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Shaw Island Library and Historical Society Inc

EIN 91-6068663 · Shaw Island, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SHAW ISLAND LIBRARY AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY BRINGS PEOPLE, INFORMATION, AND IDEAS TOGETHER TO EDUCATE AND ENRICH LIVES, PROMOTE THE LOVE OF READING, BUILD COMMUNITY, AND PRESERVE SHAW ISLAND HISTORY.

Income
$106,261
Spending
$44,031
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 41%
Employees
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 81 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (5)
  1. $32,421 spent. THE LIBRARY HAS ABOUT 1,300 VISITORS PER YEAR AND CHECKS OUT APPROXIMATELY 1,200 BOOKS AND 700 DVDS DURING THE YEAR. THE LIBRARY ALSO HAS A SELECTION OF MAGAZINES AND LOCAL NEWSPAPERS, A COPIER AND A COMPUTER WITH INTERNET ACCESS AVAILABLE TO ALL VISTORS. LIFETIME MEMBERS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO DIGITAL MATERIAL THROUGH THE WASHINGTON ANYTIME LIBRARY.
  2. $3,414 spent. SHAW ISLAND LIBRARY AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOSTS SEVERAL SPEAKER EVENTS PER YEAR. THE SPEAKER SERIES FEATURES A VARIETY OF PRESENTATIONS ON A WIDE ARRAY OF TOPICS AND SUPPORTS OUR MISSION OF PROVIDING EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT AS WELL AS SOCIAL EVENTS. THE SPEAKER SERIES ALSO ADMINISTERS "SHAW READS", A PROGRAM THAT INVITES ISLANDERS TO READ A SELECTED BOOK AND THEN JOIN IN A DISCUSSION OF THAT BOOK.
  3. $2,188 spent. THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PROGRAM FEATURES AN HISTORIC MUSEUM DEDICATED TO THE DISPLAY OF REGIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN AND SETTLER ARTIFACTS.ADDITIONALLY, THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MAINTAINS A COLLECTION OF PHYSICAL ITEMS OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE, DIGITAL RECORDINGS OF FAMILY HISTORIES, AND OTHER IMPORTANT CULTURAL ARCHIVES. EACH YEAR THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PREPARES AT LEAST ONE EXTENSIVE DISPLAY TO HIGHLIGHT SHAW ISLAND HISTORICAL EVENTS, ASPECTS OF DAILY LIFE AND ARTIFACTS. RECENT DISPLAYS INCLUDE THE HISTORY OF STEAMSHIPS SERVING SHAW, APPLE PRODUCTION ON SHAW ISLAND, THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SHAW STORE, AND SHAW'S VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AID TEAM.
  4. $4,399 spent. THE EDUCATION PROGRAM IS THE NEW, FOURTH PILLAR OF SIL&HS, DESIGNED TO BRING TO OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMING THAT FOSTERS LIFELONG LEARNING. IN ITS INAUGURAL YEAR, THE EDUCATION PROGRAM HOSTED 20 EVENTS WITH APPROXIMATELY 415 PRARTICIPANTS TOTAL. MOST EVENTS OR CLASSES WERE FREE OR REQUIRED A NOMINAL FEE. CLASSES INCLUDED POETRY, AN INTERTIDAL WALK WITH A BIOLOGIST, KITTIWAKE EXPEDITION WITH UW FRIDAY HARBOR LAB, A CROW TALK, TWO AUTHOR EVENTS,A HUMMINGBIRD TALK, COOKING CLASSES, A NATURAL DYE CLASS, A TECH TIPS CLASS, A DOCUMENTARY FILM SHOWING, BIMONTHLY FIBER PROJECT NIGHTS AND SIX SEATTLE ARTS & LECTURES.
  5. THE EDUCATION PROGRAM IS THE NEW, FOURTH PILLAR OF SIL&HS, DESIGNED TO BRING TO OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMING THAT FOSTERS LIFELONG LEARNING. IN ITS INAUGURAL YEAR, THE EDUCATION PROGRAM HOSTED 20 EVENTS WITH APPROXIMATELY 415 PRARTICIPANTS TOTAL. MOST EVENTS OR CLASSES WERE FREE OR REQUIRED A NOMINAL FEE. CLASSES INCLUDED POETRY, AN INTERTIDAL WALK WITH A BIOLOGIST, KITTIWAKE EXPEDITION WITH UW FRIDAY HARBOR LAB, A CROW TALK, TWO AUTHOR EVENTS,A HUMMINGBIRD TALK, COOKING CLASSES, A NATURAL DYE CLASS, A TECH TIPS CLASS, A DOCUMENTARY FILM SHOWING, BIMONTHLY FIBER PROJECT NIGHTS AND SIX SEATTLE ARTS & LECTURES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 June 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 May 1967.

    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 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.