Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Lane County Historical Society

EIN 93-0911191 · Eugene, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SPARK LEARNING, REFLECTION, AND INSPIRATION THROUGH DIVERSE CULTURAL PROGRAMING THAT PROMOTES HISTORICAL UNDERSTANDING, EQUITY AND EMPATHY.

Income
$620,203
Spending
$385,268
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
39.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 85%
Employees
4
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$67,255, executive director

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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 39.7 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 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    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

    5 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (3)
  1. $176,153 spent. COLLECTIONS: CARING FOR OUR COLLECTION WHICH INCLUDES AN ESTIMATED 18,000 ARTIFACTS, 550,000 PHOTOGRAPHS, 900 MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS, 6,000 BOOKS, 500 MAPS, 160 BLUEPRINTS, AND 30 LINEAR FEET OF EPHEMERA IS CENTRAL TO OUR MISSION. THERE ARE FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES OF COLLECTIONS: ARTIFACTS, ARCHIVE AND LIBRARY, BORN DIGITAL, AND EDUCATION. FUNDS INCLUDE COSTS FOR CARING FOR EXISTING COLLECTIONS AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ACQUIRING NEW ITEMS.
  2. $56,533 spent. EXHIBITS: FEATURED TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT EXHIBITS RELATED TO THE HISTORY OF LANE COUNTY FOR THE LANE COUNTY HISTORY MUSEUM. DURING THIS PERIOD, WE FEATURED A LARGE EXHIBIT ON THE EUGENE FRIENDS OF FARMWORKERS, IN ADDITION TO OUR PERMANENT EXHIBITS. THE MUSEUM IS OPEN 3 DAYS A WEEK 10AM-6PM.
  3. $29,009 spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMS: THE MUSEUM PARTICIPATED IN INCREASED COMMUNITY OUTREACH, INCLUDING EVENTS AT EUGENE PRIDE IN THE PARK, EUGENE SCOTTISH FESTIVAL, AND LANE COUNTY FAIR. IN ADDITION WE CONTINUED OUR PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON AND SPONSORED LOCAL WALKING TOURS.

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 May 1990.

    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.