Mid-Continent Railway Historical Society Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 40% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC BY RECREATING AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE THE GOLDEN YEARS OF RAILROADS, FROM THE CIVIL WAR DAYS UNTIL AFTER WORLD WAR II, BY OPERATING A LIVING RAILROAD WITH VINTAGE EQUIPMENT FROM THOSE TIMES. WE WILL COLLECT, PRESERVE, RESTORE, AND OPERATE ARTIFACTS FROM THOSE TIMES SO AS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF RAILROADING FROM WOODEN EQUIPMENT TO STEEL, AND FROM STEAM POWER TO INTERNAL COMBUSTION. WE WILL GIVE OUR VISITORS A FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE ON THIS EQUIPMENT. WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO ACCURATELY PORTRAY THIS GOLDEN AGE.
- Income
- $328,131
- Spending
- $171,071
- Spent on programs
- 40%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 52%
- Employees
- 16
- Volunteers
- 70
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
Good: 70 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 48% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 80% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1540% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 91 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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.
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 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)
- $68,488 spent. TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC BY OFFERING EDUCATIONAL DEMONSTRATION RIDES FOR MUSEUM VISITORS, OFFERING SPECIAL EVENTS CENTERED ON HISTORIC AND SEASONAL THEMES, HOSTING GUIDED TOURS OF RESTORED RAILCARS AND OPEN HOUSES SHOWCASING ONGOING RESTORATION PROJECTS, AND OTHER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE SOCIETY PROVIDES.THE SOCIETY CONTINUED ITS PROGRAM SERVICES BY 1) OFFERING EDUCATIONAL DEMONSTRATION RIDES FOR MUSEUM VISITORS IN ITS VINTAGE RAILROAD EQUIPMENT, 2) PROVIDING TOURS THROUGH HISTORIC RAILROAD EQUIPMENT THAT HAS BEEN RESTORED OR IS UNDERGOING RESTORATION, 3) PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN HISTORIC RAILROAD OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE PRACTICES THROUGH ITS VOLUNTEER TRAINING PROGRAMS, BY PUBLISHING INFORMATION TO THE MUSEUM'S PUBLICALLY AVAILABLE WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA, AS WELL AS A MEMBER MAGAZINE AND MEMBER NEWSLETTER. IN 2024, MID-CONTINENT RAILWAY MUSEUM OPERATED ITS HISTORIC TRAINS ON 108 DAYS AND WELCOMED 19,286 VISITORS FOR A ONE HOUR DEMONSTRATION RIDE ABOARD THE TRAINS. NEARLY 1,100 OF THOSE VISITORS CAME AS PART OF SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, HELPING EDUCATORS PROVIDE AN IMMERSIVE HISTORY LESSON FOR THEIR STUDENTS.THE SOCIETY CONTINUES TO IMPROVE ITS COLLECTION BY ADVANCING RESTORATION WORK ON NUMEROUS ANTIQUE RAILCARS AND LOCOMOTIVES, INCLUDING A 1907 STEAM LOCOMOTIVE, A 1902 SLEEPING CAR, AN 1864 COACH-BAGGAGE CAR, AND A 1925 GAS-ELECTRIC MOTOR CAR.TO ALLOW THE CONTINUED FUTURE SAFE AND RELIABLE OPERATIONS, THE SOCIETY IS MAKING SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN ITS 4-MILE RAIL LINE, INCLUDING A MAJOR RAIL REPLACEMENT AND LINE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
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
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 October 2024.
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 December 1961.
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.