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Illinois Railway Museum

EIN 36-6108196 · Union, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AS TO OUR NATION'S RAILROAD AND RAILWAY HISTORY BY COLLECTING, PRESERVING, AND RESTORING ROLLING STOCK, ARTIFACTS, STRUCTURES, AND RELATED TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT FOR DISPLAY TO THE PUBLIC; EXHIBITING AND OPERATING RESTORED ROLLING STOCK AND EQUIPMENT ON A DEMONSTRATION RAIL LINE; AND COLLECTING, PRESERVING, AND MAINTAINING A REFERENCE LIBRARY OF PUBLICATIONS, TECHNICAL INFORMATION, AND OTHER MATERIALS REGARDING RAILROADS, RAILWAYS, AND RELATED FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION FOR RESEARCH AND OTHER PURPOSES.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
20.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
44
Volunteers
350
Highest pay
$71,240, director/gm facilities (thru mar 2025)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 September 30, 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 (2)
  1. $2.2 million spent. PUBLIC OPENING, DISPLAY, OPERATION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION OF RAILROAD EQUIPMENT AND MEMORABILIA TO FURTHER PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF RAILROADS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY. COSTS INCLUDE THOSE INCURRED BY THE ELECTRIC CAR, DIESEL, STEAM, STEAM PASSENGER COACH AND TROLLEY BUS DEPARTMENTS IN RESTORING AND MAINTAINING THE COLLECTION AS WELL AS THE MAINTENANCE OF THE SITE.
  2. SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS AND EVENTS, WITH A STRONG RAILROAD THEME, INCLUDING "DAYS OUT WITH THOMAS", "HAPPY HOLIDAY RAILWAY AND THE "BUNNY TROLLEY HOP". CONTINUED STRONG ATTENDANCE AT ALL EVENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE THAT PEOPLE INITIALLY ATTENDING THESE EVENTS SUBSEQUENTLY RETURN FOR OUR CORE MUSEUM ACTIVITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1957.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.