Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

The museum exists to share Colorado's rich railroad heritage with the widest possible audience in a hands-on and three-dimensional fashion by preserving and making accessible important historic artifacts, artwork and documents, and by offering outstanding interpretive and educational programs to the community. The museum has systematically acquired a collection of over 100 historic railroad locomotives, passenger and freight cars dating from 1879 to the present, and also manages one of the largest archives of railroad print, photographic and research materials in the united states. It is dedicated to sharing Colorado's rich railroad history through the use of both small and large artifacts, along with archival materials associated with railroading in Colorado and the rocky mountain region. The museum's research library is the second largest of its kind, and library volunteers are recognized for their in-depth knowledge of western railroads and their lines. Authors of all genres may be found researching timetables, payroll records and photographs for their projects. The museum library is also home to an extensive collection of railroad related art, some of it painted by world-famous artists, and donated to the museum by dedicated collectors. This collection is sometimes loaned to other institutions in collaborative efforts. Since 1961 the museum has published over 50 scholarly books and pamphlets on the railroads of Colorado and the west that are internationally recognized by historians. The Colorado railroad museum has been ranked among the top 25 denver area attractions by denver business journal and as one of the top 10 paid attractions by visit denver.the Colorado railroad museum continues to focus on conservation and restoration of its full-size rail vehicle collection. The importance of restoration and maintenance of historic rolling stock cannot be overstated. By ensuring that visitors are able to view and sometimes ride painstakingly restored railroad artifacts, we are able to bring history to life and to inspire our guests to learn more about how railroads have transformed our state, the nation, and the entire world. Tour hosts address the ways in which railroads contributed to the dynamic economic, social, and agricultural changes in the american west, and helped create modern-day Colorado.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 44.8%; rating input score 45
• Program expense ratio: 76.7%; rating input score 77
• Fundraising efficiency: $20.18 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 45.1%; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 4.98; rating input score 83; 83rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.24; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.9%; rating input score 62; 62nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.7% per year; rating input score 100; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 9.5% per year; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 8.5% per year; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings