Valdez Museum and Historical Archive Association Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE VALDEZ MUSEUM PRESERVES, PRESENTS, AND INTERPRETS THE HERITAGE AND CULTURE OF VALDEZ, THE COPPER RIVER BASIN, AND PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, ALASKA.
- Income
- $834,436
- Spending
- $799,041
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 6.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 67%
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 24
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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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)
- $123,833 spent. GENERAL OPERATIONS: THE ORGANIZATION ENGAGED IN MAINTAINING AND OPERATING MUSEUMS, ARCHIVES, AND SITES FOR COLLECTIONS.
- $247,665 spent. COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS: THE COLLECTIONS CONTAIN BOTH ARCHIVAL MATERIAL AND ARTIFACTS THAT REPRESENT THE HISTORY OF OUR REGION. THE PURPOSE OF COLLECTING THESE PHYSICAL REPRESENTATIONS OF OURPAST IS TO PRESERVE THEM FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND TO PROVIDE OUR OWN GENERATION WITH THE EVIDENCE OF HUMAN SOCIETY BEFORE US AND TO MAKE THE COLLECTIONS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. THE EXHIBITS WITHIN THE MUSEUM TELL VARIOUS STORIES ABOUT THE REGION'S HISTORY BASED ON THE COLLECTIONS. VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES ARE USED TO INTERPRET THE PAST, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON AUTHENTICITY, ACCURACY, AND INCLUSIVITY.THE EXHIBITS ARE INTENDED TO EDUCATE AND ENLIGHTEN VISITORS AS WELL AS LEAVE THEM WITH A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF HISTORY, HUMANITY, AND THEMSELVES.
- $247,665 spent. EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS: THE EDUCATION PROGRAM EXISTS TO DEVELOP IN LOCAL CHILDREN A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR HISTORY AND HUMAN EXPERIENCE. THE PROGRAM IS BASED ON PARTNERSHIP WITH VALDEZ CITY SCHOOLS AND IN USING PRIMARY SOURCES TO HELP CHILDREN EXPLORE HISTORY WITH THEIR OWN MINDS AND HANDS AND FIND MEANING FOR THEMSELVES. THE PUBLIC PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHT THE DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE IN VALDEZ'S PAST AND PRESENT, SERVE AS FORUMS FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND FINDING COMMON GROUND, PROVIDE SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIESFOR RESIDENTS, OFFER A MEETING GROUND FOR VISITORS AND LOCALS, AND OPEN THE EYES OF RESIDENTS TO A WORLD OF EXPERIENCE BEYOND OUR OWN COMMUNITY. LECTURES, SPECIAL EVENTS, MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS, RECEPTIONS, AND OTHER FUNCTIONS TARGET AN EVER-BROADENING RANGE OF AUDIENCES.
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 December 1996.
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.
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.