Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Columbia River Maritime Museum Inc

EIN 93-0509906 · Astoria, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE COLLECT, PRESERVE, DISPLAY, AND INTERPRET THE MARITIME HISTORY, CULTURE AND ART OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER, ITS TRIBUTARIES, AND THE WATERS OF THE NORTH PACIFIC FOR THE EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PUBLIC.

Income
$10.8 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
-4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
37
Volunteers
94
Highest pay
$158,156, 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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 62% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 50% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 32 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
  1. $3.0 million spent. COLUMBIA RIVER MARITIME MUSEUM SERVES OVER 114,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY. OUR ACCLAIMED EXHIBITS CONNECT VISITORS TO THE MARITIME WORLD, AND TO THEIR MARITIME HERITAGE. FULL SIZE, WORKING COMMERCIAL FISHING BOATS, COAST GUARD LIFEBOATS, AND HUNDREDS OF ARTIFACTS AND INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS SIMULTANEOUSLY PRESERVE IMPORTANT MARITIME HISTORY AND EDUCATE AND ENTERTAIN OUR GUESTS. THE MUSEUM EDUCATES OVER 10,000 STUDENTS ANNUALLY IN THEIR SCHOOLS WITH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS; ADDITIONALLY, WE DELIVER ORGANIZED PROGRAMS TO THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS IN THE MUSEUM. WE MAINTAIN A REFERENCE AND RESEARCH LIBRARY THAT IS AVAILABLE TO SCHOLARS AND THE PUBLIC. WE MAINTAIN A RETIRED LIGHTSHIP AND OPEN IT TO THE PUBLIC DAILY. WE OFFER A 3D THEATER AND GIFT SHOP. THE MUSEUM ALSO PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE WATERFRONT AND RIVER TRAIL.

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 2024.

    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 June 1963.

    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.