Passes our checks

Santa Fe Railway Historical Society Inc

EIN 88-3172973 · Phoenix, AZ

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

What it says it does

Historical Preservation of Railway

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 74.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15
Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
83% 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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).

Independent board
25 of 25
6 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15
Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8
Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7
Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5
Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10
Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)

$77,875 spent. WE MAINTAIN ARCHIVES AND A RESEARCH LIBRARY TO STORE BOOKS AND SANTA FE RAILWAY DATA. THE ARCHIVES ARE USED TO PUBLISH OUR BOOKS AND QUARTERLY PERIODICALS AND ARE AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES. WE ALSO MAINTAIN A WEB SITE TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SANTA FE RAILWAY AND DIRECT INTERESTED PERSONS TO OTHER SANTA FE RAILWAY RELATED WEB SITES.
$14,921 spent. WE SPONSOR AN ANNUAL CONVENTION FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHERE WE HAVE LECTURES ABOUT THE HISTORY AND OPERATIONS OF THE SANTA FE RAILWAY AND WE ALSO SELL AND DISTRIBUTE OUR BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS AT THE CONVENTION.
$13,894 spent. WE PUBLISH A QUARTERLY PERIODICAL IN WHICH HISTORICAL AND CURRENT OPERATIONS OF THE SANTA FE RAILWAY ARE RESEARCHED AND PRESENTED FOR OUR MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 October 13, 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 September 2023.
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 October 21, 2026.

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