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Tennessee Central Railway Museum and Model Railroad Club

EIN 62-1421206 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HISTORICAL PRESERVATION OF RAILROAD EQUIPMENT AND EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC ABOUT PASSENGER TRAIN TRAVEL.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$625,869
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
50.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 84%
Employees
0
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$26,715, director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 50.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 52% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 65 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $379,345 spent. PASSENGER TRAIN OPERATIONS - HISTORIC PASSENGER TRAIN EXCURSIONS OPEN TO PUBLIC FOR EDUCATIONAL AND SAFETY PURPOSES. APPROXIMATELY 10,500 EXCURSION PASSENGERS PARTICIPATED DURING 2024.
  2. $102,309 spent. RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE OF RAILROAD EQUIPMENT INCLUDING PASSENGER CARS, CABOOSES, FREIGHT CARS AND LOCOMOTIVES. APPROXIMATELY 16 VOLUNTEER MEMBERS CONTRIBUTED 1600 HOURS IN RESTORING AND MAINTAINING RAILROAD EQUIPMENT DURING 2024.
  3. $124,683 spent. MUSEUM OPERATIONS - LOCATED IN THE FORMER TENNESSEE CENTRAL RAILWAY MASTER MECHANIC'S OFFICE, THE MUSEUM HOUSES OFFICES, A LIBRARY, A GIFT SHOP AND A COLLECTION OF RAILROAD MATERIAL INCLUDING ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTIONS OF TENNESSEE CENTRAL RAILWAY ARTIFACTS TO BE FOUND. BUSINESS MEETINGS FOR MEMBERS, GUESTS AND GENERAL PUBLIC ARE ALSO HELD. APPROXIMATELY 10,500 PASSENGERS AND 1500 GUESTS VISITED THE GROUNDS OF THE ORGANIZATION DURING 2024.

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

  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 2024.

    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 1990.

    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.