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St Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum Inc

EIN 59-3471303 · St Augustine, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To discover, preserve, present and keep alive the story of the nation's oldest port, as symbolized by our working St. Augustine Lighthouse.

Income
$4.7 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
13.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
55
Volunteers
450
Highest pay
$139,737, executive director

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 16 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 June 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 (4)
  1. $2.8 million spent. Historic Preservation and Maintenance - In order to fulfill its mission, the Museum performs historic preservation on several historic structures, including the Saint Augustine Lighthouse. The Light Station was restored to U.S. Department of Interior standards. The keepers' house, light tower, the WWII Jeep garage, the summer kitchens, the Fresnel lens, the lantern and restorations consume approximately 20 percent of the operation's staffing hours. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic places and in 2010 the Museum achieved its Smithsonian Affiliate status. The museum maintains the aid to navigation as a private aid and keeps the light shining.
  2. $549,810 spent. Museum Shop Activity - The gift shop offers visitors the opportunity to purchase various souvenirs, historical books, and other items related to the Organization's theme and mission. All revenue generated is directly used to support the Organization's programs.
  3. Interpretive and Educational Services - Education is core to the Museum's mission. Interpretive and educational services were fully part of all programs for the 47,000 +/- school age children that visited and the 200,000 +/- annual visitors. Various services offered included the "Wrecked" exhibit, the Lighthouse Summer Camp scholarship program for at-risk children, the Behind-the-Scenes tours included with paid admission, and various programs within the Maritime Archaeology Specialty Programs. All program content was tied to and teaches Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM_ education and the Museum Mission. The Museum performs scientific research in the waters of the nation's oldest port city and cares for up to 13,000 artifacts, archaeological specimen, and historic archival documents. Some 3,000 objects are on long-term loan from the State of Florida.
  4. Maritime Archaeology - The research arm of the Museum is the separately incorporated Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP). LAMP archeologists host various field school students from across the United States, giving these students and other students hands-on experience in the field. LAMP has been working on a 1782 shipwreck site and objects such as a Queen Anne pistol, ship's deck pump,ship's bell, and various others have been retrieved by student divers. Current conservation work on these objects is supervised by the Museum. Fully conserved objects are displayed at the Museum's "Wrecked Exhibit" under permit by the State. LAMP publishes an annual archaeological research report that is presented to the State of Florida Division of Historical Resources. During the year, volunteers donate their time to build a variety of small craft and to tell and share stories of the maritime heritage to the vast number of tourists visiting the town.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 October 13, 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 June 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 August 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 October 21, 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.