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Lincoln County Historical Society

EIN 93-0545940 · Newport, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO COLLECT, PRESERVE, INTERPRET & EXHIBIT OBJECTS AND INFORMATION ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE HISTORY OF LINCOLN COUNTY AND THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST FOR THE EDUCATION AND BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC AND VISITORS TO NEWPORT OREGON VIA TWO MUSEUMS AND A LIBRARY CONTAINING AN EXTENSIVE ARCHIVE OF HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS, PHOTOS, MAPS, BOOKS, AND NUMEROUS OBJECTS OF INTEREST.

Income
$507,624
Spending
$610,518
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 66%
Employees
15
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$70,000, executive di

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 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 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 (2)
  1. $104,069 spent. THE BURROWS HOUSE MUSEUM FEATURES EXHIBITS PROVIDING EDUCATION FOR ITS VISITORS ON THE HISTORY OF LINCOLN COUNTY, THE YAQUINA BAY BRIDGE, AND FEATURES A VICTORIAN PARLOR, A LAW OFFICE, HISTORY OF LINCOLN COUNTY'S FOUNDERS, PHOTOS AND OBJECTS THAT SHED LIGHT ON THE HISTORY OF THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST, THE EVOLUTION OF TECHNOLOGY, AS WELL AS HUMAN NATURE AND APPRECIATION FOR CURIOSITIES FROM THE PAST. THE LOG CABIN RESEARCH LIBRARY IS THE DESTINATION FOR VISITORS WHOSE FOCUS IS GETTING ANSWERS TO THEIR QUESTIONS FROM THIS EXTENSIVE HISTORICAL ARCHIVE WHICH INCLUDES HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, MAPS, BOOKS, RECORDS, NAVIGATION CHARTS, CENSUS DATA, GENEALOGICAL INFORMATION, HISTORIC LITERATURE, NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS AND MICROFILM, ORAL HISTORIES AND MUCH MORE. THE LOG CABIN SERVES INDIVIDUAL VISITORS AS WELL AS GROUPS. THE BURROWS HOUSE MUSEUM FEATURES EXHIBITS PROVIDING EDUCATION FOR ITS VISITORS ON THE HISTORY OF LINCOLN COUNTY, THE YAQUINA BAY BRIDGE, AND FEATURES A VICTORIAN PARLOR, A LAW OFFICE, HISTORY OF LINCOLN COUNTY'S FOUNDERS, PHOTOS AND OBJECTS THAT SHED LIGHT ON THE HISTORY OF THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST, THE EVOLUTION OF TECHNOLOGY, AS WELL AS HUMAN NATURE AND APPRECIATION FOR CURIOSITIES FROM THE PAST. THE LOG CABIN RESEARCH LIBRARY IS THE DESTINATION FOR VISITORS WHOSE FOCUS IS GETTING ANSWERS TO THEIR QUESTIONS FROM THIS EXTENSIVE HISTORICAL ARCHIVE WHICH INCLUDES HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, MAPS, BOOKS, RECORDS, NAVIGATION CHARTS, CENSUS DATA, GENEALOGICAL INFORMATION, HISTORIC LITERATURE, NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS AND MICROFILM, ORAL HISTORIES AND MUCH MORE. THE LOG CABIN SERVES INDIVIDUAL VISITORS AS WELL AS GROUPS.
  2. $368,970 spent. THE PACIFIC MARITIME HERITAGE CENTER (PMHC) IS AN IMPRESSIVE HISTORICAL BUILDING ON THE NEWPORT BAYFRONT PURCHASED AND SAVED BY LCHS IN 2004. PMHC IS A MAJOR MUSEUM AND INTERACTIVE CENTER THAT INCORPORATES THE WORKING WHARF OUTSIDE ITS DOORS ON THE BAYFRONT, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND LOCAL MARITIME USES WITH MARITIME EXHIBITS AND ART. DESIGNED TO ATTRACT, EDUCATE AND ENTERTAIN ALL AGES, IT ALSO INSTILLS IN LOCAL RESIDENTS A SENSE OF PLACE AND COMMUNITY. PMHC ALSO RENTS ITS FACILITES TO THE PUBLIC FOR PRIVATE EVENTS. THIS MUSEUM CELEBRATES THE HISTORY, ART, DIVERSE CULTURE, COMMERCE AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH THAT IS OF THE OCEAN.

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 October 13, 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 October 1955.

    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 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.