Arizona Historical Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Arizona Historical Society's mission is 'connecting people through the power of Arizona's history'. The Arizona Historical Society serves as the steward of Arizona's history. The vision is the Arizona Historical Society seeks to be the driving force strengthening Arizona's communities by promoting history through leadership, partnership and scholarship.
- Income
- $4.0 million
- Spending
- $4.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 12.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 75%
- Employees
- 42
- Volunteers
- 24
- Highest pay
- $137,500, director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 84 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 70 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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
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 (3)
- $403,166 spent. Education and Outreach Programs: The Arizona Historical Society (AHS) is the institutional sponsor and state coordinator for National History Day (NHD) in Arizona. NHD is a year-long program focused on historical research, analysis, and creative expression for 6th-12th grade students. The experience culminates in a series of contests at the local and state levels and an annual national competition in the nation's capital in June. With NHD, the students become the historians, building their critical thinking skills, analytical abilities, and confidence. NHD-AZ provides workshops, teacher and judge training, history education resources, and project consultation from staff historians and librarians. Overall, we serve thousands of students in the state. The Outreach program serves 68 Certified Historical Institutions across the state of AZ through grants, museum workshops, history presentations, publications, technical assistance, networking opportunities, and the 'Al Merito" award. The program awarded 32 grants to Certified historical Institutions in AZ this year totaling $33,999. It is a centralized resource for educators and parents looking to share AZ history with their students and children. It is a place to find recordings of programs and digital resources of the AHS. 990 Part III, Line 4a, Education and Outreach Programs: The Arizona Historical Society (AHS) is the institutional sponsor and state coordinator for National History Day (NHD) in Arizona. NHD is a year-long program focused on historical research, analysis, and creative expression for 6th-12th grade students. The experience culminates in a series of contests at the local and state levels and an annual national competition in the nation's capital in June. With NHD, the students become the historians, building their critical thinking skills, analytical abilities, and confidence. NHD-AZ provides workshops, teacher and judge training, history education resources, and project consultation from staff historians and librarians. Overall, we serve thousands of students and currently have 4 regional contests and one state contest. The Outreach program serves 63 Certified Historical Institutions across the state of AZ through grants, museum workshops, history presentations, publications, technical assistance, networking opportunities, and the 'Al Merito" award. The program awarded 32 grants to Certified historical Institutions in AZ this year totaling $33,999. The AZ Digital Hub was developed in response to COVID-19. It is a centralized resource for educators and parents looking to share AZ history with their students and children. It is a place to find recordings of programs and digital resources of the AHS.
- $3.5 million spent. Museums: AHS owns and operations 3 museums in the state. They feature permanent exhibits that give a broad overview of the state's history, with local objects and stories mixed in. Each have rotating galleries that typically feature exhibits about local stories. In addition to the exhibits, the museums offer different topics of history through lectures, book author signings, night at the museum programs, film screenings, and workshops. Tours help bring history to life and include holiday tours. Each Museum is used as a private rental venue for multiple events. Form 990, Part III, Line 4b - Museums: AHS owns and operations 3 museums in the state. They feature permanent exhibits that give a broad overview of the state's history, with local objects and stories mixed in. Each have rotating galleries that typically feature a new exhibits periodically. In addition to the exhibits, the museums offer different topics of history through tours, lectures, book author signings, night at the museum programs, film screenings, workshops and special events. Each Museum is used as a private rental venue for multiple events.
- $243,004 spent. Publications: Published four quarterly issues (approx. 1100 copies each) of the Journal of Arizona History as required by ARS 41-763. These four issues includes original research articles, all of which substantially add to our collective knowledge of Arizona history. They also include book reviews of important books on Arizona, western, and U.S. history, allowing our readership to be aware of relevant books of interest. All current issues of the Journal of Arizona History are now also available digitally on the website of Project MUSE, which is the digital publishing arm of Johns Hopkins University Press. In addition, all issues of the Journal of Arizona History are available on JSTOR, an online journal database that is available throughout the United States and around the globe. Form 990, Part III, Line 4c - Publications: Published four quarterly issues (approx. 1100 copies each) of the Journal of Arizona History as required by ARS 41-763. These four issues included original research articles, all of which substantially add to our collective knowledge of Arizona history. They also include book reviews of important books on Arizona, western, and U.S. history, allowing our readership to be aware of relevant books of interest. All current issues of the Journal of Arizona History are now also available digitally on the website of Project MUSE, which is the digital publishing arm of Johns Hopkins University Press. As of FY 2024 our articles and book reviews were available on this site. In addition, all issues of the Journal of Arizona History are available on JSTOR, an online journal database that is available throughout the United States and around the globe.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 February 1984.
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.
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.