Key Peninsula Historic Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of the Key Peninsula Historic Society is to gather, record, preserve and disseminate information about the history of the Pierce County area generally known as the "Key Peninsula" so that succeeding generations of residents will have a firm and accurate record from its earliest inhabitants, early exploration, and settlement, to the present time. To this end, we collect historic memorabilia from members and friends of the museum, engage with the local elementary schools to provide hands-on history learning at the museum or online, present talks to organizations, and sell books about the history of the Key Peninsula. We also promote the museum's collection and display using our website, by staffing a booth at local community events, and participating in STREAM nights at the local elementary schools.
- Income
- $31,682
- Spending
- $31,145
- Spent on programs
- 16%
- Reserves
- 31.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 20
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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
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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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)
- $343 spent. Historic preservation of Vaughn Library Hall on the Key Peninsula, Pierce County, WA. Objective: This facility was restored to serve our entire community (about 20,000 people) for family events, community historical presentations, historical activities by our school children, and other community events. We have completed our remodeling of the building to its original condition from approximately circa 1893. It is the last remaining Community Hall on the Key Peninsula. The building is currently listed on the Pierce County and Washington State registers of Historic Buildings. We will soon be applying for Federal Historic landmark status. This building is now open for use by the general public. After the COVID-19 pandemic, we have returned to normal operations by serving our community during fiscal year 2024-2025. We constructed a "traveling" education exhibit on the Vaughn Library Hall which demonstrates our restoration progress, describes the historical significance of the building, and reached an additional 200 (estimated) citizens in fiscal year 2024-2025. Our dedicated team of volunteers spent approximately 10,000 hours (estimated) working to restore this building over the past several years. Total expenses for this program service accomplishment during fiscal year 2025-2026 were $343.
- $1,908 spent. Museum displays and exhibits of historical significance to our local communities. Objective: To present the history of the life and times of the people who have lived, worked, and died in all the small communities on the Key Peninsula. Our community displays are created by our dedicated team of volunteers to provide a unique representation of each area on the Key Peninsula and were recently updated to highlight new artifacts and restored photographs and pictures which will serve to educate the general public about our local history for many years to come. Our annual exhibit features a different subject or topic each year. This past year depicted road development on the Key Peninsula from the early days of trails and dirt roads up to today's modern roadways and highlighted information about how each road received its name. Many published maps of the roads on the Key Peninsula were displayed to show how the roads developed and changed over the past 125 years and featured many restored photographs of road construction equipment used to build these roads during different periods of time. Our dedicated team of volunteers spent approximately 150 hours (estimated) researching and developing these displays and exhibits during the current fiscal year. Total expenses for this program service accomplishment during fiscal year 2025-2026 were $1,908.
- $2,000 spent. Peninsula High School student scholarship program awards. Objective: To help defray the high cost of college and university tuition fees for deserving students who meet the criteria and qualifications for these financial awards. We awarded $1,000 scholarships to two graduating high school seniors this past year who have primarily demonstrated an interest in the history of the Key Peninsula. Our fundraising activities and donations by concerned citizens throughout the year help us to support this extremely important local education program. Our dedicated team of volunteers spent approximately 40 hours (estimate) working on this program during the current fiscal year. Total expenses for this program service accomplishment during fiscal year 2025-2026 were $2,000.
- $603 spent. Historical outreach events and school activities. Objective: To continuously develop the history of the Key Peninsula through many other outreach events and school activities throughout the community each year. These include: (1) The Livable Community Fair and The Winter Warm-up at the Key Peninsula Civic Center, as well as the Farm Tour at the Longbranch Improvement Club and the "Art Walk" in Key Center sponsored by the Two Waters Art Alliance; (2) We conduct a Living History Day for third and fourth graders from Vaughn Elementary School each year at our museum and give the local elementary teachers access to our Traveling History Tote that meets the criteria for Common Core State Standards used to teach the next generation of students about the history of the Key Peninsula;(3) We make historical presentations to campers at Penrose Point State Park during the Summer months each year; and, (4) We also help local authors and citizens perform family genealogical research from our extensive data files on those families who settled here in the early years of the Key Peninsula. We sponsored or participated in these community activities to reach about 2,000 citizens (estimate) from our area of Pierce County and used about 2,400 hours (estimate) of help from our dedicated team of volunteers during the current fiscal year. Total expenses for this program service accomplishment during fiscal year 2025-2026 were $603.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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 March 2026.
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 1986.
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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