Petrified Forest Museum Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE PETRIFIED FOREST MUSEUM ASSOCIATION IS TO DEVELOP, IMPROVE, PROMOTE, AND INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC BY ADVANCING EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND ENJOYMENT.
- Income
- $962,639
- Spending
- $668,269
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 28.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 99%
- Employees
- 22
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $66,805, executive director
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 28.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 98% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
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
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 (2)
- $232,535 spent. STAFF AID- THE TWO MAIN STORES ARE COLOCATED IN EACH OF THE PARK'S VISITOR CENTERS. BESIDES RINGING UP SALES AND MANAGING STORE ELEMENTS (STOCKING, INVENTORY CONTROL, DISPLAYS, ETC) PFMA STAFF ARE RESPONSIBLE TO OPEN/ CLOSE EACH VISITOR CENTER FACILITY, SET OR DISARM THE BUILDING ALARMS, HANG THE FLAG, CLEAN AND KEEP PRESENTABLE THE VISITOR USE AREAS, CONDUCT GENERAL VISITOR ORIENTATION, PROVIDE PARK SPECIFIC INFORMATION, CONDUCT JR. RANGER ACTIVITIES, ISSUE HIKING AND BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING PERMITS, HANDLE LOST AND FOUND REPORTING AND COMMUNICATE WITH PARK DISPATCH DURING EMERGENCY EPISODES.PARK AID - PARK AID REQUESTS HAVE EVOLVED TO INCLUDE PRINTING PARK MAPS AND TRIP PLANNERS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGE TRANSLATIONS, SUPPORTING WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS, SPECIAL EVENTS (100TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF PAINTED DESERT INN), ESSENTIAL CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE AND TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT FOR NPS EMPLOYEES, THE PRINTING OF A NEW SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL OF PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES, YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS ACTIVITIES, AND RESOURCE AND INTERPRETATION INTERNS.
- $353,662 spent. THE PETRIFIED FOREST FIELD INSTITUTE (PFFI) IS THE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH BRANCH OF PFMA AND WAS FORMED IN 2015 AT THE REQUEST OF THE PARK SERVICE TO BE THE VEHICLE BY WHICH VISITORS COULD ACCESS SECTIONS OF THE PARK LIMITED BY AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE LAND TRUST OFFICE. THE CHECKERBOARD OWNERSHIP OF THE EXPANDED PARK LANDS IS SUCH THAT IT REQUIRES THIS AGREEMENT TO ACCESS FEDERAL LANDS BY AND THROUGH STATE LANDS AND STIPULATES THAT THE PUBLIC ACCESS BE LIMITED TO GUIDED PROGRAMMATIC TOURS. IN 2024, PFFI CONDUCTED A TOTAL OF 15 CUSTOM GUIDED TOURS TO VARIOUS PARK DESTINATIONS, 8 SCHEDULED PROGRAMMATIC HIKES/WORKSHOPS, WHICH SERVED 111 VISITORS, 4 BUS TOURS WITH A COMBINED 160 VISITORS. PFFI'S BIGGEST EXPENSES ARE THE GUIDES AND OUTFITTERS INSURANCE AND INTSTRUCTOR FEES.
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 July 1946.
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.