Quick charity verification for Southwest Model Railroad Museum (EIN: 202268814)
Verdict: Southwest Model Railroad Museum shows mixed signals
50/100Mission Score
$0Revenue
$0Assets
2Red Flags
2Strengths
Red Flags
Only one IRS 990 filing available from 2012, indicating potential inactivity or failure to meet filing requirements.
Current reported revenue and assets are $0, suggesting the organization may no longer be operational.
Strengths
Balanced budget in 2012, with expenses ($2,447) closely matching revenue ($2,411).
No officer compensation reported in 2012, indicating volunteer leadership and efficient use of limited funds for operations.
Spending Breakdown
How Southwest Model Railroad Museum allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
10%
Fundraising
Within typical range
How to read this: Well-run charities typically spend 75% or more on programs, keep admin under 25%, and fundraising under 15%. A high program ratio means more of every dollar goes directly to the mission.
How to Interpret This Report
What Red Flags Mean
Red flags are potential warning signs identified by AI analysis of IRS 990 filings. They may indicate issues like declining revenue, high executive pay relative to program spending, lack of transparency, or governance concerns. A single red flag does not necessarily mean an organization is untrustworthy, but multiple flags warrant further investigation before donating.
What Mission Score Measures
The Mission Score (0-100) evaluates how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated purpose. It combines multiple factors: program spending efficiency (how much goes to programs vs. overhead), financial health and sustainability, governance quality, transparency in reporting, and consistency of operations over time. A score of 70+ indicates strong alignment with the organization’s mission.
Using This Data for Donation Decisions
Use this report as one input in your decision. Look at the overall Mission Score for a quick assessment, review red flags and strengths for specific concerns, check the spending breakdown to see where money goes, and compare executive compensation to the organization’s size. Consider viewing the full transparency report for deeper analysis, and always verify tax-exempt status with the IRS before making large donations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Southwest Model Railroad Museum
Is Southwest Model Railroad Museum a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Southwest Model Railroad Museum (EIN: 202268814) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 50/100. 2 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
Is Southwest Model Railroad Museum a good charity to donate to?
Southwest Model Railroad Museum has a Mission Score of 50/100. Revenue: $0. Assets: $0. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Southwest Model Railroad Museum?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Southwest Model Railroad Museum is 202268814. This is the unique tax ID assigned by the IRS.
What is a Mission Score?
The Mission Score is a 0-100 rating that measures how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated mission. It factors in program spending efficiency, financial transparency, governance practices, and outcome reporting. Scores above 70 indicate strong mission alignment, 40-69 suggest mixed performance, and below 40 signals potential concerns.
How does Southwest Model Railroad Museum spend its money?
Southwest Model Railroad Museum allocates 80% to programs, 10% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Southwest Model Railroad Museum's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Southwest Model Railroad Museum's tax-exempt status using EIN 202268814 on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) at apps.irs.gov/app/eos. You can also request copies of their Form 990 directly from the organization, as they are required by law to provide them upon request.
AI Transparency Report
The Southwest Model Railroad Museum appears to be a very small, nascent organization based on its single available IRS 990 filing from 2012. With reported revenue of only $2,411 and expenses of $2,447, its financial activity is minimal. The organization reported no assets or liabilities in that period, which is unusual for a museum, even a small one, suggesting it may have been in a very early stage of development or primarily volunteer-run without significant physical assets. The lack of any subsequent filings or current revenue/assets indicates it may no longer be active or has not met the filing thresholds in recent years. Given the limited data, a comprehensive assessment of financial health, spending efficiency, and transparency is challenging, but the initial filing shows a balanced budget for its size.