Pueblo Railway Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
The Foundation operates the Pueblo Railway Museum as part of its mission to preserve, display and operate historic railroad equipment. Its mission includes interpreting the history of railroading in Pueblo, and educating future generations through the use of the equipment and artifacts in the museum's collection, and the use of educational materials produced by museum volunteers.
- Income
- $110,361
- Spending
- $83,944
- Spent on programs
- 61%
- Reserves
- -167.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 64%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 37
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1561% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 4 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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)
- $2,188 spent. The museum operates train rides using one of its three historic GP7 diesel-electric locomotives and its two historic cabooses. Events are regularly scheduled at Easter, July 4th, Halloween, and Christmas. School group tours and private charters are provided throughout the year. Many area residents have never ridden a train or been inside a caboose. Our fares are very low, providing an opportunity for the community to ride and learn about the historic railroad equipment in the museum's collection. Educational handouts are available at these events. Maintenance expenses, diesel fuel, oil, and other expenses are not fully covered by the train ride fares. Generous donations by our members help offset these costs. The Foundation's viewpoint is that the museum is not a tourist railroad but rather an educational opportunity for area residents to learn about and ride in railroad equipment that helped to build the city of Pueblo.
- $15,708 spent. The Foundation maintains an office near the museum's collection, from which it coordinates museum activities. A Pueblo County & City of Pueblo Partnership grant provides funds for rent and utilities, allowing the Foundation to allocate remaining income to grounds and equipment maintenance and historic equipment restoration. The museum property includes a five-acre train yard. When desert winds blow, dry weeds and trash accumulate on the property and require constant clean-up. Rails, ties, and switches must be continually inspected, maintained, and periodically replaced to ensure safe and smooth train rides. The diesel locomotives require regular maintenance, and the cabooses need cleaning of their interiors following events. Supplies for all grounds and equipment maintenance are paid from museum funds; the work is accomplished by museum volunteers.
- $33,114 spent. Since 2020, the Foundation has benefited from the good fortune and generosity of one of its members. This member wishes to donate common stock to charity, and has chosen the Pueblo Railway Foundation as the charity. IRS rules state that when stock is donated to a 501(c)3 organization, the donor is not required to pay capital gain tax on the increased value of the stock. The Foundation can then convert this stock to usable funds, also without paying capital gains because of its 501(c)3 status. The donor of the stock has stipulated that the proceeds are to be used to fund security improvements, capital asset purchases, and capital improvement projects which substantially improve the Foundation's operations and overall presence. The bulk of these funds support the Foundation's D Street Station project, which will develop the property surrounding the Foundation's restoration shop on D Street by expanding the railyard and support a future train depot building. This "D Street Station" will become the main entry point for our railfans during the Museum's public events.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.
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 2003.
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.