Buena Vista Heritage

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
742498589
IRS 990 coverage
2013–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Buena Vista, CO, USA
Phone
7192072254
Rating
82
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
History Museums

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$259,774
Expenses
$238,046
Assets
$1,325,453
Liabilities
$1,338

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

12 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • AMY WEISENHORN (PRESIDENT)

People named in this filing

  • LIZ BALDWIN (AT-LARGE BD)
  • CLINTON BELLINGAR (AT-LARGE BD)
  • ROBIN HALL (AT-LARGE BD)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Preserve and share the history of buena vista and chaffee county for the education and enjoyment of the public.

What it reported doing in 2024

Fifty years ago, a late-night conversation changed the course of buena vista's history. Suzy kelly's husband, bryce, returned home from a school board meeting with shocking news: they were going to demolish the historic our courtroom isn't just for justice; it's also a stage for dreams. Motion exchange dance calls our space home, providing a beautiful setting for local dancers to learn and grow. This beloved building, nearly a century old, had served as the county courthouse and later as the town school, educating generations of buena vista's residents. As a cornerstone of main street since the town's inception, it held a special place in the community's heart. Unfortunately, with changing needs, the structure fell into disrepair. The behemoth of a building required substantial time and investment to restore its former grandeur, and neither the town nor school board had the resources to undertake this task consequently, it was decided that the old courthouse would be demolished, and its history would be relegated to photos and stories. Fortunately, a group of concerned citizens saw the beauty behind the crumbling brick and peeling paint. They recognized the irreplaceable resource in the our properties serve as living classrooms, wherehistory is not just taught, but experienced. Historic walls and towering cupola, and they chose not to let that history be lost to abunch of bulldozers. From a humble beginning in 1974, buena vista heritage has evolved into a thriving community cornerstone. Over the years, we've expanded our reach, and have attracted thousands of visitors annually from around the globe. Buena vista heritage continues to flourish, and we eagerly anticipate the possibilities that lie ahead.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 75
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 82
  • Sustainability: 65
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 78.2%; rating input score 78
  • Program expense ratio: 85.2%; rating input score 85
  • Fundraising efficiency: $6.78 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 4 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 57
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 8.4%; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 5.57; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 15.4% per year; rating input score 100; 79th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 13.4% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 4.9% per year; rating input score 100; 47th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 78.2% of revenue deployed · 85.2% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 11 of 11 board members independent · 4 of 7 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $203K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 12 people listed
  • Consistency: 22 of 22 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 11 filing years from 2013 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 29/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: 2 of 6 not reported.
  • Review — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 57/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 56/100.