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Hart Square Foundation Inc

EIN 56-2232193 · Vale, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HART SQUARE FOUNDATION PRESERVES AND SHARES HART SQUARE VILLAGE, THE NATION'S LARGEST COLLECTION OF HISTORIC LOG STRUCTURES. IN ADDITION TO PRESERVING THE 200 TO 300-YEAR-OLD STRUCTURES ENTRUSTED TO OUR CARE, THE FOUNDATION SHARES AND TEACHES THE CRAFT, TRADES AND PRACTICES OF THE REGION.

Income
$938,436
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
13.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
11
Volunteers
550

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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 9 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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, 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. $239,881 spent. COMMUNITY EVENTS: HART SQUARE VILLAGE IS SHARED AT EVENTS THAT PRESERVE CULTURAL HERITAGE BY SHOWCASING TRADITIONAL ARTS, TRADES AND PRACTICES OF NORTH CAROLINA. FOLKLIFE CULTURAL TRADITIONS ARE FEATURED THROUGH A WIDE SLATE OF ANNUAL OFFERINGS INCLUDING TRADITIONAL DANCE, MUSIC, CULTURAL FOODWAYS, IMMERSIVE FOLKLIFE DEMONSTRATIONS AND A FOKLIFE FILM SERIES.
  2. $190,899 spent. HART SQUARE FOUNDATION CREATES LIFELONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO ENGAGE IN HANDS-ON HISTORY THROUGH FIELD TRIPS, TRADITIONAL CRAFT AND TRADE CLASSES, AND HISTORIC GROUP TOURS. PROGRAMMING CENTERS AROUND TRADITIONAL ARTS AND TRADES, SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE, AND HISTORY IMMERSION. STUDENTS OBSERVE ARTISTS AND TRADESPEOPLE AT WORK, ENGAGE IN HANDS-ON LEARNING, AND EXPERIENCE CREATING SOMETHING TOGETHER. OUR PROGRAMS ENGAGE SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN UP TO RETIREES.
  3. $409,520 spent. HISTORIC PRESERVATION: HART SQUARE FOUNDATION PRESERVES AND RESTORES THE 103 HISTORIC STRUCTURES THAT COMPRISE THE HART SQUARE VILLAGE OPEN-AIR MUSEUM. PRIORITY RESTORATION PROJECTS ARE IDENTIFIED AND COMPLETED ANNUALLY. PROJECTS INCLUDE RE-ROOFING, FOUNDATION STABILIZATION, ROTTEN LOG REPLACEMENT, CHINKING, DAUBING, WATER DAMAGE REMEDIATION, AND MORE. OUR TEAM WORKS WITH EXPERTS IN THE PRESERVATION FIELD AS WELL AS THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE TO MAINTAIN BEST PRACTICES.

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 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 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 2002.

    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.