Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

South Bay Historical Railroad Society Inc

EIN 77-0071257 · Santa Clara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RAILROAD MUSEUM, LIBRARY, AND COMMUNITY MEETING ROOM A) ACQUIRED RAILROAD-RELATED ARTIFACTS, BOOKS AND VIDEOS, B)PROVIDED MEETING FACILITIES FOR LOCAL HISTORICAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, MODERN TRANSIT SOCIETY, SANTA CLARA VALLEY RAILROAD ASSOCIATION, AND HERITAGE COUNCIL OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, C) MAINTAINED AND OPERATED A RAILROAD HISTORY MUSEUM, FEATURING MANY ARTIFACTS, INCLUDING SEVERAL HANDS-ON EXHIBITS AND SCALE OPERATING DISPLAYS. WE ENTERTAINED OVERSEAS VISITORS FROM ENGLAND, JAPAN, INDIA, SWITZERLAND, CANADA, FRANCE, GERMANY, ISRAEL, SINGAPORE, AND THE NETHERLANDS, VISITORS FROM MANY OF THE STATES IN THE UNITED STATES, AS WELL AS VISITORS FROM ALL OVER CALIFORNIA.

Income
$194,600
Spending
$216,284
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
31.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 78%
Employees
0
Volunteers
46

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

Good: 79 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 31.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 81 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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 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 (2)
  1. $64,481 spent. RAILROAD MUSEUM, LIBRARY, AND COMMUNITY MEETING ROOM: A) ACQUIRED RAILROAD-RELATED ARTIFACTS, BOOKS AND VIDEOS; B) PROVIDED MEETING FACILITIES LOCAL HISTORICAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS, PCJPB, SCVRA, ETC. OPERATE A RAILROAD MUSEUM, SCALE MODEL DISPLAY, AND ENTERTAIN FOREIGN VISITORS.
  2. $114,936 spent. RESTORATION OF HISTORICAL RAILROAD STRUCTURES A) MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF RESTORED DEPOT, BUILT IN 1863. ALL VOLUNTEER LABOR DONATED AND NOT COSTED; B) RESORATION OF INTERLOCKING CONTROL TOWER AND TWO OUTBUILDINGS. THE RENT CHARGE OF $24K FOR THE YEAR WERE OFFSET BY RENT CREDITS AWARDED BY THE JPB IN EXCHANGE FOR VOLUNTEER HOURS.

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

  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 June 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 September 1985.

    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.