Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Texas Through Time

EIN 83-1694257 · Hillsboro, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak28 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO BRING TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF TEXAS FOSSILS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENGAGING AND EDUCATING THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THROUGH MEANINGFUL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, WE HOPE TO STIMULATE APPRECIATION FOR TEXAS UNIQUE FOSSIL RECORD.

Income
$73,989
Spending
$76,453
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-18.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
0

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: 28 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 62% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 63% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% 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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • 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

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $67,086 spent. MUSEUM OPERATIONS AND PUBLIC EXHIBITS- TEXAS THROUGH TIME OPERATES A NONPROFIT NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM IN HILLSBORO TX, WHICH PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCESS TO EXHIBITS FEATURING TEXAS FOSSILS, MINERALS, AND GEOLOGICAL ARTIFACTS. DURING THE TAX YEAR, THE MUSEUM WELCOMED THOUSANDS OF VISITORS, INCLUDING SCHOOL GROUPS, FAMILIES, AND TOURISTS. EXHIBITS WERE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE NEW FOSSIL DISPLAYS. VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED TOURS AND EDUCATIONAL TALKS AT NO CHARGE TO SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. ADMISSION IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC TO PROMOTE ACCESSIBILITY TO SCIENCE EDUCATION. IN 2024 RENOVATIONS AND OPENING OF THE NEW BUILDING, A HISTORICAL BUILDING THAT USED TO BE A JUNIOR COLLEGE. TEXAS THROUGH TIME HOSTED MULTIPLE COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR DESIGNED TO MAKE PALEONTOLOGY AND GEOLOGY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. EVENTS INCLUDED FOSSIL IDENTIFICATION DAYS, FAMILY SCIENCE NIGHTS, MUSEUM ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS, AND EDUCATIONAL FESTIVALS. THESE EVENTS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES, STUDENTS, AND VISITORS TO INTERACT WITH REAL FOSSILS, OBSERVE PREPARATION WORK IN THE PALEONTOLOGY LAB, AND MEET SCIENTISTS AND VOLUNTEERS. THE MUSEUM ALSO PARTICIPATED IN LOCAL HILLSBORO COMMUNITY FESTIVALS AND PARTNERED WITH SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, AND CIVIC GROUPS TO PROVIDE EXHIBITS AND HANDS-ON SCIENCE DEMONSTRATIONS. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, TEXAS THROUGH TIME REACHED A BROAD AUDIENCE, STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN SCIENCE EDUCATION, AND ADVANCED ITS MISSION TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE NATURAL HISTORY OF TEXAS. ALL EVENTS WERE OFFERED FREE OR AT LOW COST TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
  2. FOSSIL PRESERVATION AND RESEARCH SUPPORT- EXCAVATED A LARGE MAMMOTH SKULL, WHICH WAS FEATURED ON MULTIPLE NEWS STATIONS. THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS SELECTED MR. ANDRE LUJAN FOR THE NANCY HANKS MEMORIAL AWARD FOR RISING STARS TEXAS THROUGH TIME ACTIVELY SUPPORTS RESPONSIBLE FOSSIL COLLECTING AND PRESERVATION IN COOPERATION WITH STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES. THE ORGANIZATION CATALOGS, CLEANS, AND CURATES DONATED FOSSIL SPECIMENS FOR LONG-TERM CONSERVATION AND SCIENTIFIC STUDY. IT ALSO ASSISTS RESEARCHERS AND STUDENTS BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO ITS FOSSIL COLLECTIONS AND MAINTAINING DETAILED RECORDS FOR SCIENTIFIC DOCUMENTATION. DURING THE YEAR, SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT SPECIMENS WERE PREPARED AND ADDED TO THE MUSEUMS PERMANENT COLLECTION.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2023 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2023.

    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 November 2023.

    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.

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.