Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES ABOUT AVIATION AND SPACE ENDEAVORS OF THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.
- Income
- $5.6 million
- Spending
- $7.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- -0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 46%
- Employees
- 115
- Volunteers
- 354
- Highest pay
- $244,489, president/chief executive officer
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: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 24 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
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 (4)
- $4.3 million spent. WINGS OVER THE ROCKIES AIR & SPACE MUSEUM IS A PUBLIC MUSEUM THAT DISPLAYS NUMEROUS AIRCRAFT AND OTHER AIR AND SPACE COLLECTIONS. THE MUSEUM'S PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE IS TO ENHANCE, PRESERVE, AND EXHIBIT THE HERITAGE OF MILITARY, CIVIL, AND COMMERCIAL AVIATION AND SPACE-AGE INVOLVEMENT IN THE STATE OF COLORADO AND THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION WHILE EDUCATING AND INSPIRING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES ABOUT AVIATION AND SPACE ENDEAVORS IN THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. THE COLLECTION HOUSED BY THE MUSEUM INCLUDES AIRCRAFT FROM THE EARLIEST DAYS OF FLIGHT TO THE SPACE AGE. AN INTERACTIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM CHALLENGES YOUTH TO EXPLORE THE ADVENTURE OF FLIGHT. WINGS OVER THE ROCKIES WAS DESIGNATED AS COLORADO'S OFFICIAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM BY THE COLORADO STATE LEGISLATURE IN 1996.
- $307,206 spent. THE "SPREADING WINGS" PILOT PATHWAY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: THIS REPRESENTS A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE RAY FOUNDATION THAT GUIDES STUDENTS ON THEIR PATH TO BECOMING A PILOT BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE AVIATION EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES WITH LOW-TO-ZERO FINANCIAL BARRIERS, ALLOWING YOUTH OF ANY CIRCUMSTANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN AEROSPACE EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITIES. THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO INSPIRE INTEREST AND POTENTIAL IN PILOT TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL AEROSPACE CAREERS AMONG A MOTIVATED SELECTION OF MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. IN 2024, WINGS AWARDED 28 NEW FLIGHT TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS AND HAD 15 TOTAL STUDENTS EARN THEIR PRIVATE PILOT LICENSE AND ANOTHER 33 ACHIEVE THEIR SOLO FLIGHT CERTIFICATE. THE OPTIMIZED SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WINGS OVER (CON'T ON SCH D) THE ROCKIES PROVIDES PILOT TRAINING TO SOLO AND BEYOND, INCLUDING THE INTRODUCTION TO A WIDE RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL AEROSPACE CAREERS.
- $523,330 spent. WINGS AEROSPACE EXPLORATION (WAE) IS A WEEKLY ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INTERESTED IN AVIATION AND AEROSPACE. THE EXPLORATION PATHWAY IS CENTERED ON HANDS-ON PROJECT-BASED LEARNING THAT PREPARES STUDENTS FOR A FUTURE IN AEROSPACE. IN 2024, 72 STUDENTS MET WEEKLY TO PARTICIPATE IN A HANDS-ON EXPERIMENTAL LEARNING PROGRAM WITH AN AEROSPACE FOCUS. OF THE TOTAL STUDENTS, 42 PARTICIPATED IN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM AND 30 WERE ENROLLED IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM. EACH STUDENT HAS THE OPTION TO PARTICIPATE IN DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES AND EARN INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS. OF THE TOTAL STUDENTS, 2 RECEIVED COLLEGE CREDIT FROM SPARTAN AERONAUTICS AND TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE, 9 STUDENTS EARNED THE FAA PART 107 DRONE PILOT CERTIFICATE AND 8 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE STELLARXPLORERS NATIONAL (CON'T ON SCH D) COMPETITION. THE INCREDIBLE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES THROUGH THE WAE PROGRAM INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM BUILDING AN EXPERIMENTAL FAA CERTIFIED AIRCRAFT TO DESIGNING AND BUILDING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (UAV) SUCH AS RADIO-CONTROLLED AIRCRAFT, DRONES AND HELICOPTERS. IN ADDITION, WAE STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH MENTORS ACROSS THE AVIATION AND AEROSPACE COMMUNITIES ON A REGULAR BASIS TO INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE OUR FUTURE ENGINEERS, ASTRONAUTS, PILOTS, ROCKET SCIENTISTS, MECHANICS AND MORE.
- $119,034 spent. THE SPREADING THE WINGS TEACHER FLIGHT PROGRAM: WINGS OVER THE ROCKIES AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM INVITES COLORADO TEACHERS TO TAKE A FREE FLIGHT WITH THE SPREADING THE WINGS TEACHER FLIGHT PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM, FUNDED BY THE RAY FOUNDATION, HELPS BRING AVIATION TO THE CLASSROOM BY OFFERING COLORADO TEACHERS FROM EVERY ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL WITHIN COLORADO WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A 30-MINUTE FLIGHT IN A VARIETY OF SMALL 2 OR 4 SEAT PISTON PROP AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING A VINTAGE T-34 MILITARY TRAINING AIRCRAFT. IN ADDITION TO ENJOYING THE FREEDOM AND INSPIRATION OF FLIGHT, TEACHERS BECOME THE SPREADING THE WINGS COORDINATORS FOR THE MUSEUM AND GAIN AVIATION RESOURCES AND CURRICULUM TO SHARE WITH THEIR STUDENTS IN VIRTUALLY ALL STEM SUBJECT AREAS. THE TEACHERS BECOME AN IMPORTANT CONDUIT FOR SHARING WINGS' PROGRAMS AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WITH THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM COMPLEMENTS STEM EDUCATION BY HELPING TO INTRODUCE AND ENGAGE STUDENTS IN IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING CONCEPTS, AS WELL AS ALLOWING STUDENTS TO EXPLORE AND LEARN ABOUT EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN AVIATION AND AEROSPACE. IN 2024, 17 COLORADO TEACHERS TOOK FLIGHT WITHIN THE WINGS TEACHER FLIGHT PROGRAM.
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 November 6, 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 1989.
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 November 4, 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.