Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Train Collectors Association

EIN 23-7318578 · Strasburg, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 47% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO DEVELOP AN APPRECIATION OF AND TO PRESERVE AN IMORTANT SEGMENT OF HISTORY - TINPLATE TOY TRAINS - THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, FELLOWSHIP, ESTABLISHMENT OF COLLECTING STANDARDS, AND TO PROMOTE THE GROWTH AND ENJOYMENT OF COLLECTING AND OPERATING TOY, MODEL, AND SCALE TRAINS

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
48%
Reserves
55.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
14
Volunteers
39
Highest pay
$62,156, business man

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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 55.3 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 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    47% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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

    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 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 (5)
  1. $135,424 spent. THE TCA CREATED AND DISTRIBUTED PUBLICATIONS TO OVER 25,000 MEMBERS IN TWENTY DIVISIONS IN THE US AND INTERNATIONALLY. THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE EDUCATIONAL IN NATURE AND PROMOTE TINPLATE TOY TRAIN COLLECTING.
  2. $470,306 spent. THE TCA INCURRED OPERATING COSTS TO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND THE MUSEUM'S DISPLAYS AND COLLECTIONS OF TINPLATE TOY TRAINS. VISITORS TO THE MUSEUM NUMBERED APPROXIMATELY 22,100.
  3. $2,220 spent. THE TCA OPERATES A LIBRARY FOR THE EDUCATION AND PRESERVING THE HISTORY OF TINPLATE TRAIN COLLECTING.
  4. THE ASSOCIATION IS ORGANIZED FOR THE PURPOSE OF COLLECTING AND OPERATING TINPLATE TRAINS, PRESERVING AND EXHIBITING THESE ITEMS FOR THEIR HISTORIC VALUE, AND PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS TO MEMBERS, HISTORIANS, AND THE PUBLIC.
  5. THE ASSOCIATION IS ORGANIZED FOR THE PURPOSE OF COLLECTING AND OPERATING TINPLATE TRAINS, PRESERVING AND EXHIBITING THESE ITEMS FOR THEIR HISTORIC VALUE, AND PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS TO MEMBERS, HISTORIANS, AND THE PUBLIC.

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 November 6, 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 May 1975.

    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 November 4, 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.