Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Inc

EIN 04-6045668 · University Pk, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO COLLECT, INTERPRET, PRESERVE AND DISSEMINATE INFORMATION RELATING TO RAILROAD HISTORY. THE SOCIETY MAINTAINS ARCHIVES AT A PROMINENT MUSEUM AND PUBLISHES "JOURNAL OF RAILROAD HISTORY" TWICE ANNUALLY.

Income
$517,646
Spending
$144,425
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 85%
Employees
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 72% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 64 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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

    6 of 15

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

  • 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, 2024, 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. "JOURNAL OF RAILROAD HISTORY" WAS PUBLISHED TWICE IN 2024. MEMBERS RECEIVE THE BOOK AS A MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT. SOME COPIES ARE SOLD. BACK ISSUES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO MEMBERS AND OTHERS. A SMALL AMOUNT OF ADVERTISING REVENUE IS DERIVED FROM ORGANIZATIONS PROMOTING RAILROAD HISTORICAL SERVICES AND MEDIA.
  2. $51,395 spent. THE RAILWAY & LOCOMOTIVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS PROUD TO SPONSOR SCHOLARSHIPS TO PROMOTE THE STUDY, AT A PROFESSIONAL ACADEMIC LEVEL, OF RAILROAD HISTORY AND OPERATIONS. BOTH ADVANCED UNDERGRADUATES (3RD AND 4TH YEAR) AND GRADUATE STUDENTS MAY APPLY. SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS MUST BE ENROLLED, AT AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY IN A DEGREE-SEEKING PROGRAM IN THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO STUDENTS MAJORING IN HISTORY, TRANSPORTATION/TRANSPORTATION LOGISTICS, OR OTHER MAJORS WHERE THE STUDENT'S WORK HAS A DEMONSTRATED CONNECTION TO RAILROAD OPERATIONS, ENGINEERING, OR HISTORY
  3. $52,181 spent. THE SOCIETY HAS AN AWARDS PROGRAM THAT RESEARCHES DISTINGUISHED RAILROAD PUBLICATIONS (BOOKS, ARTICLES, PHOTOGRAPHY) AND SENIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF RAILROAD HISTORY. AN HONORARIUM OF 250 IS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE AWARDS.
  4. $5,503 spent. OTHER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 January 1955.

    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.