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Niagara Aerospace Museum

EIN 16-1419013 · Niagara Falls, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE THE MEMORY AND SPIRIT OF WESTERN NEW YORK AEROSPACE WORKERS AND PIONEERS BY SAFEKEEPING THE ARTIFACTS OF THEIR HERITAGE. THE ARTIFACTS ARE DISPLAYED IN A MANNER WHICH INSTRUCTS, EDUCATES, AND ENTERTAINS THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND ENCOURAGES INTEREST IN AVIATION AND SPACE FLIGHT IN GENERAL.

Income
$210,961
Spending
$316,345
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
5
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$87,861, executive director

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

Fair: 55 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 50% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% 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: 59 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $237,919 spent. DURING 2025 THE MUSEUM WELCOMED OVER 2,860 VISITORS TO ITS RECENTLY RENOVATED EXHIBITION SPACE. THE MUSEUM IS HOME TO AN IRREPLACABLE COLLECTION OF OVER 100 YEARS OF AVIATION AND AEROSPACE HISTORY STARTING WITH THE WRIGHT BROTHERS. THIS COMMUNITY DISPLAY IS NOT ONLY DESIGNED TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE HISTORIC ARTIFACTS BUT TO EDUCATE PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF THE IMPACT AVIATION HAS ON OUR LIVES. KNOWLEDGEABLE DOCENTS PROVIDE PERSONALLY GUIDED TOURS TO GUESTS AND THE MUSEUM REGULARLY HOSTS FIELD TRIPS FOR SCIENCE, MATH AND ENGINEERING CLASSES AS WELL AS VETERANS AND RESIDENTS OF RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES. THE MUSEUM HAS PARTNERED WITH THE BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THEIR STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH) PROGRAM TO PROVIDE A VENUE FOR HANDS ON LEARNING.

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 November 1992.

    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.