOCATING FOR BUILDING STABILIZATION AND POLICIES SO HISTORIC BUILDINGS CAN BE REVITALIZED AND REHABILITATED FOR CONTINUED USE. HISTORIC RICHMOND ALSO SPONSORS AN EDUCATIONAL LECTURE SERIES HIGHLIGHTING THE HISTORIC, ARCHITECTURAL, AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF RICHMOND'S HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT A VARIETY OF TOPICS RELATED TO THE CARE, MAINTENANCE, RESTORATION, AND REHABILITATION OF HISTORIC HOMES AND BUILDINGS. ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDE MONTHLY TOURS OF LOCAL HISTORIC SITES, HOSTING HISTORIC HOUSE AND GARDEN TOURS, AND CREATING PUBLICATIONS TO HIGHLIGHT THE HISTORIC, ARCHITECTURAL, AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF HISTORIC DISTRICTS, BUILDINGS, AND NEIGHBORHOODS. HISTORIC RICHMOND ALSO HOSTS AN AWARDS PROGRAM TO RECOGNIZE PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION, BLIGHT REDUCTION, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN THE RICHMOND REGION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 October 1958.

    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.