Clackamas County Historical Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To enrich the lives of current and future generations through collecting, preserving, and interpreting the history and culture of Clackamas County. The museums are open to the public and strive to educate and preserve the legacy of Clackamas County, Oregon.
- Income
- $262,366
- Spending
- $466,838
- Spent on programs
- 54%
- Reserves
- 4.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 75%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 34
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
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 78% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 55% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1554% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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)
- $141,799 spent. In exhibits, We opened Jennings Lodge Camp: A Gathering Place for Faith, Community, and Revival, telling the story of the camps century-long role as a gathering place along the Willamette River. Nestled beneath a Cathedral of Trees, the camp welcomed families in faith and fellowship, as part of the national Camp Meeting Movement that began in the late 1700's. A special section also explores Oregon youth campssuch as Camp Meriwether, Camp Onahlee, and Camp Arrowheadcomparing their experiences to Jennings Lodge Camp. We launched a Museum Advisory Group and a Teacher Advisory Group to guide future exhibits and programs and began an oral history program by interviewing fourteen participants for the Jennings Lodge Camp Exhibit. Our exhibit team completed the first draft content of the upcoming Willamette River: Land, Culture, and History Exhibit, scheduled to open in Fall 2025.
- $97,849 spent. Preservation of the museum of the Oregon territory and the Stevens Crawford heritage house and their artifacts. Museum of the Oregon territory is open 4 days per week and the stevens Crawford house is open 2 days a week.
- $10,210 spent. Our education programs continue to foster long-term cultural engagement, enhance educational outcomes, and highlight history as a vital community resourcedemonstrating the importance of sustained investment for future generations. We worked closely with the Ermatinger House and the McLoughlin House to present historic interpretation aligned with state education standards, offering students a glimpse into daily life in Clackamas County during the 1800s and 1900s. This year, nearly 1,100 students visited three historic houses.
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
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 June 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 March 1956.
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.