Lake Superior Railroad Museum

Analysis

Lake Superior Railroad Museum is a registered charity in United States, based in Duluth, MN. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in October 1974, 52 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts, culture and humanities, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Lake Superior Railroad Museum reported income of $1.5m and spending of $1.4m, spending 93% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $922k to $1.5m (+62%), an average of +13% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 75%. Over the whole period it spent 86% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Lake Superior Railroad Museum sits at the 89th percentile: it is larger than about 89% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 83rd percentile, and in the 82nd percentile within MN. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Queen Sofia Spanish Institute Inc ($1.5m), Unitary Fund ($1.5m) and Central Square Theater Inc ($1.5m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 49% and program service revenue 48% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $62k (4.4% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $201k. At year end it held assets of $1.6m against liabilities of $258k, net assets of $1.4m. It reported 54 employees.