Rutherford B H Yates Museum Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To promote preservation, education, archaeology, & research of African Diaspora history focusing on the period of enslavement & post-slavery era in the Gulf Coast Region of Texas & its connections to other regions in the world.
- Income
- $234,497
- Spending
- $237,429
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 8.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 126
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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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)
- $143,589 spent. Continued preservation, stabilization, planning and restoration of 2 National Register-listed and State Historic Landmark houses for future use as museums. Completed all geo tech & topographical surveys for 2 historic houses. Completed 50% architectural & engineering planning, for a historic cottage to become Gift Shop/Gallery/Tour office, & for the construction of a new building as a tour group gathering center with public restrooms. Retarped 2 houses after storm damage.
- One historic 1898 house was designated as a State of Texas Most Endangered Historic Structure. Under the direction of the Archaeologist/Curator, several paid university archaeology student interns, new archaeology reports were added to two of the 74 UNESCO nominations under consideration. Those two properties are owned & being restored by RBHYates & are located in the Freedmens Town National Register Historic District-Houston, Texas.
- $75,362 spent. Continue contract for part-time Archaeologist/Curator; continued contracts for part-time office administrator & for part-time Historic Researcher/Tour Program Dir.; provided internships for 2 University of Houston Anthropology students to continue processing & creating exhibits of 19th & 20th century artifacts from the museums collection of 200,000+ artifacts. Sent 4 historic window units to have lead paint removed, revarnished, & reinstalled in the J. V. Lewis museum. Installed locking glass exhibit cabinets & a 6 ft. video monitor in the J. Vance Lewis historic house. Installed a 400 lb antique cast iron stove in the J. Vance Lewis. Archaeologist, volunteers, staff & Historic Researcher hosted 40 tour groups, 1 international club, 3 school field trips. Hosted Preservation Volunteer work days for employees of 3 companies, 2 preservation organizations, & 2 university conference groups.
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 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.
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 May 1998.
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 November 4, 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.