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The American Coaster Enthusiasts Inc

EIN 04-2983095 · Grand Prairie, TX

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair67 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FOSTER AND PROMOTE THE CONSERVATION, APPRECIATION, KNOWLEDGE AND ENJOYMENT OF THE ART OF THE CLASSIC WOODEN ROLLER COASTER AND THE CONTEMPORARY STEEL COASTER.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
13.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 70%
Employees
0
Volunteers
250

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $850,526 spent. CONVENTIONS AND CONFERENCES HELD THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
  2. $60,044 spent. BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE, NEWLETTERS, AND WEB PUBLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP. THE COMPANY PUBLISHES A PRINT MAGAZINE AND AN ONLINE NEWSLETTER. MAGAZINES ARE SENT TO MEMBERS AS PART OF THEIR MEMBERSHIP. ROLLERCOASTER! MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED 4 TIMES A YEAR WITH IN-DEPTH ARTICLES RELATING TO COASTERS AND AMUSEMENT PARKS. ACE NEWS IS DONE ONLINE AND PROVIDES INDUSTRY AND CLUB RELATED ARTICLES.
  3. $33,876 spent. AWARDED GRANTS TO TWO AMUSEMENT PARKS FOR THE RESTORATION,REHABILITATION, AND PRESERVATION OF THEIR ROLLER COASTERS. AWARDEDLANDMARK COASTER DESIGNATION TO 3 ROLLER COASTERS. COASTER LANDMARKS ARE ROLLER COASTER THAT HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO BE HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT TO THE AMUSEMENT INDUSTRY. AWARDED OUR FIRST CENTENNIAL AWARD. CENTENNIAL AWARDS RECOGNIZE ROLLER COASTERS THAT HAVE OPERATED FOR 100 YEARS OR MORE.
  4. $15,088 spent. MAINTAINED ARCHIVAL COLLECTION OF DOCUMENTS AND MEMORIABILIA OF THE AMERICAN COASTER ENTHUSIASTS AND THE AMUSEMENT PARK INDUSTRY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1988.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.