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Studebaker National Museum Inc

EIN 35-1555535 · South Bend, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BE A CENTER FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF HISTORY, DESIGN, AND INNOVATION THAT CONNECTS AND INSPIRES THE COMMUNITY AND ENTHUSIASTS AROUND THE WORLD. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH PROGRAMMING, ACTIVE COLLECTING, AND THE DISPLAY OF VEHICLES, ARCHIVAL MATERIALS, AND ARTIFACTS THAT SHOWCASE THE LOCAL AND GLOBAL INFLUENCE OF STUDEBAKER AND RELATED INDUSTRIAL INNOVATORS.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
24
Volunteers
78
Highest pay
$112,959, executive di

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

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 31 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, 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 (1)
  1. $951,294 spent. TO COLLECT, PRESERVE AND INTERPRET A COLLECTION OF VEHICLES, ARCHIVES, AND ARTIFACTS THAT TELL THE STORY OF THE STUDEBAKER CORPORATION AND INDUSTRIAL HISTORY OF THE SOUTH BEND REGION. IN 2023, THE MUSEUM COLLECTION CONSISTS OF 135 HISTORIC VEHICLES, WHICH INCLUDE EIGHT VEHICLES DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL TREASURES. THE COLLECTION ALSO INCLUDES MORE THAN 6,000 OBJECTS, 70 TONS OF STUDEBAKER CORPORATE ARCHIVAL MATERIAL, AND 150 HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL OBJECTS. OUR FACILITIES ARE COMPRISED OF MORE THAN 35,000 SQUARE FEET OF EXHIBITION SPACE AND 10,000 SQUARE FEET OF STORAGE SPACE. STAFF MEMBERS CURATE NEW PERMANENT COLLECTION DISPLAYS, TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING WHICH PROVIDE CONTEXT AND RELEVANCE FOR OUR GUESTS. EACH YEAR, THE MUSEUM WELCOMES MORE THAN 40,000 GUESTS THROUGH ITS DOORS AND REACHES MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THROUGH ITS DIGITAL PROGRAMMING. THE MUSEUM IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ITS WORLD-CLASS COLLECTION AND PROGRAMMING DAYS THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE "MUSEUMS FOR ALL", "BLUE STAR MUSEUMS", AND A NUMBER OF FREE COMMUNITY DAYS PER YEAR. TO COLLECT, PRESERVE AND INTERPRET A COLLECTION OF VEHICLES, ARCHIVES, AND ARTIFACTS THAT TELL THE STORY OF THE STUDEBAKER CORPORATION AND INDUSTRIAL HISTORY OF THE SOUTH BEND REGION. IN 2023, THE MUSEUM COLLECTION CONSISTS OF 135 HISTORIC VEHICLES, WHICH INCLUDE EIGHT VEHICLES DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL TREASURES. THE COLLECTION ALSO INCLUDES MORE THAN 6,000 OBJECTS, 70 TONS OF STUDEBAKER CORPORATE ARCHIVAL MATERIAL, AND 150 HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL OBJECTS. OUR FACILITIES ARE COMPRISED OF MORE THAN 35,000 SQUARE FEET OF EXHIBITION SPACE AND 10,000 SQUARE FEET OF STORAGE SPACE. STAFF MEMBERS CURATE NEW PERMANENT COLLECTION DISPLAYS, TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING WHICH PROVIDE CONTEXT AND RELEVANCE FOR OUR GUESTS. EACH YEAR, THE MUSEUM WELCOMES MORE THAN 40,000 GUESTS THROUGH ITS DOORS AND REACHES MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THROUGH ITS DIGITAL PROGRAMMING. THE MUSEUM IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ITS WORLD-CLASS COLLECTION AND PROGRAMMING DAYS THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE "MUSEUMS FOR ALL", "BLUE STAR MUSEUMS", AND A NUMBER OF FREE COMMUNITY DAYS PER YEAR.

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

  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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 November 1983.

    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 October 21, 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.