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Skagit County Historical Society

EIN 91-6032409 · La Conner, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IDENTIFY, COLLECT, DOCUMENT AND PRESERVE OBJECTS OF RELEVANCY AND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REFLECTING THE UNIQUE CULTURAL HISTORY OF SKAGIT COUNTY, WASHINGTON.

Income
$410,330
Spending
$449,266
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
17.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 52%
Employees
11
Volunteers
73
Highest pay
$62,353, 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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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)
  1. $175,827 spent. CONCENTRATED EFFORTS ON INVENTORYING AND LABELING 3-D ITEMS ON DISPLAY AND IN STORAGE, UPLOADING ITEM DETAILS INTO COLLECTION DATABASE. WORKED WITH VOLUNTEERS TO RE-HOUSE ARTIFACTS INTO ARCHIVAL BOXES. CONINUED 2-D FOCUS ON SCANNING AND DOCUMENTING PHOTOGRAPHS INTO DATABASE, REHOUSING AND INVENTORYING NEWSPAPER COLLECTION. CONTINUED IDENTIFYING ITEMS THAT DO NOT MATCH OUR COLLECTIONS CRITERIA AND PREPARING FOR DE-ASSESSIONING.
  2. $21,978 spent. INSTALLED A NEW FIRE DETECTION SYSTEM IN THE MUSEUM TO BETTER PROTECT THE COLLECTION AND EXHIBITS.
  3. $153,849 spent. CREATED THREE ORIGINAL EXHIBITS IN OUR MAIN GALLERY: "SIGNS, SIGNS, EVERYWHERE SIGNS: THE ART OF BOB MORTENSON", WICK PETH, THE ORIGINAL RODEO BULLFIGHTER AND THE HISTORY OF RODEO IN SKAGIT COUNTY", AND "LAURIE WELLS, A SKAGIT ORIGINAL". CREATED FOUR ORIGINAL EXHIBITS FOR OUR SMALLER ROTATING GALLERY AND STRENGTHENED PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE PUBLIC HISTORY DAY AT NORTHEN STATE HOSPITAL. SERVED 790 SCHOOL AGE YOUTH AND THEIR CHAPERONES AT MUSEUM AND SKAGIT CITY SCHOOL PROGRAMMING. PROVIDED FOCUSED PUBLIC LECTURES ON HISTORICAL THEMES FROM THE VALLEY.

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

  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 December 1974.

    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.

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.