Kitsap County Historical Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of the Kitsap County Historical Society DBA Kitsap History Museum is Connecting Our Community With Each Story. The Society owns and operates the Kitsap History Museum in Bremerton WA maintaining a collection of over 100,000 photographs 40,000 artifacts and textiles and extensive archival materials including documents books maps records and oral histories. The museum presents permanent and rotating exhibits on the diverse culture heritage and history of Kitsap County and operates Rural Heritage exhibits at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. Programs include the Eat Your Way Through Kitsap History guided tour series the History Uncorked speaker series and community events. The museum partners with local organizations schools government agencies and businesses to promote historical awareness and cross-community collaboration throughout Kitsap County.
- Income
- $386,649
- Spending
- $270,434
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 12.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 54%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 28
- Highest pay
- $75,242, executive director
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 59% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
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)
- $168,730 spent. The Kitsap History Museum stewards a collection of more than 100,000 photographs 40,000 artifacts and textiles and extensive archival materials including documents books maps records and oral histories. In 2025 in addition to maintaining permanent exhibits such as the Kitsap History Timeline and Main Street a recreated early 1900s commercial block the museum displayed three major temporary exhibitions. Her Work Our Story celebrated the contributions of Kitsap County women who challenged gender norms and shaped local history. Trade of the Northwest Coast explored Indigenous trade practices and the Chinook Jargon a trade language that connected cultures for centuries. 80 Years of Community Connection & Change, developed in collaboration with Kitsap Regional Library featured an immersive timeline of the library systems eight-decade history a vintage card catalog favorite checkouts from each decade and a playable Oregon Trail game. The museum also operated its Rural Heritage exhibits on farming fishing and logging at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds during the annual county fair. Online exhibits including recorded oral histories features on Filipino Americans and Black Trailblazers and highlights on 1960s fashion the Mosquito Fleet and local neighborhoods continued to expand access to the collection virtually.
- $77,900 spent. In 2025 the Kitsap History Museum offered a variety of programs and events designed to engage the community and bring local history to life. Our popular spring and summer series Eat Your Way Through Kitsap History, combined guided outings to historic sites with group meals at local restaurants blending education with community connection. We continued our History Uncorked speaker series which featured presentations on local topics such as the history of our local newspapers libraries state parks theatres search and rescue waste and water systems geology and local mythology - each event included free refreshments and drew diverse audiences. The museum also participated in recurring community events including the First Friday Art Walks Winterfest Krampusfest the Armed Forces Day Parade and Safe Trick-or-Treat. We hosted a special talk on local botanical history and our annual fundraising gala Celebrate Kitsap, capped the year with a celebration of local heritage and support.
- $5,784 spent. In 2025 the Kitsap History Museum strengthened its community impact through ongoing partnerships and outreach efforts. Our monthly Community Case exhibit featured rotating displays co-curated with local organizations such as the Black Student Union Coffee Oasis Enoch City Arts the Kitsap Sun Armed Forces Parade and Tracyton Library highlighting their work and connections to Kitsap County history. We continued to partner closely with the Downtown Bremerton Association by providing shared office space in our building deepening our involvement in downtown initiatives. In collaboration with Kitsap Regional Library we hosted their 80th anniversary exhibit and a special History Uncorked event with journalist Josh Farley and sold limited-edition anniversary mugs in our gift shop. We continued our partnership with Leadership Kitsap on the public history plaque project placing interpretive markers throughout downtown Bremerton each featuring QR codes linking to expanded historical content on our website.
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 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 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 June 1957.
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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