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Historical Society of Central Florida Inc

EIN 59-1860444 · Orlando, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE ATTACHED.THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, INC. EXISTS TO SUPPORT THE MISSION AND PROGRAMS OF THE ORANGE COUNTY REGIONAL HISTORY CENTER. OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS TO SERVE AS THE GATEWAY FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION, AND INSPIRATION BY PRESERVING AND SHARING CENTRAL FLORIDA'S CONTINUALLY UNFOLDING STORY.

Income
$491,539
Spending
$513,986
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
20.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 44%
Employees
8
Volunteers
703

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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.

  • 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, 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. $170,725 spent. EXHIBITS: THE HISTORY CENTER'S THREE FLOORS OF PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS EXPLORE OVER 14,000 YEARS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA HISTORY, FROM PRE-HISTORIC TIMES TO TODAY. THE EXHIBITS HIGHLGHT CENTRAL FLORIDA'S RICH HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT LONG BEFORE IT BECAME AN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM DESTINATION. NARRATIVES INTERPRET THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, EARLY PEOPLES, THE SEMINOLES, PIONEER SETTLERS, TRANSPORTATION, AND INDUSTRY INTO TODAY. TWO TEMPORARY EXHIBITION SPACES ARE USED FOR SHARING NEW CONTENT AND COLLECTIONS ANNUALLY, INCLUDING OCCASIONAL NATIONAL EXHIBITIONS FROM THE SMITHSONIAN OR OTHER MAJOR INSTITUTIONS.
  2. $60,234 spent. EDUCATION: THE HISTORY CENTER OFFERS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMMING FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND INTERESTS, INCLUDING SCHOOL TOURS (PUBLIC, PRIVATE, HOMESCHOOL), YOUTH VISITORS, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES. THE HISTORY CENTER OFFERS HYBRID (ONSITE AND VIRTUAL) PROGRAMMING FOR LUNCH AND LEARNS, THE BRECHNER SPEAKER SERIES, AND OTHER PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO BE AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE. WHILE DAILY ADMISSIONS FOR THE PERIOD CAME IN STRONG WITH 10,344 REGULAR VISITORS. WE HAD 159 LOCAL SCHOOLS DO AN ON-SITE TOUR FOR 11,506 STUDENTS; A TOTAL OF 36,313 PARTICIPATED IN OUR PROGRAMMATIC OFFERINGS.
  3. $81,834 spent. COLLECTIONS AND RESEARCH: THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OWNS AND PRESERVES A MAJOR COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS, ARCHIVES, IMAGES, AND ORAL HISTORIES WHICH FULFILL THE MISSION OF THE INSTITUTION. THEY ARE USED TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAMMING AND EXHIBITIONS OF THE HISTORY CENTER. THIS COLLECTION CONTAINS MORE THAN 21,852 THREE-DIMENSIONAL ITEMS, 5,092 ARCHIVAL HOLDINGS, 5,287 HISTORIC POSTCARDS, 22,907 HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS, AND 602 ORAL HISTORIES. IT ALSO CONTAINS MORE THAN 2,000,000 LINEAR FEET OF LOCAL TELEVISION NEWS COVERAGE FROM THE 1950S THROUGH THE EARLY 1980S. THE HISTORY CENTER INCLUDES A RESEARCH LIBRARY AND A DEDICATED STAFF WHO ASSISTED WITH 267 RESEARCH REQUESTS FROM THE PUBLIC AND COLLECTED 38 NEW ORAL HISTORIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 December 1971.

    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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