Better Business Bureau Report for
The Heritage Society

Better Business Bureau Report issued July 2011
Better Business Bureau Report expires July 2012


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability. Find out more...


Find out more about this charity:

Back To Top

Charity Contact Information

Name: The Heritage Society
Address: 1100 Bagby
  Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713-655-1912
Web Address: www.heritagesociety.org
Also known as:Harris County Heritage Society
Back To Top

Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1954, Texas
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: The Heritage Society, a museum complex at Sam Houston Park, collects, preserves, exhibits, and celebrates the diverse history of the Houston region.

Back To Top

Evaluation Conclusions

               

The Heritage Society meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Back To Top

Programs

               

The Heritage Society's programs include docent-guided and audio tours of nine historic structures that date from 1823 to 1905. The historic structures demonstrate the cultural, historical, architectural, economic, and religious influences of early Houstonians. The Heritage Society also offers regular lectures about events, people, antiques, and history; trunk shows for groups who cannot visit The Heritage Society in person; changing exhibitions in the Museum Gallery that focus on Houston and Harris County's history; Family Days for parents and children; and training workshops for educators who teach Texas History. Approximately 232,000 people visit The Heritage Society annually, of whom 27% are estimated to be tourists to Houston.

For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2010, The Heritage Society's program expenses were:

  
Total: 784,893
Total Program Expenses: $784,893
Back To Top

Governance

               

Chief Executive : Alice Collete, Executive Director
Compensation*:
 $124,970

Chair of the Board: Evelyn Boatwright
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: NA

Board Size: 30

Paid Staff Size: 17

*Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Back To Top

Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

invitations to fund raising events, grant proposals, membership
Fund raising costs were 8% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $806,173, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
Back To Top

Tax Status

               

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
Back To Top

Financial

               

The following information is based on The Heritage Society's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 607,272
Investment return, net 144,572
Membership dues and admissions 120,605
Fundraising events 78,296
Insurance proceeds - Hurricane Ike 28,908
Facility rental income 28,337
Other income 7,419
Direct donor benefit costs -16,342
Total Income $999,067


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 79%  Fund Raising: 6%  Administrative: 15% 

Total income   $999,067
  Program expenses $784,893
  Fund raising expenses 60,822
  Administrative expenses 150,206
 
Total expenses   $995,921
Income in Excess of Expenses   3,146
Beginning net assets   1,469,796
Ending net assets   1,482,946
Total liabilities   15,703
Total assets   $1,498,649


Back To Top

Complaints

               

The BBB has processed no complaints about this organization in the past 36 months, our standard reporting period.

Back To Top

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.

Send to:



What is an Accredited Charity