Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Historic Alexandria Foundation

EIN 54-6052540 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 44% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THROUGH ADVOCACY, GRANTS, AWARDS, AND RECOGNITION PROGRAMS WE ENCOURAGE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND APPRECIATION OF OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1954, HAF HAS RAISED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR SURVEYS OF HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE, PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED BUILDINGS, RESTORATION OF MUSEUM PROPERTIES, AND CONSERVATION OF IMPORTANT HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS. WE INVITE ALL TO JOIN US IN SAFEGUARDING - AND CELEBRATING - ALEXANDRIA'S RICH CULTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY.

Income
$336,611
Spending
$214,365
Spent on programs
44%
Reserves
43.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
0
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$48,800, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 43.8 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 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 65% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    44% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100.

  • 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

    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.

  • 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 August 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 (3)
  1. $51,200 spent. EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY - HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA FOUNDATION PROVIDES INFORMATION TO PROPERTY OWNERS REGARDING THE HISTORIC AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THEIR HOME. IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS, HAF ACTS AS A CATALYST FOCUSING ATTENTION AND ENSURING THAT RESIDENTS ARE FULLY INFORMED REGARDING ISSUES ON ZONING AND PROPOSED BUILDING PROJECTS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO IMPACT THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THE CITY. DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVED DONATED LEGAL SERVICES WITH AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF $144,434 FROM SIDLEY AUSTIN, LLP. THESE DONATED LEGAL SERVICES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE "IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE AMOUNTS LISTED ABOVE OR ON THE STATEMENT OF FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES AND STATEMENT OF REVENUE.
  2. $7,604 spent. ALEXANDRIA ACADEMY BUILDING - THE HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA ACADEMY BUILDING WAS OPENED IN 1785 SUPPORTED BY GEORGE WASHINGTON WHO WAS ONE OF ITS ORIGINAL TRUSTEES. THE BUILDING WAS PURCHASED AND RENOVATED BY THE FOUNDATION IN 1995 FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION PURPOSES. THE FOUNDATION RENTS OUT SPACE IN THE BUILDING TO ANOTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO HELP DEFRAY THE COST OF MAINTENANCE.
  3. $35,743 spent. INDIVIDUALS, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND PRIVATE NON-PROFIT OR PUBLIC MUSEUMS MAY APPLY FOR GRANT AWARDS FROM HAF. PROJECTS FUNDED INCLUDE THOSE FOR THE RESTORATION, REPAIR, MAINTENANCE OR IMPROVEMENT OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA; CONSERVATION OF HISTORIC ARTIFACTS IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA; RESEARCH OF HISTORICAL STRUCTURES; AND RESEARCH ON ALEXANDRIA'S BROADER ARCHITECTURAL OR CULTURAL HISTORY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 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 August 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 December 1959.

    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.