Wood County Historical Society

What it reported doing in 2024

Operation of 27,000 sq. Ft. Museum, herb garden, nature trails and numerous points of outdoor interest, on a 50-acre site owned by wood county. For comfort and convenience: public charity in Ohio by way of the poor farm" opened in 2019. The exhibit won four awards and has been the basis for five published articles. This exhibit depicts the history of Ohio's poor farm system and includes modern photographs by jeffery hall of all 88 Ohio county poor farm sites. "allure & illusion: a rose-colored romance." showcasing 40+ beautiful wedding dresses once worn at past wood county weddings, this exhibit presents the foundation of marriage culture and how modern ideology is changing what it means to get married and strive for the american dream. It also features frank kalan harlequin romance cover art from bowling green state university browne popular culture library. "the mary & carl bach story" opened in october 2020. This exhibit contextualizes the murder of mary bach, the trial and execution of carl bach, and confronts the folklore surrounding the human remains that are part of the wchs collection. "a clean bill of health: societal response to disease" located inside the pest house. "chasing the white rabbit: a historical look at american mental illness" located inside the lunatic asylum. Wchs had these events in 2024: number of events: 21 family-focused events -- 3,300 people easter egg hunt (300+), safety event (3000+) community-welcoming events -- 2,638 people 3 music @ museums (1650), poor farm palooza (135), adhams art show (63), peaches birthday (100), first free fridays (690) educational programs on-site -- 2,479 people early Ohio living history weekend (1500), unnatural Ohio book signing (52), 5 teas & talks (347), german-american day (20), living history day in august (100), summer tea classes (78), blacksmith demos (50), power of yesteryear spring showcase (100), wood county parks programs (82) outreach (not including traveling programs) -- 3,210 people Ohio tourism day (400), bgsu history day (50), maumee river celebration at providence (200), wood county employee picnic (124), bowling green farmers market (150), perryburg market (200), pemberville parade (1000), historic carter farmfest (307), north baltimore trunk or treat (490), canal experience anniversary (200), toledo/lucas county genealogical & local history fair (89). Educational programs/ traveling programs off-site --4,294 people adult programs (113 programs serving 2,181 people), student programs (34 programs serving 2,113 people). Museum visitors 2,276 total people served in 2024 was 18,197 this does not include virtual program audiences or social media followers. Volunteers: 30 community service volunteers and 50 adult volunteers. Volunteerism included front desk greeters, newsletter assembly, events volunteers, and herb garden maintenance.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 85.3%; rating input score 85
• Program expense ratio: 94.8%; rating input score 95
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

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: 5 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 71
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 20.4%; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.97; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.16; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 7.6% per year; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4.3% per year; rating input score 100; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 5.1% per year; rating input score 100; 48th percentile among comparable filings