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Waldensian Heritage Foundation Inc

EIN 88-2686374 · Valdese, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE CULTURAL HERITAGE, THE GENEALOGICAL RECORDS, AND THE RELIGIOUS DEVOTION OF THE WALDENSES. THIS INCLUDES SOLICITATION OF FUNDS THROUGH DONATIONS/GRANTS AND THE UTILIZATION OF RESOURCES FOR THE GROWTH, SUSTAINMENT, MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATIONS OF THE MUSEUM INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL ENHANCEMENT. THE MUSEUM PROVIDES DISPLAYS, ARTIFACTS AND PROGRAMS THAT PORTRAY WALDENSIAN LIFE, RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND WITNESSING, WHICH BEGAN IN THE WALDENSIAN VALLEYS SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS PRIOR TO THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION. ITS PRESENCE IS A TESTAMENT TO THE WALDENSES' STRONG LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE WORLD AND THEIR COLONIZATION IN VALDESE. THE MISSION IS AIMED AT THOSE WITHIN AND BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF OUR LOCAL AND REGIONAL COMMUNITIES AND INCLUDES THOSE OF WALDENSIAN HERITAGE BY BIRTH, AND JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.

Income
$258,901
Spending
$254,862
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-85.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
2
Volunteers
30

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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 109% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

    12 of 12 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 (2)
  1. $171,152 spent. THE CORPORATION OWNS AND OPERATES A MUSEUM THAT PROVIDES DISPLAYS, ARTIFACTS AND PROGRAMS THAT PORTRAY WALDENSIAN LIFE, RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND WITNESSING, WHICH BEGAN IN THE WALDENSIAN VALLEYS SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS PRIOR TO THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION. ITS PRESENCE IS A TESTAMENT TO THE WALDENSES' STRONG LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE WORLD AND THEIR COLONIZATION IN VALDESE, NORTH CAROLINA.
  2. $51,382 spent. THE CORPORATION SPONSORED A TRIP TO THE WALDENSIAN HOMELAND IN ITALY. AGROUP OF 34, MOST OF WALDENSIAN LINEAGE, TOURED HISTORICAL SITES ANDMUSEUMS, VISITED TOWNS AND CEMETERIES OF THEIR ANCESTORS, ATE AUTHENTICCUISINE, STAYED IN ACCOMODATIONS OWNED BY THE WALDENSIAN CHURCH LOCATEDIN TORRE PELLICE (THE SISTER CITY OF VALDESE, NC), ATTENDED A SERVICE IN A WALDENSIAN CHURCH, LEARNED HISTORICAL INFORMATION, AND DID GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH.THE CORPORATION ARRANGED AND PAID FOR TRANSPORTION, LODGING,ADMISSIONS, AND MOST OF THE MEALS. THE TRAVELERS REIMBURSED THECORPORATION THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE TRIP PLUS AN AMOUNT TO OFFSETEXCHANGE RATES, UNEXPECTED, AND INDIRECT COSTS.

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 July 2022.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Heritage Foundation (Washington, DC), EIN 23-7327730. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.