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Pursuit of History Inc

EIN 84-1964120 · Marlborough, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURSUIT OF HISTORY IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAN ENGAGES PEOPLE IN CONVERSATION ABOUT HISTORY AND CONNECTS THEM WITH HISTORIC SITES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE ORGANIZATION BELIEVES THAT MORE PEOPLE GAINING A BROADER UNDERSTANDING OF HISTORY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT.

Income
$286,904
Spending
$173,182
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
14.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 62%
Employees
0
Volunteers
25

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.1 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 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 97% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • 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.

  • 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, 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. $163,613 spent. THE PURSUIT OF HISTORY IS THE NATIONAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT ENGAGES ADULTS IN CONVERSATION ABOUT HISTORY AND CONNECTS THEM WITH HISTORIC SITES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY THROUGH INNOVATIVE IN-PERSON AND ONLINE PROGRAMMING. OUR IN-PERSON EVENTS INCLUDE HISTORY CAMP, WHICH WE STARTED IN 2014, AND PURSUIT OF HISTORY WEEKENDS, WHICH WE STARTED IN 2023. OUR ONLINE PROGRAMS INCLUDE WEEKLY IN-DEPTH HISTORY CAMP AUTHOR DISCUSSIONS. AND THROUGHOUT WE HAVE MADE AS MUCH OF THIS AS WIDELY AVAILABLE AS POSSIBLE, INCLUDING THROUGH OUR VIDEO ARCHIVE OF HUNDREDS OF FULL-LENGTH AUTHOR DISCUSSIONS AND HISTORY CAMP PRESENTATIONS. THE VIDEO BELOW BRINGS THIS TO LIFE, AND BELOW THE VIDEO WE HAVE MORE ABOUT HOW WE STARTED AND WHY. TODAY HISTORY CAMP IS THE LARGEST EVENT OF ITS KIND IN THE NATION. LAST YEAR WE HAD 400 PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE COME FROM 27 STATES FOR MORE THAN 50 SESSIONS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS. OUR SERIES, THE PURSUIT OF HISTORY FOR AMERICA'S 250TH, TRAVELS TO TWO CITIES EVERY YEAR NOW THROUGH 2033 FOR A DEEP DIVE INTO HISTORY WHERE IT HAPPENED 250 YEARS AGO. THE PURSUIT OF HISTORY IS THE NATIONAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT ENGAGES ADULTS IN CONVERSATION ABOUT HISTORY AND CONNECTS THEM WITH HISTORIC SITES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY THROUGH INNOVATIVE IN-PERSON AND ONLINE PROGRAMMING. OUR IN-PERSON EVENTS INCLUDE HISTORY CAMP, WHICH WE STARTED IN 2014, AND PURSUIT OF HISTORY WEEKENDS, WHICH WE STARTED IN 2023. OUR ONLINE PROGRAMS INCLUDE WEEKLY IN-DEPTH HISTORY CAMP AUTHOR DISCUSSIONS. AND THROUGHOUT WE HAVE MADE AS MUCH OF THIS AS WIDELY AVAILABLE AS POSSIBLE, INCLUDING THROUGH OUR VIDEO ARCHIVE OF HUNDREDS OF FULL-LENGTH AUTHOR DISCUSSIONS AND HISTORY CAMP PRESENTATIONS. THE VIDEO BELOW BRINGS THIS TO LIFE, AND BELOW THE VIDEO WE HAVE MORE ABOUT HOW WE STARTED AND WHY. TODAY HISTORY CAMP IS THE LARGEST EVENT OF ITS KIND IN THE NATION. LAST YEAR WE HAD 400 PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE COME FROM 27 STATES FOR MORE THAN 50 SESSIONS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS. OUR SERIES, THE PURSUIT OF HISTORY FOR AMERICA'S 250TH, TRAVELS TO TWO CITIES EVERY YEAR NOW THROUGH 2033 FOR A DEEP DIVE INTO HISTORY WHERE IT HAPPENED 250 YEARS AGO.

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? 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 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 December 2019.

    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.