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Nonprofit · EIN 05-0259110

RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Tax-exempt · PROVIDENCE, RI 02906

Financials

$4.1M$3.1M2022$3.1M$3.4M2023$4M$3.8M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
June 30, 2025990$3,988,855$3,782,232$206,623$31,927,126$1,291,765$30,635,361
June 30, 2024990$3,081,897$3,427,496-$345,599$29,559,575$199,171$29,360,404
June 30, 2023990$4,132,482$3,129,852$1,002,630$28,363,866$238,093$28,125,773
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$1,998,550
of which government grants
$190,134
Membership dues
$66,727
Program service revenue
$81,832
Investment income
$1,806,045
Royalties
$2,760
Net rental income
$7,950
Net gain from sales of assets
$1,188,901
Net income from fundraising events
-$17,931
Net income from gaming
$4,479
Net income from sales of inventory
$19,284
Other revenue
$102,428

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$209,128
Other salaries and wages
$1,478,530
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$2,069,467
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$400
Accounting fees
$21,000
Occupancy
$115,273
Depreciation
$266,983
Program services (functional)
$2,703,622
Management and general (functional)
$777,085
Fundraising (functional)
$301,525

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$29,559,575
Total assets, end of year
$31,927,126
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,291,765
Net assets, end of year
$30,635,361
Land, buildings and equipment
$2,277,053
Publicly traded securities
$25,655,186
Net assets without donor restrictions
$12,136,017
Net assets with donor restrictions
$18,499,344
Gross unrelated business income
$19,284
Gross receipts
$12,832,559
Employees
51
Volunteers
105
Year formed
1822
State of legal domicile
RI

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
C MORGAN GREFE PHDEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
37.5$176,739$14,430
CHARMYNE GOODFELLOWDEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Highest-paid employee
37.5$106,134$17,766
ALLETTA MORRIS COOPERTRUSTEE THROUGH NOV 2024
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MICHAEL L BAKER JR CPATRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MARK F HARRIMANTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
FRANK MAURAN IVTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
CHARLOTTE CARRINGTON-FARMER PHDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MICHAEL GERHARDTTRUSTEE THROUGH FEB 2025
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
PAUL A CROCE SCDTRUSTEE THROUGH NOV 2024
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MEAGHAN E KELLY ESQTRUSTEE THROUGH SEP 2024
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
PETER J MINIATI CFP JDSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
ERIN STEVENSONEX-OFFICIO
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ROBERTA E GOSSELINCHAIR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
LUTHER W SPOEHR PHDTRUSTEE AS OF NOV 2024
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
STANLEY WEISSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
14 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
PAUL R WILLIAMSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0
WINIFRED E BROWNELL PHDVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0
LORI J LOUSARARIAN ESQTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0
JEANNETTE E RILEY PHDTRUSTEE THROUGH MAY 2025
Trustee or director
0.5$0
ALICIA J SAMOLIS JDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0
ROBERT H SLOAN JRTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0
THEODORE W SMALLETZTRUSTEE THROUGH SEP 2024
Trustee or director
0.5$0
LANE TALBOT SPARKMANTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0
JP COUTURETRUSTEE AS OF JUN 2025
Trustee or director
0.5$0
FRANK J FALTUSTRUSTEE AS OF NOV 2024
Trustee or director
0.5$0
JOSEPH T GALINDO JRTRUSTEE (NOV 2024 THROUGH FEB 2025)
Trustee or director
0.5$0
DENISE GALLOTRUSTEE AS OF NOV 2024
Trustee or director
0.5$0
LAURA KENERSONTRUSTEE AS OF JUN 2025
Trustee or director
0.5$0
PETER ROSSITRUSTEE AS OF JUN 2025
Trustee or director
0.5$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 26 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
C MORGAN GREFE PHDEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
37.5$170,149$12,979
CHARMYNE GOODFELLOWDEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMIN.
Highest-paid employee
37.5$100,868$17,477
ALLETTA MORRIS COOPERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MICHAEL L BAKER JR CPATRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MARK F HARRIMANTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
FRANK MAURAN IVTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
CHARLOTTE CARRINGTON-FARMER PHDTRUSTEE (AS OF 11/2023)
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MICHAEL GERHARDTTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
PAUL A CROCE SCDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MEAGHAN E KELLY ESQTRUSTEE (AS OF 11/2023)
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
PETER J MINIATI CFP JDSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
ERIN STEVENSONEX-OFFICIO
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
SCOTT MACKAYTRUSTEE (UNTIL 12/2023)
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MAUREEN MOAKLEY PHDTRUSTEE (UNTIL 6/2024)
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MARCUS P NEVIUS PHDTRUSTEE (UNTIL 11/2023)
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ROBERTA E GOSSELINCHAIR (AS OF 11/2023)
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
LUTHER W SPOEHR PHDVICE CHAIR (ENDING 11/2023)
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
STANLEY WEISSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
PAUL R WILLIAMSTRUSTEE (AS OF 11/2023)
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
WINIFRED E BROWNELL PHDVICE CHAIR (AS OF 11/2023)
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
LORI J LOUSARARIAN ESQTRUSTEE (AS OF 11/2023)
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JEANNETTE E RILEY PHDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ALICIA J SAMOLIS JDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ROBERT H SLOAN JRCHAIR (ENDING 11/2023)
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
THEODORE W SMALLETZTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
LANE TALBOT SPARKMANTRUSTEE (AS OF 11/2023)
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 24 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
C MORGAN GREFE PHDEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
37.5$173,756$12,253
STANLEY G WEISSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MICHAEL L BAKER JR CPATRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MARK HARRIMANTREASURER AS OF NOV 2022
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
FRANK MAURAN IVTRUSTEE AS OF NOV 2022
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MICHAEL T EADIETRUSTEE THROUGH NOV 2022
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JEANNETTE E RILEY PHDTRUSTEE AS OF NOV 2022
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JAMES WINGTRUSTEE THROUGH NOV 2022
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
LISA E MELTONTRUSTEE THROUGH JULY 2022
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
PETER J MINIATI CFP JDSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
LANE TALBOT SPARKMANEX-OFFICIO
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
SCOTT MACKAYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MAUREEN MOAKLEY PHDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MARCUS P NEVIUS PHDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ROBERTA E GOSSELINTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
LUTHER W SPOEHR PHDVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
PAUL A CROCE SCDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
WINIFRED E BROWNELL PHDSECRETARY THROUGH NOV 2022
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
ALLETTA MORRIS COOPERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MICHAEL GERHARDTTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
CINDY ESALAZAR ESQTRUSTEE THROUGH APRIL 2023
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ALICIA J SAMOLIS JDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ROBERT H SLOAN JRBOARD CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
THEODORE W SMALLETZTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
110 BENEVOLENT ST, PROVIDENCE, RI 02906-3152
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
CHRISTIANA MORGAN GREFE, 110 BENEVOLENT STREET, PROVIDENCE, RI 02906
Signed the 990
CHRISTIANA MORGAN GREFE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Phone
(401) 331-8575
Return prepared by
MULLEN SCORPIO & CERILLI

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.

990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • 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 2024, 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. UPDATES TO THESE SITES ARE ONGOING.
    Expenses $739,990 · revenue $14,763
  • 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 AN UNOFFICIAL 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 (2022), THE SECOND DISPLAY WAS ON RHODE ISLAND AND THE HISTORY OF SUGAR AS A COMMODITY (2023/24) AND THE FINAL DISPLAY IN 2025 WAS ON WOMEN'S ROLES IN REVOLUTIONARY RHODE ISLAND. CONCURRENTLY, IN 2023 THE RIHS BEGAN REINTERPRETING THE JBH FROM A HOUSE MUSEUM INTO A SERIES OF HISTORICAL GALLERIES SITUATING RHODE ISLAND IN GLOBAL CONTEXTS, USING RECENT WORKS OF SCHOLARSHIP AS INTERPRETIVE AUTHORITIES. THE THEME "RHODE ISLAND AND THE WORLD TO 1850" WILL, BY THE END OF 2026, BE REALIZED. OUR CURRENT GALLERIES INCLUDE TOPICS RELATING TO THE HISTORY OF THE BUSINESS OF ENSLAVEMENT IN RHODE ISLAND, MAHOGANY AS A COMMODITY, MARY WILLIAMS (THE WIFE OF RHODE ISLAND'S FOUNDER) AND HER MILIEU, THE CHINA TRADE, AND A GALLERY ON HOW THE BICENTENNIAL IMPACTED THE CREATION AND INTERPRETATION OF HOUSE MUSEUMS AND PRESERVATION IN PROVIDENCE. DURING FY 2025, THE MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE LAUNCHED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW IMMERSIVE AND INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT ENTITLED WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR, STAFF FOCUSED ON RESEARCH, CONTENT DEVELOPMENT, AND FUNDRAISING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT. AS PART OF THE EXHIBIT'S COMMUNITY-CENTERED APPROACH, THE MUSEUM CONDUCTED SEVERAL INTERVIEWS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS REPRESENTING DIVERSE ETHNIC AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS TO ENSURE THE EXHIBIT REFLECTS AUTHENTIC VOICES AND LIVED EXPERIENCES. DURING THE COURSE OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THE MUSEUM ALSO PRESENTED FIVE CHANGING EXHIBITS IN ITS LANDMARK MEDICAL CENTER CHANGING GALLERY. CHARTING HISTORY: NAVIGATING THE CURRENTS OF RHODE ISLAND'S PAST (OPENED JULY 2024) CONTAINED A SERIES OF PANELS DEVELOPED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE NEWPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND THE RIHS. IN SEPTEMBER 2024, WELCOME BLANKET OPENED TO ROARING SUCCESS, SHOWCASING MORE THAN 300 HANDMADE BLANKETS FROM MAKERS FROM ALL OVER THE US. THE EXHIBIT WAS COMPLEMENTED BY NUMEROUS PROGRAMS AND TALKS, AND THE BLANKETS WERE DONATED TO A LOCAL CHARITY. IN DECEMBER, THE MUSEUM DISPLAYED A COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL TOYS FROM THE RIHS COLLECTIONS. A WATER-RELATED EVENT IN JANUARY 2025 CAUSED THE MUSEUM TO CLOSE FOR THREE AND A HALF MONTHS DURING RESTORATION. DURING THAT TIME, THE MUSEUM CONTINUED TO OFFER REMOTE TOURS AND HELD ITS PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN OTHER LOCATIONS. UPON RE-OPENING, THE MUSEUM HOSTED AN EXHIBIT CELEBRATING THE RI DAY OF PORTUGAL. THIS WAS FOLLOWED IN JUNE BY THE WOONSOCKET PROUD EXHIBIT CREATED BY WOONSOCKET PUBLIC SCHOOL 5TH GRADERS.
    Expenses $980,479 · revenue $114,813
  • EDUCATION PROGRAM - THE GOFF CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS OVERSEES THE RIHS'S OUTWARD-FACING EDUCATIONAL WORK, DEVELOPING AND DELIVERING EDUCATIONAL TOOLS, TRAININGS, AND EVENTS RELATED TO RHODE ISLAND AND AMERICAN HISTORY. THIS INCLUDES OPPORTUNITIES CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR A K-12 AUDIENCE, INCLUDING TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, PRIMARY DOCUMENT-BASED LESSON PLANS, STUDENT TOURS AND HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, AS WELL AS OUR FREELY AVAILABLE DIGITAL TEXTBOOK, ENCOMPASS. ADDITIONALLY, THE RIHS SERVES AS THE STATE AFFILIATE FOR NATIONAL HISTORY DAY, RUNNING RHODE ISLAND HISTORY DAY AND ITS ASSOCIATED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE GOFF CENTER ALSO SERVES A BROAD PUBLIC AUDIENCE, PRESENTING PROGRAMS SUCH AS LECTURES, TOURS, AND CONCERTS AT OUR SITES AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
    Expenses $983,153 · revenue $38,142

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025June 30, 2026November 16, 2026Not due yet
2024June 30, 2025November 17, 2025990 on file
2023June 30, 2024November 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
05-0259110
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1925
Accounting year ends
June
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$31,927,126
Income (IRS master file)
$12,832,559

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990June 2025$3,988,855$3,782,232$31,927,126IRS
990-TJune 2025–––IRS
990June 2024$3,081,897$3,427,496$29,559,575IRS
990-TJune 2024–––IRS
990June 2023$4,132,482$3,129,852$28,363,866XML
990-TJune 2023–––IRS
990June 2022$3,324,394$2,906,260$25,912,827IRS
990-TJune 2022–––IRS
990June 2021–––IRS
990-TJune 2021–––IRS
990June 2020–––IRS
990June 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 05-0259110).

Questions about RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

What is the EIN of RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY?
The employer identification number (EIN) of RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY is 05-0259110.
Is RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1925.
Are donations to RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
Who is the principal officer of RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names CHRISTIANA MORGAN GREFE.
Who are the officers and directors of RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 29 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $176,739 (C MORGAN GREFE PHD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
How much revenue does RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY have?
On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $3,988,855, expenses of $3,782,232 and total assets of $31,927,126 at year end.

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