Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

Oregon Rail Heritage Center provides for the preservation, operation and public enjoyment of three historic steam locomotives that were donated to the City of Portland by their respective railroads in 1958, at the end of the steam era. One of these, the SP 4449, pulled the American Freedom Train around the country during the nation's Bicentennial celebration in 1974-75. In addition to the Portland locomotives, we maintain and operate two vintage diesel switcher locomotives and have been designated by the Oregon Historical Society to be permanent owners of the Mount Emily Shay No. 1. The Shay will form the core of an evolving exhibit about the essential role played by railroads in building Oregon's logging economy. Historical railroad equipment and artifacts are on display throughout our museum and rail yard. We strive to bring the Pacific Northwest's rich and diverse railroad history alive for our visitors. We are a free museum, open 4 days per week. We are staffed by volunteers who are committed to and passionate about our mission. More than 35,000 people visit the museum each year. We host regular events for members that feature speakers and presentations focused on local railroad history. We showcase both permanent and temporary exhibits. We will soon complete our latest and most massive exhibitthe completely restored 100-year-old Brooklyn Turntable. Originally operating in the Southern Pacific (now Union Pacific) Brooklyn Railyard a few miles south of the museum, the turntable was dismantled and moved to our current location when our building opened in 2012. Rehabilitating the Carnegie steel turntable bridge and its moving parts will stretch at least five years, culminating in a Grand ReOpening in fall 2023. In addition to its educational function, the turntable will expedite movement of locomotives and rail equipment inside the Enginehouse and in the railyard.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 76.5%; rating input score 76
• Program expense ratio: 89.9%; rating input score 90
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• 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: 5 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 71
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 18.8%; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 7.01; rating input score 89; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 58; 58th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 14.2% per year; rating input score 100; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.8% per year; rating input score 100; 36th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 7.9% per year; rating input score 100; 51st percentile among comparable filings