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The Northwest Railway Museum

EIN 91-6054975 · Snoqualmie, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE NORTHWEST RAILWAY MUSEUM IS TO DEVELOP AND OPERATE AN OUTSTANDING RAILWAY MUSEUM THAT PROVIDES THE PUBLIC A PLACE TO EXPERIENCE THE EXCITEMENT OF A WORKING RAILROAD AND TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF RAILROADS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND SETTLEMENT OF WASHINGTON STATE AND ENVRONS.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-8.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 60%
Employees
23
Volunteers
188
Highest pay
$152,592, 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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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 (4)
  1. $549,352 spent. INTERPRETIVE RAILWAY - THE MUSEUM OFFERS EXPERIENTIAL LIVING HISTORY PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW VISITORS TO TRAVEL BY TRAIN ON A 19TH CENTURY RAILWAY BETWEEN TWO COMMUNITIES IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. THESE PROGRAMS INTERPRET THE IMPACT RAILWAY HAD ON THE REGION AND ALLOW VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE THE EXCITEMENT OF A WORKING RAILWAY IN AN ERA BEFORE INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. INTERPRETIVE RAILWAY PROGRAMS INCLUDING SCHOOL TRAIN, REGULAR TRAINS, STEAM TRAINS, AND THEMED EVENTS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN REACHED A COMBINED TOTAL OF MORE THAN 61,000 VISITORS
  2. $514,098 spent. COLLECTION CARE - THE CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION WORKSHOP IS A FACILITY USED TO PERFORM COLLECTION CARE ON LARGE ARTIFACTS INCLUDING LOCOMOTIVES, COACHES, AND FREIGHT CARS. IT INCORPORATES 8,200 SQ. FT., FEATURES TWO TRACKS, AND A DIVERSITY OF SPECIALTY TOOLS INCLUDING PLANERS, LATHES, MILLING MACHINES, SAWS, TENONERS, DRILLS, AND JACKS. THE PRINCIPLE PROJECTS IN 2024 WERE CONTINUING REHABILITATION OF AN 84-YEAR-OLD ALCO DIESEL ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE, RESTORATION OF A 1901 PULLMAN-BUILT PARLOR CAR, AND IMPROVEMENTS TO STEAM LOCOMOTIVE 924.
  3. $157,596 spent. TRAIN SHED EXHIBIT HALL - THE SEMI-CONDITIONED SPACE INCORPORATES MORE THAN 24,000 SQ. FT. AND OFFERS A STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE MUSEUM'S MOST VULNERABLE AND REPRESENTATIVE ARTIFACTS INCLUDING CHAPEL CAR 5 MESSENGER OF PEACE, WHITE RIVER LUMBER CABOOSE 001, NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY STEAM LOCOMOTIVE 924, WEYERHAEUSER TIMBER LOCOMOTIVE 1, AND GREAT NORTHERN CABOOSE X-101. THE TRAIN SHED WAS OPEN ALL YEAR WITH SEASONALLY-ADJUSTED HOURS. IN 2024 SEVERAL NEW EXHIBITS WERE INSTALLED INCLUDING THE ASA WHITNEY TRANSCONTINENTAL EXHIBIT AND THE DAN COOKRAILWAY ART EXHIBIT.
  4. $603,581 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES OFFERED BY THE NORTHWEST RAILWAY MUSEUM INCLUDE OPERATION OF THE SNOQUALMIE DEPOT, AN 1890-BUILT TRAIN STATION LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AN INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE PROGRAM ALONG THE CENTENNIAL TRAIL IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SNOQUALMIE RAILROAD HISTORY OUTREACH INTO K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOMS OPERATION OF AN ANNUAL RAIL THEMED TOWN FESTIVAL CALLED SNOQUALMIE DAYS AND OPERATION OF WEB SITES INCLUDING TRAINMUSEUM.ORG, MESSENGEROFPEACE.ORG, WELLINGTONREMEMBERED.ORG, AND SNOQUALMIEDAYS.COM. THE MUSEUM ALSO OFFERED RAILROAD HISTORY BOOKS, REPRODUCTIONS, AND OTHER NORTHWEST RAIL-HISTORY RELATED MATERIALS THROUGH ITS DEPOT BOOKSTORE.

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 October 13, 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 1961.

    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 October 21, 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.