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Deetjens Inc

EIN 77-0289234 · Big Sur, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ENORMOUS EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO MAINTAIN AND PRESERVE THE HISTORIC AMBIANCE OF THE PROPERTY AS A MUSEUM TO THE EARLY DAYS OF BIG SUR, WITH THE GOAL OF PROVIDING VISITORS WITH A UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO UNDERSTAND THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE FACILITIES AND THE HISTORY OF BIG SUR. DEETJENS, BY MAINTAINING ITS RUSTIC, HISTORIC CHARACTER DOES NOT COMPETE WITH OTHER MODERNIZED AND MORE LUXURIOUS INNS AND OTHER ACCOMODATIONS ON THE BIG SUR COAST, AND IS MAINTAINED WITH MUSEUM-LIKE ATTENTION TO DETAIL, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE HISTORY AND UNIQUE CHARACTER OF THE BIG SUR INN.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 78%
Employees
50
Highest pay
$133,248, executive dir.

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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 (3)
  1. $1.2 million spent. HISTORIC PRESERVATION: DEETJEN'S INC. WAS FORMED ON SEPTEMBER 27, 1991, AS A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, AND WAS GRANTED TAX-EXEMPT STATUS BY THE IRS UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) ON DECEMBER 2, 1991. DEETJEN'S BIG SUR INN AND RESTAURANT IS LOCATED IN BIG SUR, CALIFORNIA, AND INCLUDES NINE HISTORIC STRUCTURES, WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY BUILT IN THE 1930'S AND 1940'S BY HELMUT DEETJEN, ONE OF THE EARLIEST SETTLERS OF THE BIG SUR COASTLINE. DEETJEN'S BIG SUR INN AND RESTAURANT HAS BEEN LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES SINCE 1996. DEETJEN'S PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE HAS BEEN TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH IS MAINTAINED SIMILARLY TO A MUSEUM IN SHOWCASING THE HISTORICAL ASPECTS OF THE PROPERTY AND THE NINE BUILDINGS ON THE SITE. DEETJEN'S HAS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE PROPERTY, AND HAS ADHERED TO ITS TAX-EXEMPT MISSION TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND MAINTAIN THE BIG SUR INN IN ITS HISTORIC CONTEXT. THERE ARE NO TELEVISIONS, TELEPHONES, OR INTERNET ACCESS IN ANY OF THE ROOMS. TIME DEVOTED TO THE ACTIVITY IS 75%, WITH 85% OF EXPENSES RELATED TO THIS ACTIVITY. THE INN IS OPERATED LIKE A MUSEUM, IN PRISTINE, HISTORIC CONDITION.
  2. $136,159 spent. EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC BY BRINGING THE EXPERIENCE OF EARLY CALIFORNIA TO ALL WHO VISIT THE PROPERTY BY OFFERING ACCESS TO THE HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS AND ARTIFACTS OF THE EARLY DAYS OF THE BIG SUR COASTLINE, AND PRESERVING THE PROPERTY AS AN EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL LANDMARK FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENJOY, AND DILIGENTLY MAINTAINING THE FACILITY IN ITS ORIGINAL AND HISTORIC SETTING OF THE ACTUAL PERIOD, FURNISHED WITH THE FURNITURE OF THE PERIOD AND SERVING FOOD OF THE PERIOD, IS A CONTINUATION OF THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE WHICH DEETJEN'S INN AND RESTAURANT CONTINUE TO OFFER. TIME DEVOTED TO THE ACTIVITY IS 15%, WITH 10% OF EXPENSES RELATED TO THIS ACTIVITY.
  3. $68,079 spent. MAINTENANCE AND PRESERVATION OF COLLECTIBLES, TREASURES, HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS: DEETJEN'S INN AND RESTAURANT HAS A SUBSTANTIAL COLLECTION OF MUSEUM-QUALITY HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS, POSTERS, MENUS, LETTERS AND ARTWORK DEPICTING THE HISTORIC PROPERTY AND THE EARLY SETTLERS OF CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL COAST AND THE BIG SUR AREA. THESE ITEMS ARE PRESERVED FOR HISTORICAL AND LEGACY PURPOSES AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC VIEWING IN THE PUBLIC AREAS OF THE INN AND IN THE RESTAURANT, AS WELL AS IN EACH OF THE HISTORIC ROOMS IN THE INN. THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN PRESERVED FOR APPROPRIATE EXHIBITIONS WHICH ARE PLANNED FOR THE FUTURE AS EDUCATIONAL ENHANCEMENTS TO BE OFFERED ON THE PROPERTY AND ALSO WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO OTHER MUSEUMS. TIME DEVOTED TO THE ACTIVITY IS 10%, WITH 5% OF EXPENSES RELATED TO THIS ACTIVITY.

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 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 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 August 1996.

    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.