Military Aviation Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MILITARY AVIATION MUSEUM HONORS THE HEROES WHO BUILT, FLEW AND MAINTAINED AMERICA'S MILITARY AIRCRAFT. BY SHARING THEIR STORIES THROUGH EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS, WE PROMOTE AN UNDERSTANDING OF HISTORY, SCIENCE, SERVICE AND SACRIFICE THAT WILL INSPIRE AND EDUCATE VISITORS OF ALL AGES.
- Income
- $3.1 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 8.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 45%
- Employees
- 38
- Volunteers
- 313
- Highest pay
- $81,301, executive director
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 93% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% 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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2531 of 31 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $1.9 million spent. TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE HISTORY OF MILITARY AVIATION FROM THE FIRST HALF OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. IT ACCOMPLISHES THIS BY OPERATING A MUSEUM OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SEVEN DAYS A WEEK YEAR-ROUND (EXCLUDING THANKSGIVING DAY AND CHRISTMAS DAY). VISITORS CAN SEE THE RESTORED AND REPLICA AIRCRAFT UP CLOSE ON STATIC DISPLAY AND LEARN ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL HISTORIES AND USES DURING THE WARS BY READING SIGNAGE AND TALKING WITH VOLUNTEER MUSEUM DOCENTS.
- $76,158 spent. ONE OF THE INTERACTIVE WAYS THE MUSEUM EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ON THE HISTORIC MILITARY AIRCRAFT IS BY HOSTING TWO AIR SHOWS EACH YEAR. THE SPRING AIR SHOW FEATURES AN AUTHENTIC, RESTORED WORLD WAR TWO AIRCRAFT FLYING AND ON STATIC DISPLAY. THE FALL AIR SHOW FEATURES A REPLICA WORLD WAR ONE AIRCRAFT FLYING AND ON STATIC DISPLAY. BOTH EVENTS ALSO INCLUDE MILITARY RE-ENACTORS FROM THE DIFFERENT PERIODS IN HISTORY, WHO INTERACT WITH ATTENDEES AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THE PILOTS, GROUND CREW, AND OTHER SOLDIERS ENDURED DURING THE WARS.
- THE MUSEUM ALSO OFFERS A MONTHLY GUEST SPEAKER SERIES TO THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS FREE WITH PAID MUSEUM ADMISSION. EACH MONTH, DIFFERENT RETIRED MILITARY PERSONNEL GIVE A TALK ABOUT HIS OR HER EXPERIENCES WITH MILITARY AVIATION DURING WORLD WAR TWO AND IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING. THESE PRESENTATIONS GIVE VISITORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW THE HISTORY MORE INTIMATELY BY WAY OF THE PERSONAL STORIES TOLD BY PILOTS, NAVIGATORS, GUNNERS, GROUND CREW AND TRAINERS. THE MUSEUM TYPICALLY FOLLOWS THE LECTURE WITH A FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION OF ONE OF THE MUSEUM'S AIRCRAFT.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2008.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.