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Midway Village & Museum Center

EIN 23-7237720 · Rockford, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MIDWAY VILLAGE, THE BEST INSTITUTION FOR COLLECTING, PRESERVING AND INTERPRETING THE HISTORY OF THE ROCKFORD REGION, IS COMMITTED TO EDUCATING AND ENRICHING OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING STATE OF THE ART EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS, AND EVENTS.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
10.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 45%
Employees
63
Volunteers
401
Highest pay
$96,896, executive directors

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 10

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

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $1.4 million spent. MIDWAY VILLAGE COLLECTS, PRESERVES AND INTERPRETS THE HISTORY OF THE ROCKFORD REGION AND IS COMMITTED TO EDUCATING AND ENRICHING OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING STATE OF THE ART EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS, AND EVENTS. SET ON A PICTURESQUE, 137-ACRE CAMPUS, MIDWAY VILLAGE IS HOME TO OVER 100,000 ARTIFACTS DATING BACK TO THE 1830S; WHEN ROCKFORD WAS FOUNDED. THE VILLAGE HOSTS MANY HISTORY THEMED PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR ALL AGES COVERING TIME PERIODS FROM EARLY PIONEER SETTLEMENT THROUGH WORLD WAR II. OUR STAFF PRIDE THEMSELVES IN PROVIDING QUALITY HISTORY PROGRAMS THAT ARE INTERACTIVE AND HANDS-ON WHENEVER POSSIBLE TO INTERPRET THE RICH HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS REGION.
  2. $45,682 spent. ONE OF THE LARGEST EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM EVENTS IS WORLD WAR II DAYS WHICH INCLUDES ELABORATE AND REALISTIC BATTLES COMPLETE WITH TANKS, ARTILLERY, ARMORED VEHICLES, AND EXCITING PYROTECHNIC DISPLAYS. THIS EVENT IS THE LARGEST WORLD WAR II ERA RE-ENACTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES WITH OVER 1,000 UNIFORMED RE-ENACTORS FROM 40 STATES REPRESENTING SOLDIERS FROM THE UNITED STATES, GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, POLAND, UKRAINE, RUSSIA, JAPAN, ITALY AND GERMANY ALONG WITH 70 TO 80 VINTAGE TANKS, HALFTRACKS AND OTHER 1940S ERA MILITARY VEHICLES. VISITORS EXPERIENCE, ELABORATE 1940S DISPLAYS IN HISTORICAL BUILDINGS ON THE MUSEUM PROPERTY ACTING AS THE BACK DROP OF A EUROPEAN VILLAGE DURING WORLD WAR II, ENCAMPMENTS OF ALLIED AND AXIS TROOPS IN THE MIDWAY VILLAGE WOODS AND REALISTIC SKIRMISHES INTEGRATED IN THE HISTORIC VILLAGE, PACIFIC THEATER BATTLES IN THE WOODS WITH SOLDIERS DRESSED AS U.S. MARINES AND JAPANESE INFANTRY, GERMAN CAVALRY SCENES, AND SOLDIERS BASE CAMPS FILLED WITH PERIOD VEHICLES, TENTS AND ARTIFACTS.
  3. CIVIL WAR HANDS ON HISTORY PROGRAM IS AN AWARD-WINNING EDUCATIONAL EVENT SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO MEET THE CURRICULUM STANDARDS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 5TH THROUGH 8TH. MIDWAY VILLAGE MUSEUMS CAMPUS MAKES THIS AN EXCEPTIONAL FIELD TRIP DESTINATION WITH MORE THAN 25 HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND FROM 40 TO 50 DIFFERENT LIVING HISTORY SITES OFFERED EACH DAY. THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO PRIVATE OR HOME SCHOOLS FROM NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND SOUTHERN WISCONSIN. STUDENTS CAN MEET FAMOUS PEOPLE LIKE PRESIDENT & MRS. LINCOLN, FREDERICK DOUGLASS, CLARA BARTON, GENERAL U. S. GRANT AND MANY OTHERS, EXPERIENCE BEING A SOLDIER, INCLUDING MARCHING AND DRILLING, OPERATE CIVIL WAR ERA ARTILLERY, VISIT THE 1850S BARN TO LEARN ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, TAKE SCHOOL LESSONS IN A ONE ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE, LEARN ABOUT THE ART OF BLACKSMITHING, AND EXPERIENCE MANY OTHER LIFESTYLES AND CAREERS DURING THAT ERA.

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 December 1973.

    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.