To educate the general public about the history and cultural heritage of the State of Connecticut and the role the State and its citizens have played as part of the American experience.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
65¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 6 volunteers and 7 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
1 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $39K a year · 14% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
65%
of spending
Fine: 65% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$77K
to officers and key staff · 22% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 22% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $87K in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 1.0 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $12K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$73K
50% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 50% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$248K
-23% vs prior year
Spent
$344K
To programs
65%
Net assets
$73K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$248K
FY2025▼ -23%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$188K
FY2021$227K
FY2022$253K
FY2023$365K
FY2024$323K
FY2025$248K
Expenses
$344K
FY2025▼ -14%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020Not on file
FY2021$190K
FY2022$260K
FY2023$416K
FY2024$403K
FY2025$344K
Net assets
$73K
FY2025▼ -56%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$252K
FY2021$292K
FY2022$274K
FY2023$232K
FY2024$167K
FY2025$73K

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending August 2025) · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Aug 2012.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

65 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 65% · $225K Management & general 16% · $54K Fundraising 19% · $66K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

7 people listed on the 990; $77K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Publisher+exdir
$77,000Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Kathy Hermes’s $77K as Publisher+exdir is at the 69th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1613 $100K–1M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022
Kathy Hermes$77,000$77,000$77,000—
Kathy Hermes from 72022———$11,958

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Connecticut Explored INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Educates the public on Connecticut's history, heritage, and its role in the American experience.

Questions for Connecticut Explored INC

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Your first name shows with your question. Connecticut Explored INC answers here, for everyone.

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3 programs · $225K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Connecticut Explored, Inc.Form 990-EZ, FYE 8/31/2025Part III, Program Service AccomplishmentsExplanation of program activities and accomplishmentsProgram Accomplishments FY 2024-2025 Four issues of Connecticut Explored, circulation 4800 per issue Volume 23, Number 1: Winter 2024-25: theme of history of food.

$225Kprogram expense
02

Connecticut Explored receives the benefit of substantial contributed services in producing the quarterly magazine, which are not reflected in the functional expenses reported in Form 990, Part IX.Many of the articles in the magazine are written and photographs reprinted with no compensation or minimal honoraria or rights fees, including…

Pt IX · col B
03

Less in-kind services not to be included in functional expenses on Form 990, Part IX.0

Pt IX · col B

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$12K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$248K
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$145K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$95K
Investment incomeLn 3$8K
Money outPt IX
$344K
Ln 25
Programscol B$225K
Managementcol C$54K
Fundraisingcol D$66K
Owns and owesPt X
$73K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$30K
Total assetsLn 16$146K
LiabilitiesLn 26$73K
PeoplePt VI, VII
7
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$95K
Government grantsLn 1e$17K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$145K
Investment incomeLn 3$8K
Gains on assetsLn 7$2K
Total revenueLn 12$248K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$7K
SavingsLn 2$23K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$30K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$87K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$146K
LiabilitiesLn 26$73K
Net assetsLn 32$73K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 57
VolunteersI 66
Fiscal year endsHeaderAugust
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$16K$30K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$157K$87K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Total assetsLn 16$220K$146K
LiabilitiesLn 26$53K$73K
Net assetsLn 32$167K$73K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$77K$31K$23K$23K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$92K$65K$11K$16K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$791$791
Payroll taxesLn 10$13K$7K$3K$3K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$3K$3K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$39$39
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$16K$10K$5K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$22K$5K$17K
Office expensesLn 13$2K$702$702$702
Information technologyLn 14$9K$4K$514$4K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$0
TravelLn 17$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$395$395
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0
InsuranceLn 23$4K$2K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$101K$99K$1K$1K
All other expensesLn 24e$4K$871$3K$400
Total functional expensesLn 25$344K$225K$54K$66K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $248K$344K−$96K$73K 990 PDF
FY2024 $323K$403K−$80K$167K 990 PDF
FY2023 $365K$416K−$51K$232K 990 PDF
FY2022 $253K$260K−$6K$274K 990 PDF
FY2021 $227K$190K$37K$292K 990 PDF
FY2020 $188K$252K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $248,333 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $150,520$94,944
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $165,457$144,898
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $6,571$8,491
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $322,548$248,333
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $207,539$183,039
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $195,053$161,439
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $402,592$344,478
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$80,044−$96,145
Part VI · Governance 6 of 6 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members6
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $248,333 across 10 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $440 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$16,864
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$78,080
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$94,944
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $119,194 · Unrelated business $25,264$144,458
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $6,575$6,575
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $1,916$1,916
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $119,194 · Unrelated business $25,264 · Excluded from tax $8,931$248,333
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $344,478 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $30,800 · Management $23,100 · Fundraising $23,100$77,000
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $64,696 · Management $10,899 · Fundraising $16,481$92,076
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsManagement $791$791
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $7,440 · Management $2,649 · Fundraising $3,083$13,172
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $3,250$3,250
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $39$39
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $10,398 · Management $5,308$15,706
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $5,230 · Fundraising $16,588$21,818
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $702 · Management $702 · Fundraising $702$2,106
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $4,065 · Management $514 · Fundraising $4,065$8,644
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 Occupancy$0
IX-17 Travel$0
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsManagement $395$395
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortization$0
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $1,901 · Management $1,901$3,802
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $98,909 · Management $1,143 · Fundraising $1,143$101,195
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $871 · Management $3,213 · Fundraising $400$4,484
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $225,012 · Management $53,904 · Fundraising $65,562$344,478
Part X · Balance sheet $145,553 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $9,768$6,747
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $6,347$23,004
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $34,055$15,788
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $12,207$12,948
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, net$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $157,412$87,066
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $219,789$145,553
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expenses$34
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $52,939$72,595
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $52,939$72,629
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $166,850$72,924
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $219,789$145,553
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $72,924 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$248,333
XI-2 Total expenses$344,478
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$96,145
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$166,850
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$2,219
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$72,924

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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