Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Friends of the Hunley Inc

EIN 58-2345821 · North Charleston, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROCURE, MANAGE, AND EXPEND CHARITABLE DONATIONS FOR THE RAISING,RESTORATION, PRESERVATION, AND DISPLAY OF THE H. L. HUNLEY SUBMARINE ANDRELATED ARTIFACTS.

Income
$775,226
Spending
$788,114
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$8,000, president/secretary

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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 57% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    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 (1)
  1. $445,148 spent. FRIENDS OF THE HUNLEY, INC. (FOTH) PROCURES DONATIONS AND RAISES FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION AND DISPLAY OF THE CIVIL WAR SUBMARINE, H.L. HUNLEY, AND ITS ASSOCIATED ARTIFACTS. FOTH MANAGES PUBLIC TOURS OF THE SUBMARINE, GIVEN BY VOLUNTEERS. THE TOURS ARE EDUCATIONAL AND PROVIDE THE HISTORY OF THE SUBMARINE, THE TECHNOLOGY EMPLOYED FOR ITSSUCCESS, AND THE SCIENCE OF ITS CONSERVATION. FOTH ALSO MANAGES HUNLEY-RELATED MERCHANDISE SALES VIA A PHYSICAL STORE AND AN ON-LINE WEB STORE. FOTH OFFERS A MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM WHICH GENERATES REVENUE AS WELL AS PROVIDES KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SUBMARINE THROUGH A NEWSLETTER AND ACCESS TO SPECIAL FEATURES ON FOTH WEBSITE BUT DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AS MEMBERS. ALL PROCEEDS FROM TOURS, MERCHANDISE SALES, AND MEMBERSHIPS ARE USED TO CONSERVE AND DISPLAY THE SUBMARINE AND ARTIFACTS.

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 June 1998.

    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.