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Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society Inc

EIN 76-0612294 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE 1940 AIR TERMINAL MUSEUM IS TO DEMONSTRATE THE IMPACT OF AVIATION ON HOUSTON'S HISTORY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE PRISM OF ARCHITECTURAL BEAUTY.

Income
$324,772
Spending
$315,085
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
-0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 74%
Employees
1
Volunteers
27
Highest pay
$18,438, 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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% 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: 56 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. THE 1940 AIR TERMINAL IS DEMONSTRATING THE IMPACT OF AVIATION ON HOUSTON'S HISTORY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE PRISM OF ARCHITECTURAL BEAUTY AND STRIVES TO BE A SPACE WHERE ALL CAN ENJOY A MULTITUDE OF INTERESTS SUCH AS AVIATION, ART, ARCHITECTURE, HISTORY AND CULTURE. OPERATING THE 1940 AIR TERMINAL MUSEUM LOCATED ON THE WEST RAMP OF THE WILLIAM P. HOBBY AIRPORT. THE MUSEUM COMPRISES SEVERAL GALLERIES CONTAINING AVIATION MEMORABILIA AND THE 1928 CARTER AIRMAIL HANGAR.
  2. $308,283 spent. THE HOUSTON AERONAUTICAL HERITAGE SOCIETY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE 1940 AIR TERMINAL MUSEUM AND ACHIEVES THIS THROUGH A DEDICATED ALL VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS ALONG WITH 2 STAFF MEMBERS AND AN INCREDIBLE TEAM OF MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS ENSURING ALL GUESTS HAVE A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
  3. THE 1940 AIR TERMINAL MUSEUM AT HOBBY AIRPORT CELEBRATES THE ART DECO AIR TERMINAL TURNING 80 YEARS OLD ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2020. OPENED ON SEPTEMBER 28, 1940, THE AIR TERMINAL, DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT JOSEPH FINGER, SERVED AS THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING FOR THE AIRPORT AND SUPPORTED AIRLINE OPERATIONS AND AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL FUNCTIONS. THE FIRST AIRLINE TENANTS WERE EASTERN AIRLINES AND BRANIFF AIRWAYS. IN A FEW SHORT YEARS AIR TRAVEL GREW EXPONENTIALLY, AND THE TERMINAL CEASED AIRLINE OPERATIONS IN 1956. THE BUILDING WAS COMPLETELY ABANDONED BY 1978 AND WAS LEFT VACANT UNTIL ITS RESURGENCE AS THE 1940 AIR TERMINAL MUSEUM IN 2004.

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 October 13, 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 January 2000.

    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 October 21, 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.