Passes our checks

Otis Preservation Trust Inc

EIN 84-2925875 · Otis, MA

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

What it says it does

TO RAISE FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF THE OTIS HISTORIC COMMISSION TO RESTORE AND REPURPOSE OTIS' HISTORIC PROPERTIES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).

Reserves
10 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20
It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 93% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 182% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, 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
8 of 8
Has a 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$127,019 spent. SEE SCHEDULE OFROM 2024-2025, THE OTIS PRESERVATION TRUST (OPT) HELD 7 EVENTS THAT WERE A PART OF THE NOTICE OTIS" SERIES. BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2024, AN EVENT FEATURING THE OPENING OF A NEARBY CAFE, THE ROADSIDE CAFE, WAS ATTENDED BY PEOPLE WHO WERE ANXIOUS FOR THE CAFE TO OPEN. THE SPEAKER WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GOULD FARM, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATING THE RESTAURANT. THEN, IN OCTOBER, THE WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS HILLTOWN HIKERS PRESENTED A LECTURE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION'S ACTIVITIES. THE LAST EVENT OF THE YEAR WAS A MUSICAL TRIO, "THE SIRENS, AND THEY ENTERTAINED THE AUDIENCE WITH AN EXTENSIVE VARIETY OF SONGS.IN 2025, OPT PRESENTED 4 NOTICE OTIS" PROGRAMS. IN FEBRUARY, THERE WAS A RE-ENACTMENT OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF ELEANOR ROOSEVELT'S LIFE. AUGUST FEATURED LOCAL PROFESSIONALS WHO CREATED A FILM ABOUT GENERAL HENRY KNOX'S ROLE IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. SHERRY STEINER, A COMPOSER AND PIANIST, ENTERTAINED THE PUBLIC AT A PERFORMANCE HELD IN OCTOBER. TO CONCLUDE THE SERIES, A PUBLISHED AUTHOR SPOKE ABOUT THE LIFE OF SUE MOODY WHITE, AN OTIS RESIDENT WHO WROTE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNE DURING WORLD WAR II.WE WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER PROGRAMS, AND TO PUBLICIZE OUR ROLE TO FURTHER OUR TOWN'S HISTORY, AND PRESERVATION ACTIVITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 October 13, 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 June 2025.
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 September 2022.
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 October 21, 2026.

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