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Texas Transportation Museum Inc

EIN 74-6068927 · San Antonio, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TEXAS TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM IS A VOLUNTEER LEAD ORGANIZATION THAT COLLECTS, PRESERVES AND DISPLAYS TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT AND RELATED ITEMS. WE OPERATE A WORKING PASSENGER RAILROAD, SEVERAL MODEL TRAIN LAYOUTS AND MANY ROAD VEHICLES. WE PROVIDE AN EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING EXPERIENCE WHICH INTERPRETS HOW DEVELOPMENTS IN TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY SHAPED AND CONTINUE TO IMPACT DAILY LIFE.

Income
$176,573
Spending
$144,030
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
25.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 68%
Employees
0
Volunteers
95

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, 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 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.1 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 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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)
  1. $113,543 spent. THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM WAS CREATED IN 1964 TO HELP PRESERVE ARTIFACTS ANDINFORMATION ABOUT THE VARIED ELEMENTS OF SAN ANTONIO'S FASCINATING TRANSPORTATIONHISTORY. WE OPERATE AS MUCH OF OUR COLLECTION AS POSSIBLE. THIS INCLUDES OURVOLUNTEER BUILT FULL SIZED RAILROAD AND MANY VEHICLES. THE MUSEUM WAS ORIGINALLYLOCATED AT THE PEARL BREWERY NEAR DOWNTOWN AND USED THE TRACKS OF ITS SHORT LINERAILROAD, THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMPANY. IN 1967 THE MUSEUM WAS GRANTED USE OFAPPROXIMATELY FORTY ACRES OF WHAT WAS THEN KNOWN AS THE NORTHEAST PRESERVE, NOWMCALLISTER PARK, JUST NORTH OF THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON WETMORE ROAD. MUSEUMATTENDANCE IS GROWING IMPRESSIVELY. AT THE CURRENT RATE OF GROWTH WE WILL BEATTRACTING 20,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY WITHIN JUST A FEW YEARS. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THEENORMOUS STRIDES WE HAVE MADE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE DESPITE OUR LIMITED RESOURCES.HERE IS A LIST OR OUR MOST RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS:COMPLETED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS:- REBUILT RAILROAD ENGINE 4035AIR COMPRESSOR AND RELATED VALVES AND PARTS.- INCREASED ALL SCALE MODEL RAILROADS IN SCOPE AND COMPLEXITY.- ADDED TO ADDITIONAL SCALE LAYOUTS. Z SCALE AND TROLLEY.- REPLACED MAIN POWER PANELS AND FEEDS TO LOWER PART OF MUSEUM.- ADDED SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT MUSEUM PROPERTY.- ADDED APPROXIMATELY 800 SQ.FT. OF RAILROAD EQUIPMENT AND SIGNAGE DISPLAY AREA.- REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 50% OF EXISTING RAILROAD TIES ON FULL SIZE RAILROAD AND NUMEROUS SECTIONSOF RAIL.- ADDED A FULL SIZE VILLAGE DISPLAY AT THE END OF THE FULL SIZE RAILROAD.- ADDED 3 NEW DIVISIONS, BUS, VIKING AND 7-1/2" RAILROAD.- INCREASED BY 50% AVAILABLE PARKING.- REPLACED MAIN BUILDING LIGHTING WITH LED LIGHTING.EQUIPMENT IMPROVED, REPLACED OR PURCHASED:- SOLD INOPERABLE BACKHOE FOR $4,000ADA (AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT) IMPROVEMENTS:- ADDED BLACKTOP RAILROAD CROSSINGS, AND ELIMINATED EXISTING WOODEN CROSSINGS. SAFETY ISSUE.-IMPROVE ADA ACCESS ACROSS MANY AREAS OF OUR PROPERTY.PUBLIC RELATIONS IMPROVEMENTS:-CONTINUING GROWTH IN ATTENDANCE.-UPDATING WEB SITE, WITH COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ABOUT TTM AND ITS COLLECTIONS, ADD THOROUGH HISTORIES OF REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENTS.-PARTICIPATE IN MANY LOCAL EVENTS SUCH AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, BEXAR COUNTY KENNELCLUB SCENT TRIALS, ANNUAL MODEL T EXHIBIT.-PARTNER WITH OTHER CHARITIES IN OUR AREA FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT. THESE INCLUDE THE SANANTONIO FOOD BANK AND "STUFF THE BUS" BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVES, AS WELL AS TOYS FOR TOTS AND OPERATION LIFESAVER.-OPEN FRIDAYS, DEDICATED TO HISTORICAL AND EDUCATION AND SAFETY FOR LOCAL SCHOOL GROUPS.-BECAME CHARTER ORGANIZATION FOR SCOUTS OF AMERICA. WE ARE THE CHARTER ORGANIZATION FOR 4 TROOPS, 2 CUBSCOUT PACKS, AND A SHIP. AS SUCH WE ARE EXTREMELY BUSY WITH NUMEROUS PROJECTS, EVENTS AND PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 March 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 July 1965.

    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.