Museum of the Kansas National Guard Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Located in Topeka, Kansas, the Museum is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Kansas National Guard and honoring the memories of the soldiers and airmen who, for over 160 years, have served Kansas and the United States whenever the call was made.
- Income
- $211,539
- Spending
- $57,739
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 52%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 53
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 73% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2532 of 32 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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)
- $6,489 spent. Museum Displays Construction & RepairCompleted restoration/re-painting of F-4 Phantom aircraft, JD 610 Backhoe and Loader,and M-35 2.5 Ton Truck. Continued restoration of M-20 Armored Car.Accessioned and placed on outside exhibit an OH-13 Sioux Korean War Era helicopter. Acquired and waiting on delivery of an M-48 Patton Tank, a Light Tactical Ambulance,and a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.Accessioned 51 artifacts and artifact collections, added 22 document files and document boxes to the Museum Library, cataloged and filed 102 additional library books and CD's, placed several new prints on exhibit, and made minor improvements to many exhibits.Received and partially displayed artifacts from 19th Volunteer Cavalry, including saddles, bridles, tentage, and uniforms.Accessioned 18 additional small arms and placed 11 of these on exhibit.Completed new exhibits on "35th Division WW II Missing in Action," "Annual Training Sites of the Kansas Army and Air National Guard, and "Kansas Regional Training Center."Completed exhibit on "Task Force Reaper - l-635th Armor/ 170th Maint Co Deployment to Kuwait, Syria, and Israel."Constructed six additional concrete exhibit pads, placed gravel under EB-57, KC-135, and F-105 aircraft, and constructed sidewalks to aircraft for handicapped accessibility.
- $38,414 spent. Museum Operations and AttendanceThe Museum of the Kansas National Guard hosted 19,473 visitors who signed the Visitor Register, and several hundred others who did not sign the register, during the year from 45 states and 8 foreign countries, utilizing Volunteer Hosts. The Museum was open 302 days from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. for routine visitor hours and 51 additional times for events and activities for a total of 2196 hours of volunteer host labor. The Museum has no admission charge, but accepts voluntary contributions.The Museum answered 211 internet, personal, and telephone historical inquiries pertaining to military service, unit histories, insignia, photos, etc.The Museum serves as the location for the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame and the 35th Division Hall of Fame, with photo displays prepared for 2025 inductees into each.The Museum Libraries and archives continue to serve as research centers for soldier and unit history, as well as checkout of reading books by the public.The Museum hosts an updated website at www.kansasguardmuseum.org, whichprovides a history and virtual tour of the Kansas Army and Air National Guard exhibits inside and outside the Museum, as well as a Museum Facebook page with at least weekly postings.The Museum provided tours for 24 school and community groups.Museum staff provided speakers for 7 community group meetings outside the Museum.
- $4,299 spent. Museum EventsThe Museum hosted the following events during the year, all open free:Quarterly Luncheons - The Museum hosted three Quarterly Brown Bag Luncheonswith speakers on the topics of"Task Force Reaper - Action in the Middle East," "The Manhattan Project - A Look Back, and "Ghosts in River City."Heartland Military Day - The Museum hosted Heartland Military Day on 14 June 2025, complete with military equipment displays, two WWII battle re-enactments, two Civil War Cannon Drills, two band concerts, a Vietnam War exhibit, a Pancake Feed, a Cookout Meal, and other activities.Christmas Volunteer Luncheon & Volunteer Recognition Dinner - The Museumsponsored a Christmas Volunteer Luncheon on 17 Dec 25 and a Volunteer Recognition Dinner on 20 Sep 25 for Volunteers and Board members.Trunk or Treat - The Museum was a co-sponsor with National Guard Family Programs and the host for the Kansas National Guard Trunk or Treat on 28 Oct 25.Fulltime Retiree Luncheon - The Annual Luncheon for Fulltime Topeka Area Guard Employees was held on 2 Apr 25.Korean War Day - The Museum was a co-sponsor of the annual Korean War/Cold War VeteranRemembrance Day held on 23 July 25.Monthly Coffees - Monthly Coffees were hosted on the first Wednesday of eachmonth.Girls in Aviation Day - The Museum hosted, in conjunction with the Combat Air Museum, a Girl Scout Girls in Aviation Day on 6 Sep 25.Veteran's Day Breakfast - The Museum, in conjunction with the National Guard Assn of Kansas and the Enlisted Assn. of the Kansas National Guard, hosted a free Veteran's Day breakfast on Wed, 5 Nov 25.Museum Car & Truck Show - The Museum sponsored/hosted a Museum Car & TruckShow on 24 May 25.Retiree/State of the Guard Briefing - The Museum sponsored a Retiree/State of theGuard Briefing on 7 Mar 26.Vietnam Veteran Recognition Breakfast - The Museum sponsored a Vietnam VeteranRecognition Breakfast and Ceremony on 18 Mar 26.Heartland Salute to America's 250th - The Museum conducted six planning meetingsfor the Heartland Salute to America's 250th on 6 June 26.The Museum hosted Staff Calls, Commander's Calls, Promotion Ceremonies,Officer and NCO Professional Developments, and other activities during the year.The Museum hosted a 2-day Model Railroad Show, the Annual Conference of theInternational Bird Dog Assn, the Be Filled of Topeka Pancake Feed and Bus Pull, and Kansasmeetings of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War,and the Vietnam Veterans of America.The Museum hosted NOAKS, EANGKS, National Guard Hall of Fame Board andSelection Committee meetings; Civil War Roundtables; Cub Scout and Girl Scout meetings andcampouts; Kaw Valley Chapter of the Military Officer Assn. meetings; Blue Sky Squadronmeetings; Sons of both Confederate and Union Veterans meetings; Kansas ational GuardFoundation meetings; Railroad Retirement Group meetings; Kansas Army National GuardRecruiter meetings; Army and Air National Guard meetings and briefings; USAR PhysicalFitness Tests; retiree celebrations, Celebrations of Life; Rolling Thunder MVPA meetings;American Legion Capitol Post 1 meetings; Kaw Valley Amateur Radio Club meetings; etc. on aregular basis during the year.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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 March 2026.
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 June 1987.
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.
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