philanthropy.org | 990 Resource | FAQ Verify yourself
Sign in

Lost Railway Museum

Tax-deductible

Grass Lake, MI501(c)(3)Arts & CultureEIN 47-5410254Revenue $224K in FY2025

On file with the IRSlostrailwaymuseum.orgPo Box 574, 49240-0574 · Grass Lake, MITax-exempt since Feb 2016Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

This page gets seen. Tell your story. Claim this org.

Demonstrate the vital role railroads and interurban Railway system played in the growth of grass lake area as well as michigan by displaying an actual electric interurban rail car and related artifacts.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
59¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 75 volunteers.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $72K a year · 32% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
59%
of spending
Worth a look: 59% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Cash reserves
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $69K
Looks good: 5 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$29K
2% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 2% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 10 voting members
Looks good: 10 of 10 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$224K
+24% vs prior year
Spent
$183K
To programs
59%
Net assets
$1.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$224K
FY2025▲ +24%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$129K
FY2021$223K
FY2022$293K
FY2023$288K
FY2024$181K
FY2025$224K
Expenses
$183K
FY2025▲ +14%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$124K
FY2021$107K
FY2022$148K
FY2023$184K
FY2024$160K
FY2025$183K
Net assets
$1.2M
FY2025▲ +3%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$802K
FY2021$918K
FY2022$1.1M
FY2023$1.2M
FY2024$1.2M
FY2025$1.2M

From the FY2025 Form 990 · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Feb 2016.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

59 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 59% · $107K Management & general 24% · $43K Fundraising 18% · $33K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? The org can add a note here. Claim this org to fix it.

Who runs it and what they're paid

12 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Paula Autry
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Wendy Chido
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Dawn Cuddie
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Janet Epp
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See Lost Railway Museum executive salaries →

Are you one of these people? Claim this org to confirm your role

Something off? The org can add a note here. Claim this org to fix it.

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Showcases railroads' vital role in area growth with an electric interurban rail car and artifacts.

Questions for Lost Railway Museum

Tap to ask. Lost Railway Museum sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Lost Railway Museum answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this organization? Claim it to add your story

1 program · $107K · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Display interurban rail cars and other historical artifacts to educate the public about the electric interurban railway system that used to be the primary mode of public transportation.

$107Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Addison P Cook III FoundationFY2024$30K
The L H Field Family FoundationFY2024$20K
The Copper Nail Community Resale ShopFY2024$14K
Samuel Higby Camp FoundationFY2024$5K
Lavery FoundationFY2024$500
Total grants receivedfrom 5 funders$69K
See all 5 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$224K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$183K
Other incomeLn 4–11$41K
Money outPt IX
$183K
Ln 25
Programscol B$107K
Managementcol C$43K
Fundraisingcol D$33K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$60K
Total assetsLn 16$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$29K
PeoplePt VI, VII
12
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$183K
Other incomeLn 4–11$41K
Total revenueLn 12$224K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$60K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$60K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.2M
Total assetsLn 16$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$29K
Net assetsLn 32$1.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 675
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$34K$60K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.2M$1.2M
Total assetsLn 16$1.3M$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$74K$29K
Net assetsLn 32$1.2M$1.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Management feesLn 11a$94K$27K$36K$32K
Accounting feesLn 11c$900$900
Advertising and promotionLn 12$12K$12K
Office expensesLn 13$4K$3K$578$578
OccupancyLn 16$16K$15K$2K
InterestLn 20$3K$2K$278
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$28K$25K$3K
InsuranceLn 23$8K$7K$751
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$18K$17K$455$455
All other expensesLn 24e$319$319
Total functional expensesLn 25$183K$107K$43K$33K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $224K$183K$41K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2024 $181K$160K$20K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $288K$184K$104K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $293K$148K$145K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $223K$107K$116K$918K 990 PDF
FY2020 $129K$124K$5K$802K 990 PDF

Want to add your own materials alongside these filings? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $223,894 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $175,948$183,370
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $4,922$40,524
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $180,870$223,894
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefits$0
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $160,458$182,967
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $160,458$182,967
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $20,412$40,927
Part VI · Governance 10 of 10 board members independent, 4 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members10
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $223,894 across 5 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $697 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$183,370
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$183,370
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $3,000$3,000
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $16,016$36,827
VIII-12 Total revenueExcluded from tax $19,713$223,894
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $182,967 across 10 lines filed
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $26,671 · Management $35,500 · Fundraising $31,500$93,671
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $900$900
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $11,911$11,911
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $2,697 · Management $578 · Fundraising $578$3,853
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $14,841 · Management $1,649$16,490
IX-20 InterestPrograms $2,499 · Management $278$2,777
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $25,200 · Management $2,800$28,000
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $6,763 · Management $751$7,514
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $16,622 · Management $455 · Fundraising $455$17,532
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $319$319
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $107,204 · Management $43,230 · Fundraising $32,533$182,967
Part X · Balance sheet $1,257,834 assets, 10 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $33,564$60,344
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $3,405$2,368
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,223,123$1,195,122
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,261,956$1,257,834
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $74,167$29,167
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $178$129
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $74,345$29,296
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,187,611$1,228,538
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,187,611$1,228,538
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,261,956$1,257,834
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,228,538 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$223,894
XI-2 Total expenses$182,967
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$40,927
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,187,611
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,228,538

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

If you ARE the filing organization, claim this org and add context

Made it to the end? Claim this organization

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.