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Rickenbacker-Woods Technology Museum and Historical Park Inc

EIN 05-0590212 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceWeak49 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO OPERATE DA TECHNOLOGY MUSEUM, HISTORICAL PARK, EDUCATION CENTER AND AUXILIARY FACILITIES TO PROMOTE AN UNDERSTANDING OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE AS A MEANS OF INNOVATION, PROBLEM SOLVING ADN SOCIAL PROGRESS.

Income
$316,908
Spending
$298,523
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
0
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$50,720, president

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 57% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% 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

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $286,389 spent. Creators, Originators, and Innovators of Tomorrow Workforce Initiative (COITWI): The COITWI program operates as a six-month workforce development and violence prevention initiative for high school students in Columbus. Through paid internships, participants engage in hands-on projects that build leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills while promoting positive alternatives to youth violence. Activities include designing community gardens, producing public art such as murals and quilts, organizing civic events, and leading field trips to cultural, educational, and historic institutions across Ohio. By blending STEAM-based learning with community engagement, COITWI provides students with real-world experiences that enhance their mental capacity, address insecurities, and prepare them for higher education and the workforce, while also generating measurable cost savings to the community by reducing risks associated with youth incarceration. Summer Adventure Camp: The Rickenbacker Woods Foundation's Summer Adventure Camp serves elementary and middle school youth with a focus on STEAM exploration, literacy, and social-emotional learning. The camp operates daily over the summer months, providing participants with structured activities such as science experiments, art projects, reading enrichment, and physical fitness. Field trips to museums, parks, and cultural sites further broaden students' horizons, while guest instructors introduce innovative programs in areas like digital animation, robotics, and storytelling. The camp also emphasizes inclusion, offering a safe and welcoming environment for children of all abilities, including those with autism and ADHD, who are often excluded from other programs. With daily meals provided and a strong emphasis on creativity, teamwork, and confidence-building, the Summer Adventure Camp enriches young lives while strengthening families and the wider community.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2017.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.