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Buena Vista Heritage

EIN 74-2498589 · Buena Vista, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PRESERVE AND SHARE THE HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA AND CHAFFEE COUNTY FOR THE EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PUBLIC.

Income
$259,774
Spending
$238,046
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
12.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
5
Volunteers
75

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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 62% 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (1)
  1. $202,808 spent. FIFTY YEARS AGO, A LATE-NIGHT CONVERSATION CHANGED THE COURSE OF BUENA VISTA'S HISTORY. SUZY KELLY'S HUSBAND, BRYCE, RETURNED HOME FROM A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WITH SHOCKING NEWS: THEY WERE GOING TO DEMOLISH THE HISTORIC OUR COURTROOM ISN'T JUST FOR JUSTICE; IT'S ALSO A STAGE FOR DREAMS. MOTION EXCHANGE DANCE CALLS OUR SPACE HOME, PROVIDING A BEAUTIFUL SETTING FOR LOCAL DANCERS TO LEARN AND GROW. THIS BELOVED BUILDING, NEARLY A CENTURY OLD, HAD SERVED AS THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND LATER AS THE TOWN SCHOOL, EDUCATING GENERATIONS OF BUENA VISTA'S RESIDENTS. AS A CORNERSTONE OF MAIN STREET SINCE THE TOWN'S INCEPTION, IT HELD A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY'S HEART. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH CHANGING NEEDS, THE STRUCTURE FELL INTO DISREPAIR. THE BEHEMOTH OF A BUILDING REQUIRED SUBSTANTIAL TIME AND INVESTMENT TO RESTORE ITS FORMER GRANDEUR, AND NEITHER THE TOWN NOR SCHOOL BOARD HAD THE RESOURCES TO UNDERTAKE THIS TASK CONSEQUENTLY, IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE OLD COURTHOUSE WOULD BE DEMOLISHED, AND ITS HISTORY WOULD BE RELEGATED TO PHOTOS AND STORIES. FORTUNATELY, A GROUP OF CONCERNED CITIZENS SAW THE BEAUTY BEHIND THE CRUMBLING BRICK AND PEELING PAINT. THEY RECOGNIZED THE IRREPLACEABLE RESOURCE IN THE OUR PROPERTIES SERVE AS LIVING CLASSROOMS, WHEREHISTORY IS NOT JUST TAUGHT, BUT EXPERIENCED. HISTORIC WALLS AND TOWERING CUPOLA, AND THEY CHOSE NOT TO LET THAT HISTORY BE LOST TO ABUNCH OF BULLDOZERS. FROM A HUMBLE BEGINNING IN 1974, BUENA VISTA HERITAGE HAS EVOLVED INTO A THRIVING COMMUNITY CORNERSTONE. OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE EXPANDED OUR REACH, AND HAVE ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF VISITORS ANNUALLY FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. BUENA VISTA HERITAGE CONTINUES TO FLOURISH, AND WE EAGERLY ANTICIPATE THE POSSIBILITIES THAT LIE AHEAD. FIFTY YEARS AGO, A LATE-NIGHT CONVERSATION CHANGED THE COURSE OF BUENA VISTA'S HISTORY. SUZY KELLY'S HUSBAND, BRYCE, RETURNED HOME FROM A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WITH SHOCKING NEWS: THEY WERE GOING TO DEMOLISH THE HISTORIC OUR COURTROOM ISN'T JUST FOR JUSTICE; IT'S ALSO A STAGE FOR DREAMS. MOTION EXCHANGE DANCE CALLS OUR SPACE HOME, PROVIDING A BEAUTIFUL SETTING FOR LOCAL DANCERS TO LEARN AND GROW. THIS BELOVED BUILDING, NEARLY A CENTURY OLD, HAD SERVED AS THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND LATER AS THE TOWN SCHOOL, EDUCATING GENERATIONS OF BUENA VISTA'S RESIDENTS. AS A CORNERSTONE OF MAIN STREET SINCE THE TOWN'S INCEPTION, IT HELD A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY'S HEART. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH CHANGING NEEDS, THE STRUCTURE FELL INTO DISREPAIR. THE BEHEMOTH OF A BUILDING REQUIRED SUBSTANTIAL TIME AND INVESTMENT TO RESTORE ITS FORMER GRANDEUR, AND NEITHER THE TOWN NOR SCHOOL BOARD HAD THE RESOURCES TO UNDERTAKE THIS TASK CONSEQUENTLY, IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE OLD COURTHOUSE WOULD BE DEMOLISHED, AND ITS HISTORY WOULD BE RELEGATED TO PHOTOS AND STORIES. FORTUNATELY, A GROUP OF CONCERNED CITIZENS SAW THE BEAUTY BEHIND THE CRUMBLING BRICK AND PEELING PAINT. THEY RECOGNIZED THE IRREPLACEABLE RESOURCE IN THE OUR PROPERTIES SERVE AS LIVING CLASSROOMS, WHEREHISTORY IS NOT JUST TAUGHT, BUT EXPERIENCED. HISTORIC WALLS AND TOWERING CUPOLA, AND THEY CHOSE NOT TO LET THAT HISTORY BE LOST TO ABUNCH OF BULLDOZERS. FROM A HUMBLE BEGINNING IN 1974, BUENA VISTA HERITAGE HAS EVOLVED INTO A THRIVING COMMUNITY CORNERSTONE. OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE EXPANDED OUR REACH, AND HAVE ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF VISITORS ANNUALLY FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. BUENA VISTA HERITAGE CONTINUES TO FLOURISH, AND WE EAGERLY ANTICIPATE THE POSSIBILITIES THAT LIE AHEAD.

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

  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 November 6, 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 2024.

    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 September 1990.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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