The South Carolina Historical Society

What it reported doing in 2025

Archivalthe society has approximately 3,000 manuscript collections that include letters, diaries, legal papers, and other documents dating from 1670 to the present and more than 10,000 oversized plats, monuments, maps and drawings. Over 30,000 photographs, prints, and other visual items are maintained, as well as a research library containing nearly 5,000 books selected to add contextual evidence that enhances the manuscript and other archival holdings. The collection also includes more than 45,000 historical pamphlets and printed materials as well as hundreds of files and books pertaining to genealogy. The collection also includes numerous artifacts ranging from oversized, unique battle flags to small, personal items. Most of the collection is housed at the college of charleston's addlestone library special collections area. With the museum installation in 2018 selected items are exhibited in the fireproof building. Also, some administrative records are maintained in the society's headquarters.the board of managers adopted the policy to not capitalize its collection because it is impracticable to attempt to assign values to the collection because each item has certain attributes, such as age, preparation, type of cultural material and relationship to other historical documents, persons or events in the South Carolina history that make it difficult to determine an objective basis for evaluation. The society does not consider the collections a financial asset, but rather an irreplaceable treasure of South Carolina culture to be preserved for future generations.the society's librarian and archivists operate out of addlestone library where they manage the collection, provide reference service and assist patrons in the research room. The reading room there is open monday through friday. The staff promotes the use of the collection through such activities as classroom visits, private tours of the collection, and speaking engagements to community organizations. College classes in preservation, conservation and/or frequently visit the building for hands-on experience.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 79.4%; rating input score 79
• Fundraising efficiency: $8.94 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • 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; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -26.9%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 5.56; rating input score 86; 86th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 26.1%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.4% per year; rating input score 100; 38th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.3% per year; rating input score 100; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.8% per year; rating input score 100; 26th percentile among comparable filings