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Nevada Northern Railway Foundation Inc

EIN 88-0203211 · Ely, NV

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION FOR THE HISTORY OF WHITE PINE COUNTY. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE USE OF HISTORIC STEAM TRAIN RIDES AND A MUSEUM DEDICATED TO MAINTAINING AND PRESERVING AN INTEGRAL PART OF ITS ILLUSTRIOUS PAST.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-19.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 41%
Employees
39

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: 54 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 84 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $3.2 million spent. THE OPERATION OF HISTORIC SIGHTSEEING TRAIN, MUSEUM AND RESTORATION OF YARD BUILDINGS CONTINUES, RIDERSHIP IS INCREASING AND MORE TOURS ARE STOPPING OR ARE ORGANIZED SPECIFICALLY TO ENJOY THE TRAIN. THE TRAIN AND MUSEUM HAVE A PROFOUND BENEFIT TO THE LOCAL TOURISM ECONOMY OF WHITE PINE COUNTY. THE MUSEUM HAS RECEIVED NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, AS THE BEST PRESERVED SHORTLINE RAILROAD IN THE NATION. THE MCGILL DEPOT RESTORATION CONTINUES. THE BUILDING HAS BEEN STABALIZED AND ENCLOSED PREVENTING FURTHER DETERIORATION. TRACK HAS BEEN RESTORED AND MANY BUILDINGS IN THE YARD HAVE BEEN REROOFED AND STABALIZED. THE HISTORIC TRACK THROUGH ELY HAS BEEN OPENED FROM THE RAILYARD TO PUBLIC MUSEUM, WITH PLANNED RIDES BETWEEN THE TWO MUSEUMS.

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 October 1985.

    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.