Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Rosenberg Railroad Museum Inc

EIN 31-1656988 · Rosenberg, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE RAILROAD MUSEUM IS TO PRESERVE RAILROAD HISTORY AND ITS IMPACT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, AND TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ENGAGING HISTORY AND SCIENCE PROGRAMS.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$508,104
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
-4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
20
Volunteers
237
Highest pay
$82,672, 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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 51% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 148% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% 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

    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 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 (3)
  1. $149,098 spent. THE MUSEUM SERVICES PROGRAM INCLUDES THE PRESERVATION AND INTERPRETATION OF RAILROADING HISTORY THROUGH BOTH PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY EXHIBITS. GUESTS RECEIVE GUIDED TOURS AS PART OF THE ADMISSION. TOURS INCLUDE THE MUSEUM'S MAJOR EXHIBITS: MODEL RAILROADING DISPLAYS, SIX HISTORIC RAIL CARS AND A 1903 INTERLOCKER SWITCHING TOWER. DISCOUNTS ARE OFFERED FOR SENIOR ADULTS OVER 65, ACTIVE MILITARY AND VETERANS. IN FY 2025, 8,052 INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCED THE MUSEUM THROUGH MUSEUM PROGRAM SERVICES.
  2. $182,204 spent. MULTI- DISCIPLINARY MUSEUM EDUCATION PROGRAMS EXPLORE BOTH HISTORY AND STEM TOPICS WHILE CATERING TO A WIDE AUDIENCE, FROM CHILDREN TO ADULTS. PROGRAMS ARE DELIVERED TO YOUTH THROUGH SCOUT MERIT BADGE CLASSES, WIG WAG PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS, SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, FREE COMMUNITY DAYS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS AND TEENS. IN FY 2025, THERE WERE 4,949 INDIVIDUALS SERVED BY EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND 1,165 VOLUNTEER SHIFTS.
  3. $58,451 spent. MUSEUM SPECIAL PROGRAMS ARE FUN AND ENGAGING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE MUSEUM. THESE PROGRAMS VARY FROM SPECIAL EXHIBIT ACTIVITIES AND THEMED EXHIBITS TO SEASONAL FESTIVALS AND EVENTS. SPECIAL FUN DAYS FEATURED THEMED DAYS WITH SPECIALTY TRAINS RUNNING ON THE LAYOUTS (FOR EXAMPLE: MILITARY APPRECIATION, THOMAS AND FRIENDS, STEAM ENGINES, AND CIRCUS). RAIL FEST WAS THE 2025 FESTIVAL THAT PROVIDED A DAY OF FAMILY FUN WITH A BOUNCE HOUSE, ACTIVITIES, AND EXHIBIT OPEN HOUSE AND KID PLAY ZONES. PRIVATE TOURS AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES WITH TOURS ARE AN EDUCATIONAL AND CREATIVE WAY TO CELEBRATE. IN 2025, OVER 2,626 INDIVIDUALS WERE ATTRACTED TO THE MUSEUM FOR SPECIAL PROGRAMS.

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 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 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 December 1999.

    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.