Kern River Valley Historical Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $111,487
- Spending
- $90,981
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 34 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 60
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 34.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 75 out of 100.
Independent board
5 of 250 of 19 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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
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)
- $87,491 spent. THE PURPOSE OF THE KERN RIVER VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS TO PRESERVE AND COMMUNICATE THE HISTORY OF THE KERN RIVER VALLEY AND THE SURROUNDING LOCAL SOUTHERN SIERRA COMMUNITIES OF THE KERN RIVER VALLEY BY: 1. PROVIDING SUITABLE FACILITIES FOR THE RETENTION AND DISPLAY OF ARTIFACTS OF SIGNIFICANCE TO THE HISTORY BEING PRESERVED. 2. ACQUIRING ARTIFACTS OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE TO THE LOCAL AREA. 3. PUBLISHING DOCUMENTS TO FILL VOIDS IN RESEARCH MATERIAL OR FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC. 4. ENCOURAGING THE PRODUCTION OF WRITTEN, ORAL OR DIGITAL RECORDS BY PERSONS WHO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HISTORY OF THE AREA. 5. ENCOURAGING AND COORDINATING PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS RELATED TO THE HISTORY OF THE AREA. 6. PROVIDING CLASSROOM LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES. 7. PROVIDING FIELD TRIPS TO PLACES OF HISTORICAL OR RECREATIONAL INTEREST. 8. PUBLISHING A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER TO INFORM MEMBERS OF ACTIVITIES AND HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE. 9. PROVIDING SOCIAL ACTIVITIES TO ENCOURAGE AND MAINTAIN AN ACTIVE, PARTICIPATING MEMEBERSHIP. 10. PROVIDING MEETING PROGRAMS OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND INTEREST TO THE MEMBERSHIP. 11. PROVIDING ASSISTANCE FOR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AS APPROVED BY THE BOARD. 12. DIGITIZING RESEARCH LIBRARY DATA TO PRESERVE DOCUMENTS.
- MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF MUSEUM BUILDING AND ITS CONTENTS OF HISTORICAL VALUE INCLUDING AN ORIGINAL LOG CABIN ON THE PREMISES WHICH WAS RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL STATE WITH ORIGINAL MATERIALS; MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF AN ORIGINAL 1926 GRAHAM TRUCK, COVERED WAGON, ORIGINAL STAGECOACH AND FARM EQUIPMENT; INDIAN ARTIFACTS, ITEMS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY OF A HISTORICAL NATURE, PHOTOGRAPHS, MAPS, ETC. BY 150 OR MORE VOLUNTEERS DONATE THEIR TIME. PURCHASE AND PLACEMENT OF PLAQUES OF A HISTORICAL NATURE THROUGHOUT THE KERN RIVER VALLEY. OPERATION OF A SMALL GIFT SHOP IN THE MUSEUM BY A VOLUNTEER STAFF FOR SIX HOURS A DAY, FOUR DAYS A WEEK. YEARLY VISITORS NUMBER OVER 10,000. ANNUAL HISTORY DAYS CELEBRATION OFFERED ANNUALLY AND ATTENDED BY 1000 OR MORE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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