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Fort Lauderdale Historical Society Inc

EIN 59-0993499 · Ft Lauderdale, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HISTORY FORT LAUDERDALE BRINGS THE STORIES OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY TO LIFE THROUGH EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, CULTURAL EXHIBITS, RESEARCH, AND PRESERVATION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$802,610
Spending
$823,658
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 42%
Employees
8
Volunteers
226
Highest pay
$102,500, ceo/executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 September 30, 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 (3)
  1. $481,500 spent. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF MUSEUM EXHIBITS - CONTRIBUTIONS OF SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND WRITINGS TO THE BODY OF HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE. FORMED IN 1962, THE SOCIETY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RESTORATION, PRESERVATION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE FORT LAUDERDALE HISTORY CENTER (FLHC). FLHC IS HOME TO SIX DIFFERENT BUILDINGS (FOUR OF WHICH ARE HISTORIC). THE NEW RIVER INN, BUILT IN 1905, THE PHILEMON BRYAN HOUSE, BUILT IN 1905, THE ACETYLENE BUILDING, BUILT IN 1905, THE KING-CROMARTIE HOUSE, BUILT IN 1907, THE HOCH HERITAGE CENTER, BUILT IN THE 1940'S AS A POST OFFICE WAREHOUSE, AND THE 1899 REPLICA SCHOOLHOUSE. ALL OF THE BUILDINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC OVER 300 DAYS A YEAR. THE HOCH HERITAGE CENTER IS CONSIDERED ONE OF FLORIDA'S MOST IMPORTANT ARTIFACT AND RESEARCH COLLECTIONS OF STATE AND LOCAL HISTORY. THE STRANAHAN MANUSCRIPTS, OVER 250 ORAL HISTORY RECORDINGS OF BROWARD PIONEERS, OVER 8,000 ARTIFACTS, 5,000 ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS AND 2,000 MAPS. THE HOCH CENTER ALSO HAS A NON-CIRCULATING LIBRARY COLLECTION OF APPROXIMATELY 3,000 BOOKS ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORY.
  2. $126,802 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS - TOURS AND OUTREACH FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS, VISITORS, AND SCHOOLS THAT SHARE THE STORY OF THE HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE INDIVIDUALS THAT SHAPED IT. PROGRAMS INCLUDE SPEAKERS BUREAU, HISTORIC WALKING TOURS, AND THE PIONEER SCHOOL DAY PROGRAM. THE ORGANIZATION'S SPEAKERS BUREAU PROVIDES PRESENTATIONS TO GROUPS AT NO COST ON SUBJECTS THAT INCLUDE FORT LAUDERDALE HISTORY, SANDY NININGER, IVY AND FRANK STRANAHAN, HENRY FLAGLER, AND THE FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILWAY HISTORIC WALKING TOURS, WHICH ARE OFFERED FROM OCTOBER - MAY THROUGH THE ORIGINAL NEIGHBORHOOD OF FORT LAUDERDALE. ADMISSION IS FREE. TOUR GUIDES PROVIDE STORIES ABOUT OLD FORT LAUDERDALE AND THE EARLY PIONEERS, HENRY FLAGLER AND THE FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILROAD, AND ALSO GUIDE VISITORS TO SOME OF THE OLDEST BUILDINGS IN THE CITY. THE PIONEER SCHOOL DAY PROGRAM TEACHES STUDENTS HOW LIFE WAS LED BY CHILDREN AND ADULTS 100 YEARS AGO. STUDENTS TOUR THREE DIFFERENT BUILDINGS, AND EACH HAS A DIFFERENT ACTIVITY. THE PIONEER SCHOOL DAY PROGRAM EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INTERSECTION OF THE NEW RIVER AND THE FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILWAY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF FORT LAUDERDALE.
  3. $41,055 spent. RESEARCH AND EXAMINATION OF HISTORICAL MATERIALS - FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRESERVATION, CATALOGING, AND STORING HISTORICAL MATERIALS. ADDITIONALLY, CONSULTING SERVICES REGARDING LOCAL BUILDINGS AND NEIGHBORHOODS ARE PROVIDED TO BROWARD COUNTY, LOCAL CITIES, AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1963.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.