Historical Construction Equipment Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE CONSTRUCTION, SURFACE MINING, DREDGING EQUIPMENT INDUSTRIES AND TO SHARE THE HISTORY WITH THE PUBLIC BY PRODUCING A PERIODIC PUBLICATION SPONSORING/PROMOTING CONVENTIONS/SHOWS AND MAINTAINING A PUBLIC ARCHIVE & LIBRARY RELATED TO THE INDUSTRY
- Income
- $920,962
- Spending
- $245,759
- Spent on programs
- 52%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 17
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 73% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 104% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1552% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 75 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 254347 of 4350 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 (4)
- $67,571 spent. PUBLISH QUARTERLY MAGAZINE ( EQUIPMENT ECHOS) FOR EACH MEMEBER. PERIODICAL HAS ARTICLES ON HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT, HISTORICAL INVENTORY, ENGINEER & BUILDER BIOGRAPHIES, CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES, AND MACHINERY. INCLDUES EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES, PHOTOS, TECHNICAL AND HISTORICAL INFORMATION,AND NEWS OF THE CONSTRUCTIONAND MINING EQUIPMENT INDUTRIES. APPROXIMATELY 3,800 ISSUES PUBLISHED QUARTERLY.
- $58,292 spent. SALE OF MERCHANDISE,VIDEOS,ETC PROMOTING HISTORIC EQUIPMENT KNOWLEDGE. ABOUT 15,000 SOLD ANNUALLY
- $768 spent. ARCHIVE AND RESEARCH; MAINTAIN LIBRARY OF HISTORIC BOOKS, SALES LITERATURE, BUILDER BIOGRPAHIES, REPORTS, FILMS AND ALL TYPES OF DOCUMENTS AND MATERIALS RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION, SURFACE MINING, AND DREDGING INDUSTRIES. MAINTAIN MUSEUM OF HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT VINTAGE CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND AN EQUIPMENT RESTORATION SHOP. ARCHIVIST HAS ABOUT 300 REQUESTS PER YEAR. MUSEUM HAS OVER 100 VISITORS ANNUALLY. AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP CONVENTION WHERE MEMBERS EXHIBIT AND DEMONSTRATE VINTAGE CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT. SHOWS ARE HELD AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS EACH YEAR TO INCREASE MEMBER PARTICIPATION AND PUBLIC EXPOSURE. THIS YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 2,500 PEOPLE FROM THE PUBLIC AND MEMEBRSHIP ATTENDED. OTHER PROGRAM EXPENDITURES INCURRED IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE MUSEUM, PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE CONSTRUCTION, SURFACE MINING, DREDGING EQUIPMENT INDUSTRIES AND TO SHARE THE HISTORY WITH THE PUBLIC.
- FORM 990, PART III LINE 4D:- (GRANTS- $1000)EDUCATION AWARDS ARE AVAILABLE ANNUALLY TO HCEA MEMBERS AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS TO ATTEND AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR UNIVERISTY ENGINEERING PROGRAM ( REVENUE-$0 )
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1989.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.