Rancho Obi-Wan Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
RANCHO OBI-WAN IS A CULTURAL INSTITUTION WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO INSPIRE AND SERVE THE WORLD THROUGH THE COLLECTION, PRESERVATION, EXHIBITION AND INTERPRETATION OF STAR WARS MEMORABILIA AND ARTIFACTS. USING THESE OBJECTS WE PROVIDE MEANINGFUL EDUCATIONAL, AESTHETIC, INTELLECTUAL AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES FOR A WIDE ARRAY OF AUDIENCES.
- Income
- $539,616
- Spending
- $367,058
- Spent on programs
- 60%
- Reserves
- -5.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 74
- Highest pay
- $38,368, president/ce
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
Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 140% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1560% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 9 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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, 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 (1)
- $219,578 spent. RANCHO OBI-WAN IS A PUBLICLY SUPPORTED, NONPROFIT MUSEUM IN PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA THAT HOUSES THE WORLDS LARGEST STAR WARS MEMORABILIA COLLECTION, AS CERTIFIED BY GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS IN 2014. OUR MISSION IS TO SERVE THE WORLD THROUGH THE COLLECTION, CONSERVATION, EXHIBITION AND INTERPRETATION OF STAR WARS MEMORABILIA AND ARTIFACTS, USING THE COLLECTION TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL EDUCATIONAL, AESTHETIC, INTELLECTUAL AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES FOR A WIDE ARRAY OF AUDIENCES AND TO CARRY OUT OTHER CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GOAL.OUR MUSEUM PROGRAM INCLUDES GIVING DOCENT-LED TOURS. PAID TOURS ARE SCHEDULED IN ADVANCE FROM OUR WEBSITE AND ARE CONDUCTED MOSTLY ON SATURDAYS OR OTHER DAYS AS DOCENTS ARE AVAILABLE. FREE TOURS FOR SCHOOL GROUPS ARE OFFERED AND DONATIONS OF TOURS TO HELP OTHER CHARITIES FUNDRAISE ARE MANAGED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. DURING TOURS DOCENTS DISCUSS THE HISTORY OF PARTICULAR ITEMS, THE CULTURAL IMPACT OF STAR WARS, AND WAYS TO PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS STAR WARS RELATED COMMUNITIES. THEY ALSO EXPLORE THE HISTORY AND TECHNIQUES OF MOVIE-MAKING, DESCRIBE DIFFERENT STYLES OF ART AND ART TRADITIONS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, AND OFFER SUGGESTIONS FOR INCORPORATING THE JOY AND POSITIVITY OF THEIR FANDOM IN THEIR OWN LIVES AND SPREADING THOSE FEELINGS OF GOOD WILL TO OTHERS.RANCHO OBI-WAN ALSO CREATES SMALL INSPIRATIONAL TRAVELING EXHIBITS FROM THE COLLECTION TO BE PRESENTED AT VARIOUS VENUES FOR DIFFERENT LENGTHS OF TIME.IN OCTOBER, 2024 RANCHO OBI-WAN ANNOUNCED OUR INTENTION TO MERGE WITH THREE OTHER LARGE COLLECTIONS AND BUILD A NEW, LARGE PUBLIC MUSEUM CALLED THE SAGA MUSEUM OF STAR WARS MEMORABILIA. FUNDRAISING FOR THIS INITIATIVE HAS COMMENCED AND WILL BE A CONTINUING PROJECT UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW MUSEUM. RANCHO OBI-WAN IS A PUBLICLY SUPPORTED, NONPROFIT MUSEUM IN PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA THAT HOUSES THE WORLDS LARGEST STAR WARS MEMORABILIA COLLECTION, AS CERTIFIED BY GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS IN 2014. OUR MISSION IS TO SERVE THE WORLD THROUGH THE COLLECTION, CONSERVATION, EXHIBITION AND INTERPRETATION OF STAR WARS MEMORABILIA AND ARTIFACTS, USING THE COLLECTION TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL EDUCATIONAL, AESTHETIC, INTELLECTUAL AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES FOR A WIDE ARRAY OF AUDIENCES AND TO CARRY OUT OTHER CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GOAL.OUR MUSEUM PROGRAM INCLUDES GIVING DOCENT-LED TOURS. PAID TOURS ARE SCHEDULED IN ADVANCE FROM OUR WEBSITE AND ARE CONDUCTED MOSTLY ON SATURDAYS OR OTHER DAYS AS DOCENTS ARE AVAILABLE. FREE TOURS FOR SCHOOL GROUPS ARE OFFERED AND DONATIONS OF TOURS TO HELP OTHER CHARITIES FUNDRAISE ARE MANAGED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. DURING TOURS DOCENTS DISCUSS THE HISTORY OF PARTICULAR ITEMS, THE CULTURAL IMPACT OF STAR WARS, AND WAYS TO PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS STAR WARS RELATED COMMUNITIES. THEY ALSO EXPLORE THE HISTORY AND TECHNIQUES OF MOVIE-MAKING, DESCRIBE DIFFERENT STYLES OF ART AND ART TRADITIONS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, AND OFFER SUGGESTIONS FOR INCORPORATING THE JOY AND POSITIVITY OF THEIR FANDOM IN THEIR OWN LIVES AND SPREADING THOSE FEELINGS OF GOOD WILL TO OTHERS.RANCHO OBI-WAN ALSO CREATES SMALL INSPIRATIONAL TRAVELING EXHIBITS FROM THE COLLECTION TO BE PRESENTED AT VARIOUS VENUES FOR DIFFERENT LENGTHS OF TIME.IN OCTOBER, 2024 RANCHO OBI-WAN ANNOUNCED OUR INTENTION TO MERGE WITH THREE OTHER LARGE COLLECTIONS AND BUILD A NEW, LARGE PUBLIC MUSEUM CALLED THE SAGA MUSEUM OF STAR WARS MEMORABILIA. FUNDRAISING FOR THIS INITIATIVE HAS COMMENCED AND WILL BE A CONTINUING PROJECT UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2012.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.