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Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

EIN 23-2230742 · Strasburg, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FRIENDS OF THE RAILROAD MUSEUM'S PURPOSE IS TO AID, BENEFIT, AND HELP THE RAILROAD MUSEUM OF PENNYSLVANIA LOCATED IN STRASBURG, PA.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
10.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 42%
Employees
19
Volunteers
124
Highest pay
$96,371, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $631,766 spent. MUSEUM TOURS - SUPPORT THE RAILROAD MUSEUM OF PA BY CONDUCTING TOURS TO ENHANCE THE PUBLIC'S ENJOYMENT OF THE MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 86,300 VISITORS THIS YEAR. 1,200 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THE SCHOOL GROUP EDUCTIONAL PROGRAMS DURING THE YEAR.
  2. $120,174 spent. RESTORATION & PURCHASES OF RAILROAD EQUIPMENT - SUPPORT THE RAILROAD MUSEUM OF PA BY PURCHASING & RESTORING RAILROAD EQUIPMENT FOR DONATION TO THE MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM IS CURRENTLY LOCATED ON 18 ACRES OF LAND, INCLUDING OVER 100,000 SQUARE FEET FOR AN EXHIBIT HALL FOR THE INDOOR DISPLAY OF OVER 50 LOCOMOTIVES AND RAILROAD CARS. ADDITIONAL DISPLAYS ARE STORED OUTSIDE IN THE RESTORATION YARD AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING WHENEVER WEATHER, STAFFING, AND SAFETY CONDITIONS PERMIT. IN TOTAL, THERE ARE 95 LOCOMOTIVE AND RAILROAD CARS.
  3. $26,075 spent. FRIENDS OF THE RAILROAD MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP - SUPPORT THE RAILROAD MUSEUM OF PA BY PROVIDING MUSEUM EDUCATION, NEWS, AND INFORMATION TO MEMBERS OF FRIENDS OF THE RAILROAD MUSEUM. THE MILEPOST MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED 5 TIMES A YEAR BY THE FRIENDS OF THE RAILROAD MUSEUM AND DISTRIBUTED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE FRIENDS OF THE RAILROAD MUSEUM. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024, THERE WERE 1,373 MEMBERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 1984.

    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.

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