Heritage Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Heritage Society (THS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1954 whose mission is to tell the stories of the diverse history of Houston and Texas through collections, exhibits, the arts, educational programs, film, video, and other content.
- Income
- $216,194
- Spending
- $366,888
- Spent on programs
- 53%
- Reserves
- 11.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 71%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $77,510, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 56 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 70% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 81% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1553% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 47 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 25 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (3)
- $92,397 spent. The Heritage Society provides tours of historic buildings that demonstrate how and why people settled in the Houston area, lectures regarding important people and events in Houston's and Texas's history, and educational programs for children and families on-site and off-site. Additionally, THS has monthly and quarterly educational programs in the form of guest lecturers speaking about historical events, sites, structures, and people of Houston and Texas.
- $32,009 spent. The Heritage Society cares for and operates historic buildings to demonstrate Houston's and Texas's history and to educate the public about the lifestyles of the area's early residents. Curators work diligently to maintain, preserve, and restore historic buildings and collections for the education and enjoyment of the public.The Heritage Society collects and exhibits items relevant to Houston's and Texas's history and must preserve and care for those items. Collection items are exhibited in the historic buildings and Museum Gallery and through rotating exhibitions on- and off-site. (See Schedule O)Heritage Society and the City of Houston entered into an amended and restated Lease Agreement on March 15, 2022. The lease term is 30 years. In the amended and restated agreement, the City of Houston has committed to providing funds for the historic structures' maintenance, repairs, and security.
- $70,807 spent. Other program activities include membership and volunteer coordination, communications, marketing, gift shop operations, museum gallery, and meeting space maintenance and usage.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1956.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.