Maine Historical Society
Maine Historical Society shows fluctuating revenue but stable assets and no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 10211530 · Portland, ME · NTEE: A82Z · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $8.1M |
| Total Expenses | $2.7M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $12.9M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Maine Historical Society Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Maine Historical Society directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Maine Historical Society
Maine Historical Society (EIN: 10211530) is a nonprofit organization based in Portland, ME, classified under NTEE code A82Z. The organization reported total revenue of $8.1M and total assets of $15.0M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Maine Historical Society's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Maine Historical Society is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 88 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -1.0%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $1.8M |
| Total Expenses | $2.7M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-961,052 |
| Total Assets | $14.6M |
| Total Liabilities | $1.7M |
| Net Assets | $12.9M |
| Operating Margin | -54.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 11.9% |
| Months of Reserves | 64.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Maine Historical Society reported a deficit of $961K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 64.4 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 11.9% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Maine Historical Society's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -1.0%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -74.5% | +2.3% | -3.6% |
| 2022 | +161.8% | +25.4% | +16.7% |
| 2021 | +87.0% | -1.9% | +9.7% |
| 2020 | -16.6% | -1.1% | -4.1% |
| 2019 | +7.8% | +2.1% | -4.8% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 3000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1938 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Maine Historical Society with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Maine Historical Society allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $961K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 11.9%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Maine Historical Society reports 0% officer compensation across all provided filings, indicating that no salaries were paid to officers, directors, trustees, or key employees, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size and suggests a strong commitment to directing funds to its mission.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Maine Historical Society's IRS 990 filings:
- Deficit spending in the most recent fiscal year (2023 revenue of $1,763,789 vs. expenses of $2,724,841)
- Significant year-over-year revenue volatility (e.g., $6.9M in 2022 vs. $1.7M in 2023), which could indicate reliance on sporadic large donations.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Maine Historical Society:
- Strong asset base ($14,958,358 latest assets) providing financial security.
- No reported officer compensation across all filings, indicating high efficiency in executive pay.
- Consistent operational expenses over several years, suggesting stable management.
- Ability to attract significant contributions, as evidenced by the $6.9M revenue in 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions about Maine Historical Society
Is Maine Historical Society a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Maine Historical Society (EIN: 10211530) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Maine Historical Society spend its money?
Maine Historical Society directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Maine Historical Society tax-deductible?
Maine Historical Society is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 10211530). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Maine Historical Society's spending goes to programs?
Maine Historical Society directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Maine Historical Society compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Maine Historical Society is above average for NTEE category A82Z nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Maine Historical Society located?
Maine Historical Society is headquartered in Portland, Maine and files with the IRS under EIN 10211530. It is classified under NTEE code A82Z.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Maine Historical Society have?
Maine Historical Society has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $8.1M in total revenue.
Is Maine Historical Society financially stable?
Yes, the organization maintains a strong asset base of $14,627,996 in 2023, despite a deficit in the most recent fiscal year. Its assets significantly outweigh its liabilities, indicating long-term stability.
How does Maine Historical Society manage executive compensation?
The Maine Historical Society reports 0% officer compensation in all available filings, suggesting that no salaries are paid to its officers, directors, trustees, or key employees, which is a strong indicator of resource dedication to its mission.
What caused the large revenue increase in 2022?
The significant revenue increase to $6,918,166 in fiscal year 2022, compared to $1,763,789 in 2023 and $2,642,638 in 2021, likely indicates a substantial one-time contribution or grant received during that period.
Are the organization's expenses under control?
Expenses have remained relatively consistent, ranging from $2.1 million to $2.7 million over the past several years, suggesting a stable operational cost structure. The 2023 expenses of $2,724,841 are in line with recent trends.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Maine Historical Society showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Maine Historical Society's revenue has declined by 11.6%, moving from $2.0M to $1.8M. Total assets increased by 7.5% over the same period, from $13.6M to $14.6M. Total functional expenses rose by 23.2%, from $2.2M to $2.7M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Maine Historical Society reported a deficit of $961K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1.7M in liabilities against $14.6M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 11.9%), resulting in net assets of $12.9M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.8M | $2.7M | $14.6M | $1.7M | — | — |
| 2022 | $6.9M | $2.7M | $15.2M | $1.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $2.6M | $2.1M | $13.0M | $2.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $1.4M | $2.2M | $11.9M | $2.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $1.7M | $2.2M | $12.4M | $2.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $1.6M | $2.1M | $13.0M | $2.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $1.8M | $2.3M | $13.9M | $2.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $1.2M | $1.6M | $14.0M | $2.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $2.1M | $2.4M | $14.3M | $2.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.9M | $2.2M | $15.3M | $2.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $2.7M | $2.1M | $13.9M | $853K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.9M | $2.2M | $13.7M | $799K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $2.0M | $2.2M | $13.6M | $1.1M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $2.7M, and assets of $14.6M (revenue -74.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $6.9M, expenses of $2.7M, and assets of $15.2M (revenue +161.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $2.1M, and assets of $13.0M (revenue +87.0% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $2.2M, and assets of $11.9M (revenue -16.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.7M, expenses of $2.2M, and assets of $12.4M (revenue +7.8% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $2.1M, and assets of $13.0M (revenue -10.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $13.9M (revenue +42.0% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.6M, and assets of $14.0M (revenue -40.8% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $2.1M, expenses of $2.4M, and assets of $14.3M (revenue +11.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.9M, expenses of $2.2M, and assets of $15.3M (revenue -31.4% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $2.7M, expenses of $2.1M, and assets of $13.9M (revenue +47.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.9M, expenses of $2.2M, and assets of $13.7M (revenue -7.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $2.0M, expenses of $2.2M, and assets of $13.6M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Maine Historical Society:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Maine Historical Society is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.