Auburn Automotive Heritage Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AUBURN AUTOMOTIVE HERITAGE, INC., DBA THE AUBURN CORD DUESENBERG AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM, AN EDUCATIONAL NONPROFIT 501(C)(3), IS AN ART DECO TREASURE, FAITHFULLY PRESENTING ITS ORIGINAL 1930'S GRANDEUR - A PLACE WHERE LANDMARK AUTOMOTIVE INNOVATION WAS ONCE A DAILY OCCURRENCE. IT IS THE ONLY AUTO MUSEUM ANYWHERE OCCUPYING AN AUTO MANUFACTURER'S INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS BUILDING. IT INCLUDES THE ACTUAL FACTORY SHOWROOM, DESIGN STUDIOS AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES OF AN AMERICAN THOROUGHBRED AUTO MAKER. IN THE MUSEUM BUILDING, THE DESIGNERS, INNOVATORS AND ENGINEERS WORKED. IT IS NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT AS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING EXAMPLES OF AN INDEPENDENT SPECIALTY AUTOMOBILE COMPANY THAT MADE HAND-ASSEMBLED RATHER THAN MASS-PRODUCED AUTOMOBILES. SINCE THEIR INCEPTION, AUTOMOBILES DESIGNED AND BUILT HERE ARE HIGHLY PRIZED AROUND THE WORLD. THE MUSEUM NOT ONLY HONORS THREE EXTRAORDINARY MOTORCARS FROM AMERICA'S AUTOMOTIVE GOLDEN AGE - THE AUBURN, CORD AND DUESENBERG - BUT ALSO DOZENS OF OTHER
- Income
- $3.2 million
- Spending
- $2.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 28.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 67%
- Employees
- 41
- Volunteers
- 71
- Highest pay
- $150,949, ceo
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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 28.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 2517 of 18 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
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $1.8 million spent. ADMISSIONS PROVIDED 40,771 VISITORS AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE VIEWING THE COLLECTION, EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS IN THE NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK BUILDING 362 DAYS OF THE YEAR. THE MUSEUM IS ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS.
- $219,315 spent. THE MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO SPECIAL EVENTS OFFERED BY THE MUSEUM AND IT IS AVAILABLE FOR GROUPS TO HOLD BANQUETS AND MEETINGS AND TOURING THE MUSEUM.
- $146,084 spent. THE MUSEUM STORE PROVIDES MISSION RELATED PRODUCTS FOR VISITORS TO PURCHASE. THEY INCLUDE BOOKS, MODELS, CLOTHING, LITERATURE AND OTHER ITEMS, ALL RELATING TO AUTOMOBILES OR THE MUSEUM.
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
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 2025.
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 June 1973.
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.