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Old Dartmouth Historical Society
Also known as The New Bedford Whaling Museum
Old Dartmouth Historical Society reported $18.7 million in revenue and $6.6 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $77.04 went to program services, $11.93 to management and general costs and $11.03 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 87.9% of the total. Government grants made up 6.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $324,966 (President & Chief Executive Officer). 4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 189% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $6.6MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $19M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$81.48 $15M
- Government grants$6.11 $1.1M
- Program service revenue$6.22 $1.2M
- Investment income$6.19 $1.2M
Other revenue was negative: −$58,300. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.0% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.9% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 11.0% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 87.9% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 6.1% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 6.2% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $324,966 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 4.93% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 4 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 91.2 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 30 of 30 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseExhibitions related to the whaling history, whale ecology, fine and decorative arts, and the history of the Old Dartmouth region that inspire visitors to reflect on the complex issues that shaped the past and remain relevant today. Scholarship, publications and web content that showcase exceptional research and communicate the Museums mission to a worldwide audience. Collections management that includes conservation, preservation, record keeping, loans and acquisitions of artifacts in the Museum collections, which are integral to the Museums mission and storytelling
Educational programming in the subjects of whaling history, ocean science, whale biology, art history, and the history of the Old Dartmouth Region that provide a meaningful experience for students, educators, scholars and enthusiasts and foster a community of lifelong learning
Member and community programs that engage the public in the mission of the Society. Library and research operations that provide resources for the public in their pursuit of information about the history of the whaling industry, City of New Bedford, Massachusetts and related subjects
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President & Chief Executive Officer Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $315,501 | $0 | $9,465 | $324,966 |
| Chief Administrative Officer & CFO Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $206,484 | $0 | $27,365 | $233,849 |
| Crocker Endowed Chair-Chief Curator Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $154,529 | $0 | $42,633 | $197,162 |
| Chief Philanthropic Officer Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $136,187 | $0 | $14,409 | $150,596 |
4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Old Dartmouth Historical Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $813K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b30 · 30 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 559
- Volunteers Part I, line 6140
Private foundation grants it received
7 private foundations reported grants to Old Dartmouth Historical Society totaling $28,278 on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Old Dartmouth Historical Society's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Old Dartmouth Historical Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Old Dartmouth Historical Society spent in 2024, $77.04 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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- FernbankAtlanta, GA · revenue $19M · programs 69.4% · 2024
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Massachusetts
Questions people ask
How much of Old Dartmouth Historical Society's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Old Dartmouth Historical Society reported that 77.0% of its $6.6 million in expenses went to program services, 11.9% to management and general and 11.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Old Dartmouth Historical Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Old Dartmouth Historical Society reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $324,966, for the role of President & Chief Executive Officer (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Old Dartmouth Historical Society get its money?
Of $18.7 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 87.9% came from contributions and grants (including 6.1% from government grants) and 6.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Old Dartmouth Historical Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 04-2104805 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202543159349302189 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202422809349300907 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202333169349300773 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233079349302243 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202123169349310977 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202042969349300104 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 04-2104805: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.