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Florida Railway Heritage Museum

EIN 83-3508634 · Mount Dora, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE AND EXHIBIT HISTORIC MATERIALS OF RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION, TO COLLECT DATA ON THE HISTORY OF TRANSPORTATION AND TO ISSUE PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO THIS SUBJECT, AND TO ENCOURAGE RAIL TRANSPORTATION.

Income
$310,326
Spending
$341,562
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 78%
Employees
0
Volunteers
84

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

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $323,324 spent. IN 2024 WE WERE ABLE TO ACQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL HISTORIC BAY WINDOW CABOOSE VIA A LEASE PROGRAM WITH CAPACITY FOR 30 PASSENGERS. RENOVATIONS WERE COMPLETED AND THE CABOOSE IS NOW IN OPERATION. RENOVATIONS INCLUDED INSTALLATION OF AIR CONDITIONING UNIT, REPLACEMENT OF WOOD FLOOR AND ADDITION OF CARPET, INSTALLATION OF PERIOD BENCHES AND AN INTERIOR PAINT JOB. WE ALSO ACQUIRED 6 ELECTRIC EMERGENCY CARTS THAT WILL BE USED AS AN EXTRA ATTRACTION FOR GUESTS VISITING THE MUSEUM. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO RIDE 6 PEOPLE AT A TIME FOR A TWO-MILE RIDE. THE UNITS REQUIRED MINIMAL WELDING AND NEW BATTERIES. IN OUR MUSEUM WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND THE MODEL TRAIN LAYOUT TO COVER THE ENTIRE ROOM AND OPEN IT TO THE PUBLIC. ONGOING REPAIRS TO THE ROOF ARE UNDERWAY RESULTING FROM LEAKS FROM THE AGE OF THE ROOF.

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 September 2019.

    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.