Friends of No 9 Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Friends of Number 9 seeks to acquire, restore, conserve and display the last piece of historic railway stock for the Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway.
- Income
- $87,005
- Spending
- $4,048
- Spent on programs
- 50%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 0
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
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $1,013 spent. In 2024, Friends of No 9 accomplished major portions of the locomotive restoration. Initially, the focus was on disassembling the locomotive boiler, frame, wheel trucks and the V-twin 2-cylinder engine. Some of the bolts had to be individually drilled out to separate key components. Metal was cut away that could not be restored, parts were media-blasted to remove surface rust. Assembled pieces were riveted to match historic patterns, then painted with primer and two coats of marine epoxy paint. The boiler got a new jacket over foam insulation. The firepan was rebuilt, a mix of original and new materials. Historic parts were obtained for brakes, lubricators and water injectors, as well as controls and lights. By the end of 2024, the boiler, tender and cab were remounted on the frame. A new pilot was commissioned to conform to the mountain operation in 1921 that had been removed for logging operations. Reassembly was completed mid-2025.
- $1,012 spent. Initial concepts for display of Engine 9 were undertaken in 2022 and continued through 2024. Architectural designs were prepared for display in downtown Mill Valley on the expanded Depot Plaza. A second location in front of the City Hall of Mill Valley was also designed. Neither of those locations proceeded beyond concept drawings. Engine 9 was invited to the Mill Valley Memorial Day Parade in 2025. The California State Railroad Museum invited Engine 9 as a featured temporary exhibit in the summer of 2025. CSRM has not displayed an excursion train or a geared locomotive.Engine 9 offered both, operating on the steep Mt Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway that took sightseeings from San Francisco to the East Peak at the top of the mountain, one half mile above San Francisco Bay.
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
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 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.