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Mississippi Heritage Trust

EIN 58-2020318 · Cleveland, MS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MISSISSIPPI HERITAGE TRUST WORKS TO SAVE AND RENEW PLACES MEANINGFUL TO MISSISSIPPIANS AND THEIR HISTORY.

Income
$667,256
Spending
$513,172
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
24.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
2
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$80,174, executive director-nonvoti

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    39 of 39 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    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 (1)
  1. $380,829 spent. BOARD AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT HELD EIGHT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND FOUR FULL BOARD MEETINGS. HELD A NEW BOARD MEMBER ORIENTATION.EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED 5,000 COPIES OF THE SUMMER 2024 ISSUE OF ELEVATION, THE JOURNAL OF THE MISSISSIPPI HERITAGE TRUST. WORKED WITH THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION ON ADVOCACY FOR THE FEDERAL HISTORIC TAX CREDIT DURING PRESERVATION ADVOCACY WEEK. SPOKE WITH CIVIC GROUPS ABOUT THE MISSISSIPPI HERITAGE TRUST AND THE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION. SPOKE WITH NUMEROUS STATEWIDE MEDIA OUTLETS ABOUT THE MISSISSIPPI HERITAGE TRUST AND PRESERVATION ISSUES. HOSTED AN ANNUAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION CONFERENCE AND HERITAGE AWARDS IN VICKSBURG. MEMBERSHIP SENT OUT MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL AND THANK-YOU LETTERS IN DECEMBER. HOSTED AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING.LOCAL PRESERVATION ASSISTANCE WORKED WITH COMMUNITIES ON LOCAL PRESERVATION ISSUES. PREPARED LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR PRESERVATION ORGANIZATIONS AND PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING SUPPORTING LOCAL PRESERVATION EFFORTS, RECOMMENDING PROJECTS FOR GRANTS, ETC. ATTENDED PUBLIC MEETINGS TO ADVOCATE FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION ISSUES.PRESERVATION PARTNERS WORKED CLOSELY WITH STATE PARTNERS INCLUDING THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY AND THE MISSISSIPPI MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION TO PROMOTE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACROSS THE STATE.

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 January 1993.

    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.

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