Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Mississippi Gulf Coast Model Railroad Club Museum & Education D

EIN 47-1518284 · Gulfport, MS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION ENCOURAGES CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALIKE TO EXPLORE AND LEARN IN A FUN ENVIRONMENT, TO INSTILL THE LOVE OF SCIENCE, OF OPERATING, BUILDING AND PLAYING WITH MODEL TRAINS. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH ADMISSION TO THE MUSEUM, FIELD TRIPS, STEAM PROGRAMMING, AND EVENTS.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 49%
Employees
37
Volunteers
44
Highest pay
$138,462, executive director

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: 60 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
  1. $802,593 spent. THE MUSEUM OFFERS A VIBRANT AND ENGAGING ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALIKE CAN EXPLORE THE CAPTIVATING HISTORY OF RAILROADS AND THE INTRICATE WORLD OF MODEL RAILROADING. THROUGH HANDS-ON EXHIBITS, INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS, AND STORYTELLING, VISITORS OF ALL AGES ARE INVITED TO DISCOVER HOW TRAINS HAVE SHAPED COMMUNITIES, COMMERCE, AND CULTURE. BY BLENDING EDUCATION WITH ENTERTAINMENT, THE MUSEUM FOSTERS A LOVE OF LEARNING AND ENCOURAGES FAMILIES TO CONNECT ACROSS GENERATIONS THROUGH SHARED EXPERIENCES AND CURIOSITY ABOUT TRANSPORTATION HISTORY.
  2. $173,827 spent. COMMITTED TO INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF THINKERS AND CREATORS, THE MUSEUM PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATHEMATICS (STEAM). THESE OFFERINGS INCLUDE EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCES, FIELD TRIPS FOR PREK-12 STUDENTS, AND IMMERSIVE SEASONAL CAMPS THAT PROMOTE CRITICAL THINKING AND CREATIVITY. BY INTEGRATING MODEL RAILROADING INTO STEAM EDUCATION, THE MUSEUM CREATES A UNIQUE PLATFORM FOR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE WITH REAL-WORLD CONCEPTS IN A FUN AND MEANINGFUL WAY, SPARKING INTEREST IN FUTURE CAREERS AND LIFELONG LEARNING.
  3. $295,233 spent. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE MUSEUM HOSTS A VARIETY OF SEASONAL AND HOLIDAY-THEMED EVENTS THAT BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE, CONNECT, AND LEARN. THESE GATHERINGS, RANGING FROM FESTIVE TRAIN DISPLAYS TO INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS AND STORYTELLING SESSIONS, OFFER ENRICHING EXPERIENCES THAT HIGHLIGHT THE ARTISTRY AND ENGINEERING BEHIND MODEL RAILROADS. BY CREATING JOYFUL AND EDUCATIONAL MOMENTS FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, THE MUSEUM STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY BONDS AND FOSTERS A SHARED APPRECIATION FOR HISTORY, CREATIVITY, AND THE SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION.

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 May 2015.

    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.