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Rico Historical Society

EIN 84-1511411 · Rico, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceWeak39 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RHS WAS FOUNDED IN 2003 AND EXISTS TO ACKNOWLEDGE, CONSERVE AND PROMOTE AWARENESS OF RICO HISTORY.

Income
$235,983
Spending
$350,989
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 88%
Employees
0
Highest pay
$15,000, operations m

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 49% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 431% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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.

  • 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, 2025, 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. $349,303 spent. 2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: ENSURING THE FUTURE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC ENGEL HOUSE BY SEEKING OUT AND ENGAGING WITH A PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL OWNER; PLANNED AND IMPLEMENTED THE DONATING OF 325,000 IN GRANT FUNDS TO THE TOWN OF RICO FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE HISTORIC RICO COMMUNITY CHURCH FOR PUBLIC USE AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION; ENGAGED ENGINEERING FIRM AND LOCAL CONTRACTOR TO DEVELOP CONSTRUCTION PLANS FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE VAN WINKLE HEADFRAME; DEVELOPED PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ATLANTIC RICHFIELD MINING CO, A LARGE HOLDER OF RICO HISTORIC MINING PROPERTY; OPERATED THE RICO MUSEUM FOR FIVE SUMMER MONTHS, HOSTING OVER 2500 VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD; PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS 2025 ANNUAL NEWSLETTER WITH RHS ACCOMPLISHMENTS; ACQUIRED AND INSTALLED NEW DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITS FOR THE MUSEUM; ADVANCED THE ACQUISITION OF RIGHTS AND PUBLISHING OF ACID REIGN BOOK; MANAGED 20 SEASONAL VOLUNTEERS INCLUDING BOARD MEMBERS AND MUSEUM DOCENTS AND PROFESSIONALS; SUBMITTED RICO CENTER GRANT APPLICATIONS AND MANAGED GRANT AWARDS: PARTICIPATED IN AND ACTED AS CHAIRPERSON FOR THE TOWN OF RICO COMMUNITY CHURCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE; PERFORMED OVERSIGHT OF LEGAL AND FINANCIAL MATTERS TO ABSORB WORK LOAD FROM PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBERS: RESTRUCTURE BOARD; MANAGE THE PURCHASE AND RESALE OF MUSEUM GIFT SHOP INVENTORY; SUBMIT SALES TAX REQUIREMENTS AND TAX FILINGS TO STATE OF COLORADO AND IRS; MAINTAIN CLEANLINESS AND REPAIR OF MUSEUM AS NEEDED; HANDLE CASH OPERATIONS AND TRANSCATIONS; WORK WITH USFS TO REPRODUCE AND REPLACE ATLANTICCABLE INTERPRETIVE SIGN; PARTNER WITH MOUNTAINS TO MESAS SOUTHWEST COLORADO COMMITTEE FOR 2026, 250/150 ANNIVERSARY CELBRATION WITH MOMENTS THAT MADE US EXHIBITS, ORAL HISTORIES WITH DOVE CREEK. ASSIST SECRETARY WITH MEMBERSHIPS AND CONTACT LISTS; ACT AS CURATOR FOR MUSEUM ACCEPT DONATIONS AND RECORD DEED OF GIFT IN FILES: ORGANIZE HISTORIC OFFICE FILES AND ARTIFACTS; PUBLIC ARTICLE OF RICO HISTORY IN SAN JUAN SKYWAY MAGAZINE. 2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: ENSURING THE FUTURE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC ENGEL HOUSE BY SEEKING OUT AND ENGAGING WITH A PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL OWNER; PLANNED AND IMPLEMENTED THE DONATING OF 325,000 IN GRANT FUNDS TO THE TOWN OF RICO FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE HISTORIC RICO COMMUNITY CHURCH FOR PUBLIC USE AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION; ENGAGED ENGINEERING FIRM AND LOCAL CONTRACTOR TO DEVELOP CONSTRUCTION PLANS FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE VAN WINKLE HEADFRAME; DEVELOPED PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ATLANTIC RICHFIELD MINING CO, A LARGE HOLDER OF RICO HISTORIC MINING PROPERTY; OPERATED THE RICO MUSEUM FOR FIVE SUMMER MONTHS, HOSTING OVER 2500 VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD; PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS 2025 ANNUAL NEWSLETTER WITH RHS ACCOMPLISHMENTS; ACQUIRED AND INSTALLED NEW DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITS FOR THE MUSEUM; ADVANCED THE ACQUISITION OF RIGHTS AND PUBLISHING OF ACID REIGN BOOK; MANAGED 20 SEASONAL VOLUNTEERS INCLUDING BOARD MEMBERS AND MUSEUM DOCENTS AND PROFESSIONALS; SUBMITTED RICO CENTER GRANT APPLICATIONS AND MANAGED GRANT AWARDS: PARTICIPATED IN AND ACTED AS CHAIRPERSON FOR THE TOWN OF RICO COMMUNITY CHURCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE; PERFORMED OVERSIGHT OF LEGAL AND FINANCIAL MATTERS TO ABSORB WORK LOAD FROM PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBERS: RESTRUCTURE BOARD; MANAGE THE PURCHASE AND RESALE OF MUSEUM GIFT SHOP INVENTORY; SUBMIT SALES TAX REQUIREMENTS AND TAX FILINGS TO STATE OF COLORADO AND IRS; MAINTAIN CLEANLINESS AND REPAIR OF MUSEUM AS NEEDED; HANDLE CASH OPERATIONS AND TRANSCATIONS; WORK WITH USFS TO REPRODUCE AND REPLACE ATLANTICCABLE INTERPRETIVE SIGN; PARTNER WITH MOUNTAINS TO MESAS SOUTHWEST COLORADO COMMITTEE FOR 2026, 250/150 ANNIVERSARY CELBRATION WITH MOMENTS THAT MADE US EXHIBITS, ORAL HISTORIES WITH DOVE CREEK. ASSIST SECRETARY WITH MEMBERSHIPS AND CONTACT LISTS; ACT AS CURATOR FOR MUSEUM ACCEPT DONATIONS AND RECORD DEED OF GIFT IN FILES: ORGANIZE HISTORIC OFFICE FILES AND ARTIFACTS; PUBLIC ARTICLE OF RICO HISTORY IN SAN JUAN SKYWAY MAGAZINE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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, 2013 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2013.

    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 2025.

    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 July 2014.

    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.