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Harbor Historical Association of Georgetown

EIN 57-1007851 · Georgetown, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak32 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 48% 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

PRESERVE AND PROMOTE MARITIME HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGETOWN. ESTABLISH AND PROMOTE A MUSEUM FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF EDUCATION AND PRESERVATION OF EXHIBITS AND ARTIFACTS. CONDUCTING THE GEORGETOWN WOODEN BOAT SHOW EXHIBIT.

Income
$741,037
Spending
$726,487
Spent on programs
48%
Reserves
-10.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
13
Volunteers
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

Weak: 32 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 56% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    48% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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, 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 (4)
  1. $29,732 spent. OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES - AS THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO EXPAND AND EDUCATE THE SAILING HISTORY OF THE COASTAL REGION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, IT IS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS TO PROMOTE THIS HISTORY. THIS REPRESENTS THE RESULTS OF THOSE EFFORTS AND THE COSTS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED.
  2. $58,791 spent. SC MARITIME MUSEUM - THIS MUSEUM SERVES AS A MONUMENT TO THE HERITAGE OF THE SAILING AND MARITIME INDUSTRY IN THE AREA. IT PROVIDES A LEARNING EXPERIENCE ON THE HISTORY OF THE AREA.
  3. $193,164 spent. WOODEN BOAT SHOW - THIS SHOW HELD EVERY FALL HIGHLIGHTS THE WOODEN BOAT HISTORY AND THE IMPACT THOSE BOATS HAD ON THE FORMATION OF THE COASTAL REGION OF SOUTH CAROLINA. BY SHOWING BOTH HISTORIC AND MODERN BOATS MADE OF WOOD, THE LEGACY OF THE FOUNDING DAYS IS CARRIED THROUGH TO MODERN TIMES.
  4. $64,824 spent. YOUTH SAILING - TO FOSTER AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PAST TO CARRY ON TO THE FUTURE, THIS PROGRAM TEACHES SAILING TO YOUTH SO THEY CAN GAIN AN APPRECIATION OF THE PAST AND WHAT THE EARLY SAILORS OF THE AREA ENDURED. THIS PASSES THE KNOWLEDGE FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE AREA.

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 October 1995.

    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.