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Museum of Western Film History

EIN 95-3645691 · Lone Pine, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair52 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE MUSEUM OF WESTERN FILM HISTORY IS TO COLLECT, PRESERVE, PROTECT,ARCHIVE AND EXHIBIT A VARIETY OF ORIGINAL MATERIALS CONTAINING INFORMATION OF PERMANENT HISTORICAL VALUE RELATING TO THE HISTORY AND HERITAGE OF THE AMERICANWESTERN FILM FOR THE PRESERVATION, EDUCATION, AND ENRICHMENT OF THE PUBLIC. THEMUSEUM ACTIVELY PURSUES COLLECTIONS OF PERSONAL PAPERS, BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATIONALRECORDS, AS WELL AS MEMORBILIA THAT REFLECT AND DOCUMENT ASPECTS OF WESTERN FILM HISTORY AND POPULAR CULTURE FOR SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS TO DISCOVER.

Income
$441,051
Spending
$393,015
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
17.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 46%
Employees
10
Volunteers
45

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.7 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 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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. $267,342 spent. TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE OF THE LOCAL SOUTHERN INYO AREA IN THE SETTLING OF THE WEST BY PROVIDING OBJECTS, PICTURES, AND MEMORABILIA PERTAINING TO THE LOCAL HISTORY WITH A FOCUS ON THE FILM HISTORY OF THE AREA.

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 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 October 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 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.