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Short Line Safety Institute

EIN 81-0740934 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY CULTURE AND SAFETY PERFORMANCE OF SHORT LINE AND REGIONAL RAILROADS THROUGH ASSESSMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 100%
Employees
7
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$377,670, executive director

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

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 93% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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, 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 (7)
  1. $1.9 million spent. SAFETY CULTURE ASSESSMENTS - A VOLUNTARY, CONFIDENTIAL, MULTI-METHOD ASSESSMENT OF THE SAFETY CULTURE AND SAFETY PERFORMANCE OF SHORT LINE REGIONAL RAILROADS.
  2. $983,826 spent. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRAINING PROGRAM - THE PROGRAM ENSURES EMPLOYEES ARE CONVERSANT AND COMPLIANT WITH THE REGULATIONS REGARDING THE TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, PROVIDES FUNCTION SPECIFIC TRAINING, AND REVIEWS EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES.
  3. $434,310 spent. EDUCATION AND TRAINING - PROVIDES EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND SAFETY CULTURE OF SHORT LINE REGIONAL RAILROADS BASED ON THE DATA AND INFORMATION GATHERED THROUGH THE ASSESSMENTS, COLLABORATION WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, AND RESEARCH.
  4. $130,956 spent. STRATEGIC PLANNING- IN CONCERT WITH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND BOARD OF ADVISORS, THE INSTITUTE WILL DEVELOP A STRATEGIC OUTLINE FOR THE PROJECT REGARDING THE FOUR PILLARS AND OTHER TASKS AND HOW THE SHORT AND LONG TERM OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT WILL BE MET.
  5. $63,777 spent. COMMUNICATIONS - THE INSTITUTE DEVELOPED THE INSTITUTE'S EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES, TOOLS AND PRODUCTS ENGAGED IN OUTREACH TO EDUCATE AND PROMOTE THE INSTITUTE TO KEY STAKEHOLDERS (E.G. RAILROADS, REGULATORY BODIES, LEGISLATURES, MEDIA, AND THE PUBLIC).
  6. $85,907 spent. COLLABORATION - THE INSTITUTE COLLABORATES AND REMAINS INVOLVED WITH ENTITIES AND GROUPS, IN ADDITION TO THE ASLRRA, FRA, VOLPE AND UCONN INCLUDING CLOSE COOPERATION WITH CLASS I RAILROADS, THE RAIL REGULATORS AND THE RAIL INDUSTRY IN CANADA, THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY, SHIPPERS, AND OTHER GROUPS AND ASSOCIATIONS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN SAFETY ISSUES OR SAFETY CULTURE IMPROVEMENT, AND FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATORS AND AGENCIES.
  7. $110,095 spent. PROJECT PLANNING

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 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 2016.

    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.