Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Totals

Total revenue
$3,081,897
Total expenses
$3,427,496
Contributions and grants received
$1,457,779
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$64,406
Investment income
$1,373,273
Other revenue
$186,439
Total assets, end of year
$29,559,575
Total liabilities, end of year
$199,171
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$29,360,404
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$2,369,640
Management and general expenses
$760,150
Fundraising expenses
$297,706
Program service expenses (Part III)
$2,369,640

Program services were 69.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $61,832

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $87,897

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $192,333

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,115,717

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $10,957

  • 2a · Program service revenue: ADMISSIONS INCOME

    total $56,097 · related or exempt $56,097

  • 2b · Program service revenue: PROGRAM REVENUE

    total $6,475 · related or exempt $6,475

  • 2c · Program service revenue: PUBLICATION SALES

    total $1,834 · related or exempt $1,834

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $584,911 · excluded $584,911

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $8,960 · excluded $8,960

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $22,306

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $22,306

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $22,306 · excluded $22,306

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $4,840,565

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $4,051,982 · other assets $221

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $788,583 · other assets -$221

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $788,362 · excluded $788,362

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $24,685

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $87,897

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $33,244

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$8,559 · excluded -$8,559

  • 9a · Gaming: gross income

    $12,420

  • 9b · Gaming: direct expenses

    $3,769

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

    total $8,651 · excluded $8,651

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $11,378

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $11,378 · unrelated business $11,378

  • 11a · Other revenue: ADMINISTRATIVE FEES

    total $143,703 · related or exempt $143,703

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $143,703

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $205,257 · program services $82,103 · management and general $102,628 · fundraising $20,526

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,489,104 · program services $1,028,071 · management and general $276,344 · fundraising $184,689

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $38,699 · program services $23,510 · management and general $10,693 · fundraising $4,496

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $197,907 · program services $148,199 · management and general $37,150 · fundraising $12,558

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $137,285 · program services $89,778 · management and general $30,232 · fundraising $17,275

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $1,161 · management and general $1,161

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $24,000 · management and general $24,000

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $119,218 · management and general $119,218

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $192,406 · program services $174,610 · management and general $13,463 · fundraising $4,333

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $2,219 · program services $719 · fundraising $1,500

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $84,989 · program services $64,991 · management and general $19,998

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $12,241 · program services $6,713 · management and general $4,407 · fundraising $1,121

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $270,612 · program services $241,484 · management and general $29,128

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $71,101 · program services $59,158 · management and general $11,178 · fundraising $765

  • 24a · Other expenses: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $265,584 · program services $259,075 · management and general $5,552 · fundraising $957

  • 24b · Other expenses: REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE

    total $103,603 · program services $57,402 · management and general $40,485 · fundraising $5,716

  • 24c · Other expenses: AUTOMATION

    total $56,630 · program services $29,738 · management and general $12,553 · fundraising $14,339

  • 24d · Other expenses: PROGRAM EXPENSES

    total $37,521 · program services $26,655 · management and general $400 · fundraising $10,466

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $117,959 · program services $77,434 · management and general $21,560 · fundraising $18,965

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,091,518 · end of year $738,293

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $6,168 · end of year $6,273

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $485,179 · end of year $469,207

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $18,676 · end of year $19,094

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $11,605 · end of year $14,855

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $14,402 · end of year $13,651

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $7,164,866

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $4,650,732

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $2,671,549 · end of year $2,514,134

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $22,744,807 · end of year $24,384,801

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $1,319,962 · end of year $1,399,267

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $215,622 · end of year $188,893

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $22,471 · end of year $10,278

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $10,595,430 · end of year $10,863,628

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $17,530,343 · end of year $18,496,776

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THROUGH ITS COLLECTIONS, MUSEUMS, AND EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, WELCOMES EVERYONE TO ENGAGE WITH RHODE ISLAND'S COMPLEX AND SIGNIFICANT PAST.

  • LIBRARY PROGRAM - THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S ROBINSON RESEARCH CENTER HAS OVER 100,000 VOLUMES RELATING TO THE HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND AND SURROUNDING NEW ENGLAND. THIS RESEARCH CENTER ALSO HOLDS MORE THAN 1,200 MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS (OVER 10 MILLION PAGES), 20,000 ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS, 1,000,000 PHOTOGRAPHS, AND 9 MILLION FEET OF MOVING IMAGE FILM. IN FY 2023, MUCH OF OUR WORK WAS FOCUSED ON INCREASING DIGITAL ACCESS TO MATERIALS RELATED TO THE APPROACHING 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF U.S. INDEPENDENCE. TO FURTHER THIS WORK, A DEDICATED WEBSITE HOLDING SCANS OF ALL OF OUR MANUSCRIPTS RELATED TO THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR ENTITLED "THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR IN RHODE ISLAND" WENT LIVE ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2022. A NEWLY DESIGNED, MORE USER-FRIENDLY INTERFACE FOR OUR ONLINE CATALOG (THE CABINET, FORMERLY NETOP) WENT LIVE ON DECEMBER 9, 2022.

    Expenses $713,685 · Revenue $9,320

  • MUSEUM PROGRAM - THE RIHS OPERATES TWO MUSEUMS, THE JOHN BROWN HOUSE MUSEUM AND THE MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE, AS WELL AS OPERATING THE ALDRICH HOUSE, WHICH SERVES AS ITS HEADQUARTERS, EVENT VENUE, AND EDUCATIONAL SPACE. THE MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE ALSO SERVES AS A VISITORS' CENTER FOR THE BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY. IN ADDITION, THE JOHN BROWN HOUSE MUSEUM SERVES AS THE PRIMARY LOCATION OF OUR MUSEUM ARTIFACTS, WHICH NUMBER OVER 20,000. IN 2022, A GALLERY SPACE IN THE JBH WAS DEDICATED TO ANNUAL DISPLAYS RELATED TO THE "ROAD TO REVOLUTION," CULMINATING IN 2026 (THE 250TH OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE). THE FIRST DISPLAY WAS ON THE BURNING OF THE BRITISH CUSTOMS SHIP GASPEE, AND IN MAY 2023 THE HISTORY OF SUGAR AS A COMMODITY THAT ENGAGED RHODE ISLAND IN THE 18THC GLOBAL ECONOMY, INCLUDING THE SUGAR AND MOLASSES ACTS, WAS INSTALLED.

    Expenses $864,263 · Revenue $169,094

  • EDUCATION PROGRAM - THE GOFF CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS, THE STAFF MEMBERS OF WHICH ARE LOCATED AT THE JOHN BROWN HOUSE MUSEUM AND ALDRICH HOUSE, OVERSEES THE RIHS'S EDUCATIONAL WORK RELATED TO RI AND AMERICAN HISTORY, TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE FIELD OF RI AND AMERICAN HISTORY, PRIMARY DOCUMENT-BASED CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, UNIT PLANS, STUDENT TOURS, AND WRITTEN MATERIALS, INCLUDING THE FREELY AVAILABLE DIGITAL TEXTBOOK, ENCOMPASS, AS WELL AS PUBLIC PROGRAMS, SUCH AS LECTURES, CONCERTS, AND WORKSHOPS. THE GOFF CENTER DIRECTS THE RIHS'S RHODE ISLAND ONLINE DIRECTORY INITIATIVE (RHODI) PROJECT AND ALSO RUNS RI HISTORY DAY, THE STATE AFFILIATE OF NATIONAL HISTORY DAY. THE PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND RHODI STAFF REPORT TO THE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS BUT ARE CONSIDERED PART OF THE GOFF CENTER. DURING FY 2024, THE MUSEUM TEAM FOCUSED ITS ATTENTION ON THE DEVELOPMENT, INSTALLATION, AND PROMOTION OF A NEW IMMERSIVE AND INTERACTIVE PRESENTATION, AND ON ITS CHANGING EXHIBIT PROGRAM. THE NEW IMMERSIVE PRESENTATION WAS ADDED TO OUR EXISTING FARMHOUSE EXHIBIT, BRINGING TO LIFE A FAMILY OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY FACED WITH THE DECISION TO LEAVE THEIR COUNTRY TO MOVE TO THE UNITED STATES.DURING THE COURSE OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THE MUSEUM ALSO PRESENTED SIX CHANGING EXHIBITS IN ITS GALLERY. MISHPAKHA (OPENED MAY 2023) CONTINUED TO BRING VISITORS FROM NEAR AND FAR TO DISCOVER THE JEWISH HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET AND TO ATTEND RELATED PROGRAMS. OTHER CHANGING EXHIBITS SHOWCASED THE ARTWORK OF LOCAL ARTISTS AND STUDENTS FROM THE NORTHERN RI ART GROUP AND THE BEACON CHARTER ART SCHOOL; A PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT FROM PRECISION MEDICINE IN AUTISM DURING AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH; HOLLYWOOD COMES TO WOONSOCKET DURING FRANCOPHONIE MONTH; AND THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF MONT ST-CHARLES ACADEMY. SEVERAL PROGRAMS RELATED TO EACH CHANGING EXHIBIT WERE PRESENTED AND WELL ATTENDED.

    Expenses $791,692 · Revenue $29,695

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Alletta Morris Cooper

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Michael L Baker Jr CPA

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Mark F Harriman

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Frank Mauran IV

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Charlotte Carrington-Farmer PhD

    TRUSTEE (AS OF 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Michael Gerhardt

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Paul A Croce Scd

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Meaghan E Kelly Esq

    TRUSTEE (AS OF 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Peter J Miniati CFP JD

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Erin Stevenson

    EX-OFFICIO

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Scott MacKay

    TRUSTEE (UNTIL 12/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Maureen Moakley PhD

    TRUSTEE (UNTIL 6/2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Marcus P Nevius PhD

    TRUSTEE (UNTIL 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Roberta E Gosselin

    CHAIR (AS OF 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Luther W Spoehr PhD

    VICE CHAIR (ENDING 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Stanley Weiss

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Paul R Williams

    TRUSTEE (AS OF 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Winifred E Brownell PhD

    VICE CHAIR (AS OF 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Lori J Lousararian Esq

    TRUSTEE (AS OF 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Jeannette E Riley PhD

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Alicia J Samolis JD

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Robert H Sloan Jr

    CHAIR (ENDING 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Theodore W Smalletz

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Lane Talbot Sparkman

    TRUSTEE (AS OF 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • C Morgan Grefe PhD

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $183,128
    From this org
    $170,149
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,979
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $170,149
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,045
    Nontaxable benefits
    $5,934
    Filer's total
    $183,128

  • Charmyne Goodfellow

    DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMIN.

    Total calculated
    $118,345
    From this org
    $100,868
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,477
    Hours/week
    37.5

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
14 May 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202531349349306948

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.