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Postal History Foundation Inc

EIN 86-0358137 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO POSTAL HISTORY, PHILATELY, AND THE WORLD OF STAMPS TO INSPIRE CURIOSITY AND ENCOURAGE THE ENJOYMENT OF LIFE LONG LEARNING.

Income
$195,647
Spending
$245,809
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
49.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
6

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

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 49.2 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 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 88 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $79,066 spent. THE STAMP DISCOVERY PROGRAM : THE YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAM OF THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION IS UNIQUE IN THE COUNTRY. IN THE EARLY 1960S THE PHF STARTED TEACHING A DOZEN STUDENTS FROM THE SCHOOL FOR ASTHMATIC CHILDREN IN THE TUCSON MOUNTAINS ABOUT PHILATELY. THE PROGRAM TODAY REACHES MORE THAN 13,000 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ANNUALLY. COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPERIENCE THE WORLD OF STAMPS WHEN THE PHF PARTICIPATES IN SPECIAL EVENTS FOR YOUTH THAT INCLUDE SCOUT GROUPS, LIBRARIES, STAMP SHOWS, AND MUSEUMS. CHILDREN BECOME FASINATED WITH STAMP COLLECTING AND ADULTS RENEW THEIR CHILDHOOD PASSION FOR PHILATELY. THE TEACHING PROGRAM CURRENTLY DISTRIBUTES OVER 500,000 STAMPS ANNUALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND OVERSEAS. IN ADDITION, REQUESTED STAMPS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO STAMP SHOWS, STAMP CLUBS, LIBRARIES, THE SMITHSONIAN, THE APS, AND VARIOUS OUTREACH ORGANIZATIONS. TO MEET THESE NEEDS, OUR VOLUNTEERS CONTINUALLY SORT, SOAK, FILE AND PREPARE SETS FOR CLASSROOM USE.
  2. $76,643 spent. THE PEGGY J SLUSSER PHILATELIC LIBRARY THE LIBRARY, A PREMIER PHILATELIC LIBRARY FACILITY, HAS EXPANDED IN THE LAST DECADE TO HOUSE A COLLECTION OF OVER 32,000 BOOKS, JOURNALS,AUCTION CATALOGS, PHOTOS, MAPS, AND OTHER REFERENCE MATERIALS RELATED TO PHILATELY AND POSTAL HISTORY. THE ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS FOCUS ON THE POSTAL HISTORY OF ARIZONA AND THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES. THE LIBRARY ALSO HOUSES A COLLECTION OF CIVIL WAR LITERATURE AND ARTIFACTS. GRANTS TO THE LIBRARY HAVE ENABLED US TO SIGNIFICANTLY UPGRADE OUR PRESERVATION CAPABILITIES. THE CATALOG IS CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED TO REFLECT NEW ACQUISITIONS. THE LIBRARYS BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORDS ARE HOSTED AT THREE DISTINCT ONLINE CATALOGS. THE PIMA COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY CATALOG LETS THE LIBRARY SERVE LOCAL PATRONS. THE UNION CATALOG, HOSTED BY (APRL), AND THE GLOGAL PHILATELIC LIBRARY CATALOG, HOSTED BY THE (RPSL), ALLOW THE LIBRARY SERVE PHILATELISTS GLOBALLY.
  3. $30,266 spent. PHILATELIC POST OFFICE: OUR POST OFFICE IS A FULL SERVICE USPS CONTRACT POST OFFICE OPERATING ESPECIALLY TO THE BENEFIT OF STAMP COLLECTORS BY MAINTAINING A STOCK OF ALL CURRENT STAMP ISSUES. ITS PRESENCE HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN INTRODUCING MANY TO THE FULL ACTIVITIES OF THE FOUNDATION. THE POST OFFICE IS STAFFED BY ONE PAID EMPLOYEE AND A NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS.
  4. $27,493 spent. -PHILATELIC SALES: A PORTION OF THE STAMPS, COLLECTING SUPPLIES AND PHILATELIC LITERATURE THAT WE RECEIVE IN DONATIONS ARE PLACED IN OUR PHILATELIC SALES PROGRAM TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE FOUNDATION. A SALES AREA IS MAINTAINED AT OUR HEADQUARTERS AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. MEMBERS RECEIVE A 20% DISCOUNT ON MOST ITEMS. SALES ARE ALSO CONDUCTED AT THE ARIZONA NATIONAL SHOW EACH YEAR AND REGULARLY ON EBAY. SPECIALIZED COLLECTIONS MAY BE SOLD AT AUCTION (SEE SCHEDULE M, LINE 32B).

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 March 1979.

    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.