Florida Keys History and Diving Museum Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY OF DIVING MUSEUM IS DEDICATED TO COLLECTING, PRESERVING, DISPLAYING AND INTERPRETING ARTIFACTS, ANTIQUES, BOOKS, DOCUMENTS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND ORAL HISTORY RELATIVE TO THE HISTORY OF DIVING. WE TELL THE INTERNATIONAL STORY OF THE ATTEMPTS TO EXPLORE, UNDERSTAND AND VENTURE UNDER THE SEA. WE ALSO CELEBRATE THE SPECIAL ROLE THAT SOUTH FLORIDA AND THE FLORIDA KEYS PLAYED IN THIS UNTOLD STORY.
- Income
- $946,529
- Spending
- $466,920
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 19.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 38%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 68
- Highest pay
- $90,713, executive director
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 19.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 51% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $246,989 spent. MUSEUM EXHIBITS - WELCOMED 20,676 VISITORS FROM 77 COUNTRIES AND ALL 50 STATES TO EXPERIENCE MUSEUM EXHIBITS SHOWCASING MORE THAN 5,000 YEARS OF DIVING HISTORY, INCLUDING INTERACTIVE AND HANDS-ON EXHIBITS, AUDIO/VISUAL PRESENTATIONS, A SALT WATER AQUARIUM, THE WORLD'S LARGEST DISPLAY OF DIVING EQUIPMENT, AND SHIPWRECK TREASURE WITH A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE UNIQUE CONTRIBUTIONS SOUTH FLORIDA MADE TO DIVING HISTORY. THE DIVING HISTORY RESEARCH LIBRARY, OPENED IN FEBRUARY 2012, IS USED AS A COMPLIMENTARY MEETING ROOM VENUE FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WITH SIMILAR MISSIONS.
- $138,630 spent. EDUCATION - PROVIDED MONTHLY LECTURES, GUIDED TOURS, AND HOSTED SPECIAL EVENTS BY AUTHORITIES ON SUBJECTS RELATED TO MAN'S ATTEMPTS TO EXPLORE, UNDERSTAND AND VENTURE UNDER THE SEA. OVER 1,500 PEOPLE ATTENDED THESE FREE PRESENTATIONS, IN-PERSON OR VIRTUALLY. PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR SEVERAL COMMUNITY AND DIVING-RELATED GROUPS AND FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN. SERVED AS AN INTERNATIONAL RESOURCE FOR INFORMATION ON DIVING HISTORY AND VINTAGE EQUIPMENT.
- $24,399 spent. MUSEUM SERVICES - GAVE FREE ADMISSION TO ACTIVE MILITARY AND INJURED VETERANS' GROUPS YEAR ROUND. IN ADDITION THE MUSEUM PARTICIPATED IN THE BLUE STAR PROGRAM FROM ARMED FORCES DAY TO LABOR DAY TO PROVIDE FREE ADMISSION TO ACTIVE MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES BENEFITING CLOSE TO 653 INDIVIDUALS. OVER 1,020 VETERANS AND 3,145 SENIORS BENEFITED BY RECEIVING A REDUCED ADMISSION PRICE.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2000.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.