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California State Railroad Museum Foundation Inc

EIN 94-2698626 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RAISE AND MANAGE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM AND TO ASSIST STATE PARKS IN FULFILLING THEIR MISSION.

Income
$5.2 million
Spending
$5.7 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
9 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 45%
Employees
168
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$276,410, president/ceo

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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (12)
  1. $1.7 million spent. SACRAMENTO SOUTHERN RAILROAD OPERATIONS PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC BY ENHANCING THEIR EXPERIENCE AND PROVIDING AN INTERPRETIVE EXPERIENCE IN OLD SACRAMENTO CALIFORNIA STATE HISTORIC PARK.
  2. $909,035 spent. THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES ENHANCED VISITOR EXPERIENCE BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS, EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES WHICH INCREASE THE UNDERSTANDING AND INTEREST IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM.
  3. $690,210 spent. RAILTOWN 1897 RAILROAD OPERATIONS PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC BY ENHANCING THEIR EXPERIENCE VISITING THE RAILTOWN 1897 CALIFORNIA STATE HISTORIC PARK.
  4. $61,522 spent. RAILROAD SHOPS PROJECT IS THE STUDY, DESIGN, AND PRESENTATION OF THE PLAN TO BUILD AN EXPANDED MUSEUM BUILDINGS COMPLEX AS PART OF THE RAILYARDS PROJECT BEING BUILT BY THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO. THIS PROJECT WAS HALTED IN 2020 DUE TO COVID-19 AND HAS BEEN PLACED ON HOLD FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
  5. $623,571 spent. CALIFORNIA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM STORE RETAIL OPERATIONS SERVES VISITORS WITH THE ABILITY TO PURCHASE EDUCATIONAL AND INTERPRETIVE ITEMS TO ENHANCE THEIR VISITOR EXPERIENCE.
  6. $348,724 spent. MUSEUM ADMINISTRATION AND MAINTENANCE PROVIDES SERVICES DIRECTLY TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM IN ORDER TO BETTER SERVE THE PUBLIC VISITING THE MUSEUM.
  7. $219,157 spent. EDUCATION & INTERPRETATION & VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDE SERVICES DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC WHO VISIT THE CALIFORNIA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM SUCH SERVICES AS EDUCATION, LIVING HISTORY DAYS AND OTHER PUBLIC RELATIONS.
  8. $34,220 spent. COLLECTIONS ACQUISITION & LIBRARY REPRODUCTION PROGRAM SERVES TO SPONSOR, PUBLISH, PURCHASE, DISTRIBUTE/SELL APPROPRIATE LITERATURE, ILLUSTRATIVE MATERIALS & OTHER ITEMS WHICH WILL INCREASE THE UNDERSTANDING & APPREICATION FOR THE VALUES & PURPOSE OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM.
  9. $148,621 spent. EXHIBITS/EVENTS PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC VISITING THE CALIFORNIA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM WHICH INCLUDES DISPLAYS OF SPECIAL EXHIBITS DURING THE YEAR.
  10. $225,754 spent. RAILTOWN DEPOT STORE OPERATIONS SERVES VISITORS WITH THE ABILITY TO PURCHASE EDUCATIONAL AND INTERPRETIVE ITEMS TO ENHANCE THEIR VISITOR EXPERIENCE.
  11. $33,970 spent. THE MAGIC OF TOY TRAINS EXHIBIT FEATURES SOME 1,000 VINTAGE TOY TRAINS, SIX INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS, AND A MAGNIFICENT OPERATING TOY TRAIN LAYOUT. NAMED AFTER THE ESTEEMED COLLECTOR AND DONOR, THOMAS W. SEFTON, THE 3,300 SQUARE-FOOT EXHIBIT FEATURES PRICELESS EXAMPLES OF LIONEL, BUDDY L, AND MARKLIN.
  12. $41,822 spent. OTHER PROJECTS INCLUDING SACRAMENTO/RAILTOWN RESTORATION PROJECTS

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

  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 2025.

    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 May 1981.

    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.