Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society Inc

EIN 59-2207143 · Key West, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MAINTENANCE OF PERMANENT EXHIBITS OF ARTIFACTS RELATING TO THE SPANISH NEW WORLD HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY FOR DISPLAY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE DEVELOPMENT, PRESENTATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM MATERIALS AND PUBLICATIONS CONNECTED WITH SPANISH NEW WORLD ARTIFACTS AND TECHNIQUES OF RECOVERING THEM.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
-8.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 49%
Employees
19
Highest pay
$183,119, ex. 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: 50 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 60% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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

    0 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 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 (5)
  1. $1.4 million spent. MUSEUM EXHIBIT - THE MAINTENANCE OF PERMANENT EXHIBITS OF ARTIFACTS RELATING TO THE SPANISH NEW WORLD HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY FOR DISPLAY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
  2. $63,471 spent. EDUCATION - THE DEVELOPMENT, PRESENTATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM MATERIAL AND PUBLICATIONS CONNECTED WITH SPANISH NEW WORLD ARTIFACTS AND TECHNIQUES OF RECOVERING THEM.
  3. $52,337 spent. ARCHAEOLOGY - THE PRESERVATION, CATALOGING AND MAINTENANCE OF ARTIFACTS ASSOCIATED WITH SPANISH NEW WORLD HISTORY.
  4. TRAVELING EXHIBITS - THE MAINTENANCE OF EXHIBITS OF ARTIFACTS RELATING TO SPANISH NEW WORLD HISTORY THAT ARE BEING DISPLAYED BY OTHER MUSEUMS. MUSUEM STORE
  5. TRAVELING EXHIBITS - THE MAINTENANCE OF EXHIBITS OF ARTIFACTS RELATING TO SPANISH NEW WORLD HISTORY THAT ARE BEING DISPLAYED BY OTHER MUSEUMS. MUSUEM STORE

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 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 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 1982.

    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.