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Historic Rugby Inc

EIN 62-0840267 · Rugby, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CARRY OUT AND ENCOURAGE, WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF A LIVING HISTORIC VILLAGE, THE RESTORATION, PRESERVATION, PROTECTION, MANAGEMENT AND INTERPRETATION OF THE MAN-MADE AND NATURAL HISTORIC RESOURCES, AND THE BRITISH AND APPALACHIAN HERITAGE FOR THE EDUCATION AND BENEFIT OF ALL PEOPLE

Income
$692,712
Spending
$606,607
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
8
Volunteers
145

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 December 31, 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. $282,790 spent. THE STORY OF BRITISH AUTHOR AND SOCIAL REFORMER THOMAS HUGHES VISION FOR A COOPERATIVE, CLASS-FREE COMMUNITY FOUNDED IN THE RUGGED RIVER-GORGE SETTING ON THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU IS TOLD TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH AN AWARD-WINNING FILM IN THE VISTORS CENTRE, AND TOURS OF A HISTORIC HOME (KINGSTON LISLE), THE 1882 HUGHES LIBRARY (WITH 7000 ORIGINAL VOLUMES), THE SCHOOLHOUSE/MUSEUM, AND THE 1887 CHRIST CHURCH. RUGBYS HERITAGE IS ALSO SHARED THROUGH SEVERAL FESTIVALS AND ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR, HIGHLIGHTING THE BRITISH AND APPALACHIAN CULTURES THAT FORMED RUGBY, AND THROUGH A NUMBER OF CRAFT AND WORKSHOP PROGRAMS, EXHIBITORS, AND INTERPRETERS. THE RECONSTRUCTED HISTORIC COMMISSARY OFFERS FOR SALE LOCAL APPALACHIAN CRAFTS, AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL ITEMS, MUCH LIKE THE COMMISSARY DID IN THE 1880S. RUGBYS STORY IS ALSO TOLD THROUGH INTERPRETATIVE PROGRAMS SUCH AS A LATERN TOUR OF HISTORIC LAUREL DALE CEMETERY.
  2. $83,862 spent. THE RUGBY COLONY IS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, AND ONE OF THE PRIMARY PROGRAM ACTIVITIES OF HISTORIC RUGBY, INC. IS THE PRESERVATION, PROTECTION, AND RESTORATION OF THIS WOULD-BE UTOPIAN COMMUNITY. BESIDES THE NECESSARY AND EXTENSIVE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND SITE PRESERVATION ACTIVITIES FOR THE VICTORIAN-ERA VILLAGE, RUGBY HAS CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARCHITECTURALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY COMPATIBLE COLONIZATION WHILE PROTECTING THE HISTORIC SITE FROM INCOMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT.
  3. $72,916 spent. INTERPRETING THE LIFESTYLE OF THE ORIGINAL RUGBY COLONISTS IN AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM ACTIVITY, SHARING WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN VICTORIAN ENGLAND CAME TO THE RURAL CUMBERLANDS OF TENNESSEE. PERIOD-DRESSED STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HELP VISTORS ATTENDING ONE OF THE SEVERAL SPECIAL EVENTS STEP BACK IN TIME TO EXPERIENCE VICTORIAN ENGLISH LIFE IN THE COLONY. TRADITIONAL BRITISH FARE IS AVAILABLE IN THE HARROW ROAD CAFE, AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT WAS ADVERTISING IN THE VILLAGE NEWSPAPER AS EARLY AS 1882. SEVERAL OF THE CURRENT MENU OFFERINGS WERE AVAILABLE AT THE ORIGINAL CAFE, WHICH HAS BEEN RECONSTRUCTED TO CONFORM TO RUGBYS HISTORIC ARCHTECTURE. VISTORS CAN ALSO SPEND THE NIGHT IN THE ORIGINAL NEWBURY HOUSE, A BOARDING HOUSE THAT OPENED IN 1880 AND WAS IN CONTINUOUS OPERATION UNTIL THE 1920S. IT WAS AUTHENTICALLY RESTORED IN 1985, AND OFFERS GUESTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND THE EVENING AMID PERIOD ANTIQUES. SEVERAL OTHER RESTORED OR RECONSTRUCTED COTTAGES ARE AVAILABLE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 January 1969.

    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.