Wilson Bruce Evans Home Historical Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PRESERVE AND TRANSFORM THE HOME OF WILSON BRUCE EVANS INTO A LIVING MONUMENT THAT HONORS THE LEGACY OF THE EVANS FAMILY, ABOLITIONISTS, UNDERGROUND RAILROAD OPERATIVES, AND LIFELONG ADVOCATES OF RACIAL JUSTICE. WE AIM TO EDUCATE, ENGAGE, AND EMPOWER THE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $290,645
- Spending
- $63,246
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 47.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 19
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 35Spendable reserves would cover 47.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 78% of income.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% 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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $49,224 spent. THE WILSON BRUCE EVANS HOME HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESERVES AND INTERPRETS THE HOME AND LEGACY OF WILSON BRUCE EVANS (1824-1898), SARAH JANE LEARY EVANS (1829-1898), AND THEIR DESCENDANTS, SITUATING THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS WITHIN THE BROADER HISTORY OF OBERLIN, OH AND THE NATIONAL STRUGGLE FOR BLACK FREEDOM, RACIAL EQUALITY, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. DURING 2025, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED PHASE 2 OF ITS MULTI-YEAR REHABILITATION PROJECT TO RESTORE THE EVANS HOME, A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, FOR US AS A PUBLIC HISTORIC SITE AND COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED ARCHITECTURAL PLANNING, PRESERVATION CONSULTING, AND ONGOING RENOVATION OF THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE, AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENT OF AN ANNEX TO PROVIDE ADA-COMPLIANT ACCESS AND FACILITIES. THESE EFFORTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO PRESERVING THE HISTORICAL INTEGRITY OF THE SITE WHILE EXPANDING ITS ACCESSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. IN PARALLEL WITH PHYSICAL RESTORATION WORK, THE ORGANIZATION ADVANCED ITS EDUCATIONAL MISSION BY DEVELOPING INTERPRETIVE PLANS, HISTORICAL CONTEXT, AND FUTURE PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO ENGAGE LOCAL RESIDENTS, STUDENTS, AND BROADER AUDIENCES. THE EVANS HOME PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE EVANS FAMILY IN KEY HISTORICAL EVENTS, INCLUDING THE OBERLIN-WELLINGTON RESCUE AND THE BROADER ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT, AND CONNECTS THESE STORIES TO ONGOING CONVERSATIONS AROUND RACIAL JUSTICE. UPON COMPLETION OF THE REHABILITATION PROJECT, ANTICIPATED IN 2027, THE ORGANIZATION PLANS TO OPEN THE EVANS HOME TO THE PUBLIC AS A LIVING HISTORIC SITE AND EDUCATIONAL SPACE OFFERING EXHIBITS, PROGRAMMING, AND COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE HISTORICAL UNDERSTANDING AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
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
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 December 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 June 2021.
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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