Polson Park and Museum Historical Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 48% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
The mission of the Polson Museum is to preserve, promote and present the material, written and photographic history of Grays Harbor County, Washington. The main museum, library, archives and collections storage areas are located within the 26-room, 1924 mansion of timber-heir Arnold Polson. The Polson's Railroad Camp exhibit space, adjacent Hubble House, and Laubach Shop further the museum's mission by providing education, exhibition, collection storage and restoration spaces. In 2023, the Polson Museum acquired the historic 80-acre Camp Klahanee to be added to our portfolio of properties that enhance and support the museum's core mission.
- Income
- $238,537
- Spending
- $227,262
- Spent on programs
- 48%
- Reserves
- 82.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 37%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 18
- Highest pay
- $82,500, executive director
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: 70 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 82.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 67% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1548% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 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: 82 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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, 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 (3)
- $101,186 spent. Regular, ongoing work to maintain, update and create new permanent and temporary exhibits pertaining to the history of Grays Harbor County, Washington. Such work includes the active maintenance, acquisition and cataloging of historical collections for exhibition, educational and research purposes. Work also includes the general administration and operation of the museum.
- $526 spent. Pioneer of the Year event. Each year since 1980, the Polson Museum has held a special ceremony to honor a long time Grays Harborite who has contributed to the betterment of our county. This event was held in October, 2024 and is a highlight of the museum's annual calendar of events.
- $7,200 spent. Photographic scanning and archiving. This multi-year effort continued with more catch up to process new collections that have come into the museum's permanent collection. Images were scanned, identified and sleeved for proper storage as well as information added to our collections database.
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
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 November 6, 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 2024.
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 August 1976.
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 November 4, 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.