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Historical Society of Palm Beach County

EIN 59-6158821 · West Palm Bch, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO COLLECT, PRESERVE AND MAKE ACCESSIBLE TO RESEARCHERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARTIFACTS AND MATERIALS THAT HELP TELL THE STORY OF THE HISTORY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, AND TO STIMULATE PUBLIC APPRECIATION FOR THE RICH HISTORY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF PALM BEACH COUNTY.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
19.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
11
Volunteers
41
Highest pay
$216,697, chief executive officer

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 19.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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 (1)
  1. $1.5 million spent. THE SOCIETY MAINTAINS AND OPERATES A LARGE ARCHIVE ON THE HISTORY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY AND FLORIDA, INCLUDING OVER FOUR MILLION PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES; MAPS, NEWSPAPERS, JOURNALS, PERIODICALS, ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS, AND RESEARCH FILES; AND ARTIFACTS. THE SOCIETY PROVIDES AN ON-SITE RESEARCH FACILITY, ACCESSIBLE BY THE PUBLIC, AND ACTIVELY DOCUMENTS THE PEOPLE AND EVENTS THAT HAVE SHAPED OUR COMMUNITY.TO FULFILL ITS MISSION, THE SOCIETY PROVIDES A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES IN SCHOOLS AND OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY-BASED SPECIAL PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS. THESE INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FAMILY EVENTS, GROUP TOURS, LECTURE SERIES, SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS AND TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS HELD BOTH WITHIN THE RICHARD AND PAT JOHNSON PALM BEACH COUNTY HISTORY MUSEUM AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THE SOCIETY PLACES A SIGNIFICANT EMPHASIS ON THE EDUCATION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN THROUGH SCHOOL TOURS, COMPREHENSIVE HANDS-ON CLASSROOM PROJECTS, SUPPLEMENTAL CLASSROOM MATERIALS FOR FOURTH AND SEVENTH GRADES, CURRICULUM GUIDES FOR FACULTY AND STUDENTS, AND INTENSIVE TEACHER TRAINING. THESE PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES ENABLE THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO BUILD AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF LOCAL HISTORY IN OUR CHILDREN.THE RICHARD AND PAT JOHNSON PALM BEACH COUNTY HISTORY MUSEUM IS MAINTAINED AND OPERATED BY THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. THE MUSEUM OFFERS EXTENSIVE STATIC AND INTERACTIVE PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS AND A GALLERY FOR ROTATING EXHIBITIONS CURATED WITH THE INTENT TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS BY MAKING LOCAL HISTORY ACCESSIBLE, INTERESTING AND MEANINGFUL. SINCE OPENING IN 2008, MORE THAN 200,276 INDIVIDUALS HAVE ENJOYED THE MUSEUM, FREE OF CHARGE.THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY WAS SELECTED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISTRICT FUNDED COMMUNITY FIELD TRIP EXPERIENCE. THIS EXHIBIT WILL BE ON DISPLAY YEAR ROUND AT THE RICHARD AND PAT JOHNSON PALM BEACH COUNTY HISTORY MUSEUM AS PART OF ITS DESIGNATION AS A HOLOCAUST EDUCATION SITE. THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY HONORS AND RECOGNIZES HERITAGE MONTHS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES, DISCUSSIONS AND EXHIBITIONS THAT HONOR THE HISTORIES AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE.

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 April 1942.

    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.

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