Passes our checks

Marin History Museum

EIN 94-1642459 · San Rafael, CA

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

What it says it does

The Marin History Museum is an active, artifact-based institution dedicated to sharing local history with the people of Marin County and beyond.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 93 out of 100.

Reserves
28 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 10.3 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 949% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 54 out of 100.

Independent board
25 of 25
13 of 13 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
0 of 5
Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10
Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
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 December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$241,491 spent. The historic Boyd Gate House in San Rafael is home to the Marin History Museums exhibits and research library and is open to the public four hours a day, four times a week. The museum provides a welcoming space for visitors to access local history through professionally designed exhibits, research assistance, and the Bookstore at the Boyd. The museums docents, available during open hours, provide orientation to our exhibits, house tours, and promote the museums membership benefits and digital image archive sales. Our most recent temporary exhibit, Marin the Muse: Paintings from the Collection, highlighted the best of the museum collections paintings. Our permanent exhibit, Petals and Ice: The Adventures of Louise A. Boyd, the only exhibit in the United States celebrating San Rafael resident and polar explorer Louise Arner Boyd, continues to draw curious residents and tourists alike. Our Craemer Family Collections Facility in Novato continues to house the museums artifact and photograph collections and serves as our home base for operations. This secure facility is open for research and tours by appointment.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 November 6, 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 December 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 December 1972.
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 November 4, 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.