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Automotive Hall of Fame Inc

EIN 38-3320345 · Dearborn, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES AND MAINTAINS A HALL OF FAME AS A TRIBUTE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY. IT PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS, WHICH ARE USED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO AUTOMOTIVE STUDENTS AT THE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY LEVEL. HONORS AND CELEBRATES TEH ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE INTERNATIONAL MOTOR VEHICLE INDUSTRY THROUGH AWARDS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT CHALLENGE YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE TO HIGHER LEVELS OF PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
17
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$136,390, vp of business development

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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 67% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    44 of 44 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

    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 (4)
  1. $680,883 spent. INDUCTION CEREMONY - THE INDUCTION CEREMONY IS AN ANNUAL AWARD EVENT TO RECOGNIZE A MEMBER IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY.
  2. $468,010 spent. HALL OF FAME - THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES AND MAINTAINS A HALL OF FAME AS A TRIBUTE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY.
  3. $255,130 spent. FACILITY RENTALS - IN 2025, THE AUTOMOTIVE HALL OF FAME MADE ITS FACILITY AVAILABLE FOR MEETINGS, RECEPTIONS, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, INDUSTRY GATHERINGS, AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED APPROXIMATELY 12 FACILITY RENTALS SERVING AN ESTIMATED 600 ATTENDEES. USERS INCLUDED AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFIT AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESSES, AND PRIVATE EVENT HOSTS.THE FACILITY RENTAL PROGRAM EXPANDED PUBLIC AND ORGANIZATIONAL ACCESS TO THE AUTOMOTIVE HALL OF FAME AND INTRODUCED NEW AUDIENCES TO ITS MISSION, EXHIBITIONS, AND AUTOMOTIVE HERITAGE RESOURCES. EVENTS HELD AT THE FACILITY ALSO PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDUSTRY CONVENING, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION, AND RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING. REVENUE GENERATED THROUGH FACILITY RENTALS HELPED SUPPORT THE OPERATION AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE HALL OF FAME'S MUSEUM, PROGRAMS, AND COLLECTIONS.
  4. $5,000 spent. AUTOMOTIVE EDUCATION - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS, WHICH ARE USED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO AUTORMOTIVE STUDENTS AT THE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY LEVEL.

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 June 1997.

    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.