Sullenberger Aviation Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
- Inspire present and future generations of aerospace and STEM innovators;- Educate on the impact of aviation and aerospace in our lives, culture, and economy;- Elevate diversity in STEM and aerospace to catalyze economic mobility
- Income
- $4.9 million
- Spending
- $2.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 54%
- Reserves
- -14.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 60%
- Employees
- 35
- Volunteers
- 129
- Highest pay
- $139,677, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 58% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1553% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
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.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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)
- $1.5 million spent. The Museum has developed a new and now operating facility that celebrates innovation and American ingenuity that led to the emergence of today's aviation and aerospace industry. And in doing so, it is providing community programming to excite the next generation through its mission to INSPIRE, EDUCATE and ELEVATE future generations of innovators with diverse and equitable access to STEM career pathways to address economic mobility. Through the development of the new facility, the Museum has expanded its mission for greater community impact, is completing a capital campaign, and concluding a capital development project in partnership with CLT Airport. The vision of the new Museum facility connects the history of aviation and aerospace to the advancement trends in innovation and aviation/aerospace technologies that inspire people, educate the next generation, and connect students to the ever-increasing career opportunities in STEM. With state-of-the-art interactive exhibits and STEM programs, the new facility is a high-profile cultural tourism attraction and statewide STEM education resource. It promotes aviation's impactful stories highlighting the innovations that shaped our NC heritage of 'First in Flight, and partners with statewide industry to provide educational experiences to drive the development of the STEM aviation/aerospace industry sector by expanding the STEM career pipeline.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 November 6, 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 June 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 July 1992.
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 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.