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Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec

EIN 85-0363487 · Albuquerque, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRIENDS OF THE CUMBRES AND TOLTEC SCENIC RAILROAD INC. IS DEDICATED TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION, RESTORATION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE CUMBRES AND TOLTEC SCENIC RAILROAD AS A LIVING MUSEUM. THE FRIENDS ENVISION ANOTHER CENTURY OF NARROW GAUGE STEAM RAILROADING WITH THE CUMBRES AND TOLTEC SCENIC RAILROAD BEING WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S PREMIER "LIVING" MUSEUMS FOR HISTORIC, STEAM RAILROAD OPERATION, PRESERVATION AND INTERPRETATION AND INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE. THE FRIENDS ALSO ENVISIONS THE RAILROAD TO BE THE WORLD'S BEST AND MOST POPULAR TOURIST STEAM RAILROAD EXPERIENCE. RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND LEADERSHIP OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND MUSEUM FUNCTIONS OF THE CUMBRES AND TOLTEC SCENIC RAILROAD WILL REST WITH THE FRIENDS, TO BE KNOWN AND RESPECTED INTERNATIONALLY AS THE BEST NON-PROFIT, HISTORIC RAILWAY PRESERVATION AND MUSEUM ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD.

Income
$738,711
Spending
$745,202
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
12.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
3
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$122,450, former presi

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 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, 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. $429,014 spent. INTERPRETATION AND RESTORATION - MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE BENEFITED BY THE INTERPRETATION OF THE ORGANIZATIONS HISTORIC PROPERTY. THIS IS DONE THROUGH THE NEWSLETTER TO LIBRARIES AND MEMBERS, AND THROUGH WALKING TOURS GUIDING VISITORS THROUGH THE RAILYARD. RESTORATION BENEFITS THE HISTORIC MUSEUM COLLECTION AND IT IS ESTIMATED THAT CLOSE TO 100,000 PEOPLE VISIT THE RAILYARD PROPERTIES EACH YEAR. THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE EXPENSES WERE FOR VARIOUS MATERIALS TO PRESERVE AND RESTORE THE HISTORIC EQUIPMENT AND PROPERTIES. THE FRIENDS HAVE APPROXIMATELY 200 VOLUNTEERS FROM A MEMBERSHIP BASE OF OVER 1,900 WORLDWIDE THAT CONTRIBUTE APPROXIMATELY 20,000 HOURS ANNUALLY IN VOLUNTEER TIME. THESE VOLUNTEERS WORK ON THE RAILROAD'S HISTORICAL ASSETS, SERVE AS DOCENTS ONBOARD THE TRAINS, HELP FUNDRAISE, AND WORK IN THE ORGANIZATION'S PHOTO COLLECTION, ARCHIVES, AND LIBRARY. THE HOURS WORKED BY OUR VOLUNTEERS WOULD TRANSLATE INTO APPROXIMATELY 500,000 ANNUALLY IN LABOR IF THE FRIENDS HAD TO PAY FOR THESE SERVICES. INTERPRETATION AND RESTORATION - MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE BENEFITED BY THE INTERPRETATION OF THE ORGANIZATIONS HISTORIC PROPERTY. THIS IS DONE THROUGH THE NEWSLETTER TO LIBRARIES AND MEMBERS, AND THROUGH WALKING TOURS GUIDING VISITORS THROUGH THE RAILYARD. RESTORATION BENEFITS THE HISTORIC MUSEUM COLLECTION AND IT IS ESTIMATED THAT CLOSE TO 100,000 PEOPLE VISIT THE RAILYARD PROPERTIES EACH YEAR. THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE EXPENSES WERE FOR VARIOUS MATERIALS TO PRESERVE AND RESTORE THE HISTORIC EQUIPMENT AND PROPERTIES. THE FRIENDS HAVE APPROXIMATELY 200 VOLUNTEERS FROM A MEMBERSHIP BASE OF OVER 1,900 WORLDWIDE THAT CONTRIBUTE APPROXIMATELY 20,000 HOURS ANNUALLY IN VOLUNTEER TIME. THESE VOLUNTEERS WORK ON THE RAILROAD'S HISTORICAL ASSETS, SERVE AS DOCENTS ONBOARD THE TRAINS, HELP FUNDRAISE, AND WORK IN THE ORGANIZATION'S PHOTO COLLECTION, ARCHIVES, AND LIBRARY. THE HOURS WORKED BY OUR VOLUNTEERS WOULD TRANSLATE INTO APPROXIMATELY 500,000 ANNUALLY IN LABOR IF THE FRIENDS HAD TO PAY FOR THESE SERVICES.

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 November 6, 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 January 1989.

    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 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.