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Clatsop County Historical Society Inc

EIN 93-0453858 · Astoria, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SOCIETY IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT, EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND PRESENTING THE HISTORY OF CLATSOP COUNTY, OREGON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
15 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
27
Volunteers
89
Highest pay
$96,960, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 61% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $662,790 spent. EDUCATION, EXHIBIT, AND COLLECTION - THE SOCIETY OPERATES FOUR DISTINCTIVELY DIFFERENT MUSEUMS, ALL HOUSED IN HISTORIC BUILDINGS, AS FOLLOWS:* THE FLAVEL HOUSE: A QUEEN ANNE VICTORIAN-STYLE HOME, BUILT IN 1885, FEATURES ORIGINAL EASTLAKE STYLE WOODWORK INTERIORS AND EXOTIC HARDWOOD FIREPLACES WITH IMPORTED TILE SURROUNDS.* THE HERITAGE MUSEUM: BUILT IN 1904 AS ASTORIA'S CITY HALL, THIS BUILDING NOW HOUSES THE SOCIETY'S REGIONAL MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES. GALLERIES FEATURE PERMANENT EXHIBITS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS, JOHN JACOB ASTOR AND THE FUR TRADE, IMMIGRANTS, AND NATURAL RESOURCES. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.* THE UPPERTOWN FIRE STATION NO. 2: THIS MUSEUM HOUSES AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT DATING FROM 1879 TO 1963, INCLUDING HORSE-DRAWN AND MOTORIZED FIRE ENGINES, AS WELL AS FIREFIGHTING MEMORABILIA AND PHOTOS. * THE OREGON FILM MUSEUM: THE MUSEUM CELEBRATES THE ART AND LEGACY OF FILMS AND FILM-MAKING IN THE STATE OF OREGON. HOUSED IN THE OLD CLATSOP COUNTY JAIL, THE MUSEUM INVITES VISITORS TO EXPLORE THESE AND OTHER FILMS AND THE PRODUCTION BEHIND MAKING MOVIES IN OREGON.* CURATORIAL AND CONSERVATION: THE SOCIETY MAINTAINS AN ARCHIVE AND RESEARCH LIBRARY THAT OFFERS RESEARCHERS A UNIQUE RESOURCE DOCUMENTING THE EVOLUTION OF CLATSOP COUNTY HISTORY, INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 30,000 PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES, PORT OF ASTORIA RECORDS, PERSONAL SCRAPBOOKS AND BUSINESS LEDGERS, A VERTICAL FILE OF BIOGRAPHIES AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS, AND RECORDS FROM PRIVATE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $225,216 spent. MEMBERSHIP AND AUXILIARY SERVICES: THE SOCIETY ORGANIZES VARIOUS SPECIAL EVENTS SUCH AS TALKING TOMBSTONES, PLUM PUDDING, AND OLD FASHIONED FUN AND GAMES, WHICH SERVE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE PASTIMES AND PEOPLE OF ASTORIA. THE SOCIETY ALSO PUBLISHES A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FOR ITS MEMBERS.
  3. $42,970 spent. CUMTUX: THE SOCIETY ALSO PUBLISHES AND SELLS CUMTUX, A QUARTERLY PUBLIC HISTORY JOURNAL THAT BRINGS DOCUMENTED HISTORY ABOUT OREGON, AND IN PARTICULAR ASTORIA AND ITS SURROUNDING AREA, TO BOTH SCHOLARS AND A GENERAL AUDIENCE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1952.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.