The Historical Society of Palm Beach County Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
596158821
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024
Location
West Palm Beach, FL, USA
Phone
5618324164
Rating
82
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Historical Societies, Related Historical Activities

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$1,911,243
Expenses
$1,803,049
Assets
$5,359,089
Liabilities
$124,993

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

Leadership & pay

24 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • JEREMY JOHNSON (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER)

Highest reported compensation

  • JEREMY JOHNSON (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER): $216,697 total reported compensation
  • TAYLOR MATERIO (CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER): $145,767 total reported compensation

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

Overview

Mission

To collect, preserve and make accessible to researchers and the general public artifacts and materials that help tell the story of the history of palm beach county, and to stimulate public appreciation for the rich history and cultural heritage of palm beach county.

What it reported doing in 2024

The society maintains and operates a large archive on the history of palm beach county and Florida, including over four million photographic images; maps, newspapers, journals, periodicals, architectural drawings, and research files; and artifacts. The society provides an on-site research facility, accessible by the public, and actively documents the people and events that have shaped our community.to fulfill its mission, the society provides a variety of educational programs and initiatives in schools and out in the community, as well as community-based special projects and programs. These include, but are not limited to family events, group tours, lecture series, special exhibitions and traveling exhibitions held both within the richard and pat johnson palm beach county history museum and throughout the county. The society places a significant emphasis on the education of school children through school tours, comprehensive hands-on classroom projects, supplemental classroom materials for fourth and seventh grades, curriculum guides for faculty and students, and intensive teacher training. These projects and initiatives enable the historical society to build an understanding and appreciation of local history in our children.the richard and pat johnson palm beach county history museum is maintained and operated by the historical society. The museum offers extensive static and interactive permanent exhibitions and a gallery for rotating exhibitions curated with the intent to enrich the lives of children and adults by making local history accessible, interesting and meaningful. Since opening in 2008, more than 200,276 individuals have enjoyed the museum, free of charge.the historical society of palm beach county was selected by the school district of palm beach county to participate in the district funded community field trip experience. This exhibit will be on display year round at the richard and pat johnson palm beach county history museum as part of its designation as a holocaust education site. The historical society of palm beach county honors and recognizes heritage months throughout the year with inclusive programming, community engagement initiatives, discussions and exhibitions that honor the histories and contributions of the community we serve.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 64% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
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.

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 expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 79
  • Transparency & Controls: 79
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 55
  • Growth: 80

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 80.8%; rating input score 81
  • Program expense ratio: 84%; rating input score 84
  • Fundraising efficiency: $18.41 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
    • Compensation committee: Pass
    • Independent consultant: Missing
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
    • Written employment contract: Missing
    • Compensation survey or study: Missing
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • 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: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 5.7%; rating input score 52; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.97; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 20.1%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 4.7% per year; rating input score 100; 40th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 8.8% per year; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: -2.1% per year; rating input score 0; 12th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 80.8% of revenue deployed · 84% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 22 of 22 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $1.5M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $217K · 24 people listed · 3 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Consistency: 32 of 32 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors and executive pay
  • Filing history: 15 filing years from 2010 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 2 filed money-flow records
  • 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.
  • Staff and benefit plans: Retirement and health plans the organization files with the Department of Labor, and the people in them.

Key Signals

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

  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 56/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 52/100.
  • High — Growth: Asset growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 15/100.