Rainier Valley Historical Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
RAINIER VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S MISSION IS TO COLLECT, PRESERVE, EXHIBIT, AND INTERPRET THE HISTORY AND HERITAGE OF RAINIER VALLEY AND ITS PEOPLE, AND TO PROMOTE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN AND APPRECIATION OF ITS HISTORY AND CULTURE.ITS GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES ARE FROM DEARBORN STREET ON THE NORTH TO THE CITY LIMITS ON THE SOUTH ALONG RAINIER AVE S, AND FROM THE I-5 FREEWAY TO LAKE WASHINGTON.
- Income
- $157,730
- Spending
- $166,628
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 35.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 34%
- 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
Good: 70 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 35.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 80% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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.
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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.
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 (3)
- $20,754 spent. COLLECTIONS CARE:RAINIER VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MAINTAINS A COLLECTION OF OVER 20,000 ITEMS, INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHS, ARTIFACTS, NEWSPAPERS, AND DOCUMENTS THAT PRESERVE THE DIVERSE HERITAGE OF SOUTHEAST SEATTLE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, RVHS FOCUSED ON DIGITIZING COLLECTION MATERIALS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC ACCESS AND LONG-TERM PRESERVATION, AND PROCESSED SEVERAL NEW ACQUISITIONS. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED ONGOING CATALOGING AND CARE OF ITS HOLDINGS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ESTABLISHED ARCHIVAL STANDARDS.
- $31,252 spent. OUTREACH:RVHS ENGAGED MORE THAN 3,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH PUBLIC PROGRAMS, EVENTS, AND PUBLICATIONS HIGHLIGHTING RAINIER VALLEY'S LOCAL HISTORY. EVENTS INCLUDED THE ANNUAL MEETING ON STOMP & SHOUT: THE UNTOLD STORY OF NW ROCK AND ROLL, PARTICIPATION IN VARIOUS RAINIER VALLEY SUMMER FESTIVALS FROM MOUNT BAKER TO HILLMAN CITY, AND A SERIES OF HISTORY HAPPY HOURS. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING FEATURED OPEN HOUSES AT THE COLUMBIA CITY NIGHT MARKET AND REGULAR FRIDAY OFFICE HOURS, PROVIDING PUBLIC ACCESS TO ARCHIVES AND EXHIBITS. RVHS ALSO PRODUCED NEWSLETTERS, DISTRIBUTED WALKING TOUR MAPS, AND VARIOUS BROCHURES THAT SHARED RESEARCH AND STORIES ABOUT THE VALLEY'S PEOPLE AND PLACES.
- $84,826 spent. 3806 BUILDING RENOVATION PROJECTRVHS ACQUIRED THE HISTORIC COLUMBIA MOTOR CO. BUILDING AT 3806 S. FERDINAND STREET IN SEATTLE'S COLUMBIA CITY NEIGHBORHOOD, ESTABLISHING THE ORGANIZATION'S FIRST PERMANENT HOME. FOLLOWING THE ACQUISITION, RVHS COMPLETED INITIAL SITE PREPARATION, INCLUDING INTERIOR CLEANOUT AND DEMOLITION, AND BEGAN THE PROCESS OF HIRING AN ARCHITECT FOR THE FULL REHABILITATION. WHEN COMPLETE, THE 6,000-SQUARE-FOOT SPACE WILL HOUSE A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE MUSEUM, ARCHIVE, AND COMMUNITY EVENT SPACE.
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 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 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 May 1994.
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.