Prorodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 37% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE PRORODEO HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN COWBOY EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT RODEO, ITS HISTORY AND IMPACT ON WESTERN AMERICAN CULTURE, AND PROVIDES RECOGNITION TO RODEO NOTABLES OF THE PAST AND PRESENT AND SERVES AS AN INSPIRATION FOR THE FUTURE.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 37%
- Reserves
- 7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 52%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $557,747, president
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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1537% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 14 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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 (3)
- $111,558 spent. VISITOR PROMOTIONS - DESIGNED TO PROMOTE AN AWARENESS OF AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROFESSIONAL SPORT OF RODEO THROUGH VISITS TO THE HALL OF FAME MUSEUM.
- $174,077 spent. MUSEUM INDUCTIONS - EVENTS DESIGNED TO HONOR INDIVIDUALS, RODEO COMMITTEES, AND RODEO ANIMALS WHO HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SPORT OF PROFESSIONAL RODEO.
- $328,045 spent. DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITS - DISPLAYS OF MUSEUM ARTIFACTS CONSISTENT WITH THE THEME AND MISSION OF THE MUSEUM.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1978.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.