Nonprofit · EIN 39-1917972
CENTER FOR RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART INC
Tax-exempt · MADISON, WI 53711
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $933,249 | $964,349 | -$31,100 | $491,539 | $130,058 | $361,481 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $894,659 | $952,603 | -$57,944 | $476,458 | $83,877 | $392,581 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $864,548
- Membership dues
- $53,895
- Program service revenue
- $56,237
- Investment income
- $1,893
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $10,437
- Other revenue
- $10,571
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $90,000
- Other salaries and wages
- $396,345
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $600,448
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $1,076
- Accounting fees
- $71,919
- Occupancy
- $54,402
- Travel
- $74,698
- Depreciation
- $1,897
- Program services (functional)
- $709,727
- Management and general (functional)
- $124,499
- Fundraising (functional)
- $130,123
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $476,458
- Total assets, end of year
- $491,539
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $130,058
- Net assets, end of year
- $361,481
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $7,925
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $330,008
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $31,473
- Gross receipts
- $945,863
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 60
- Year formed
- 1997
- State of legal domicile
- WI
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTT LOTHES | EXEC. DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT Officer | 50 | $90,000 |
| JUSTIN FRANZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $3,883 |
| JEFF BROUWS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| NORMAN CARLSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| T BONDURANT FRENCH | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| TODD HAMALKA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| NONA HILL | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| DAVID KAHLER | VICE-CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| KEVIN P KEEFE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ALBERT O LOUER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| PETER JC MOSSE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| MICHAEL SCHMIDT | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| RICHARD TOWER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| RONALD BATORY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BETSY FAHLMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 15 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTT LOTHES | EXEC. DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT Officer | 50 | $88,002 |
| JEFF BROUWS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| NORMAN CARLSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| T BONDURANT FRENCH | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| TODD HAMALKA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| NONA HILL | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| DAVID KAHLER | VICE-CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| KEVIN P KEEFE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ALBERT O LOUER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| PETER JC MOSSE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MICHAEL SCHMIDT | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| RICHARD TOWER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| RONALD BATORY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JUSTIN FRANZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BETSY FAHLMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1930 MONROE STREET, MADISON, WI 53711-2059
- In care of
- % SCOTT LOTHES
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- SCOTT LOTHES, 1930 MONROE STREET NO 301, MADISON, WI 537112059
- Signed the 990
- SCOTT LOTHES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (608) 251-5785
- Website
- RAILPHOTO-ART.ORG
- Return prepared by
- SVA CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCTS SC
Mission
TO PRESERVE AND PRESENT SIGNIFICANT IMAGES OF RAILROADING, INTERPRETING THEM IN PRINT, EXHIBITIONS, AND ON THE INTERNET.
Program accomplishments
- COLLECTIONTHE CENTER MAINTAINS AN ARCHIVE OF MORE THAN 600,000 PHOTOGRAPHS, PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS, AND PRINTS; ITS STAFF MEMBERS PERFORM ARCHIVAL PROCESSING OF THIS COLLECTION INTO ARCHIVAL-SAFE STORAGE MATERIALS. ANTICIPATED ADDITIONS IN 2025 AND BEYOND WILL PUSH THE TOTAL NUMBER OF IMAGES CLOSE TO 1,100,000. THE CENTER DIGITIZES MANY OF THE IMAGES AS WELL AS THEIR ASSOCIATED METADATA, SHARING THEM THROUGH ITS WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, AND PUBLICATIONS, WHILE MAKING THEM AVAILABLE TO RESEARCHERS, AUTHORS, AND OTHER USERS. GROWTH OF THE COLLECTION HAS LED TO A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN IMAGE USAGE REQUESTS, AND IMAGES FROM THE CENTER'S ARCHIVE NOW APPEAR FREQUENTLY IN BOOKS AND MAGAZINES BY OTHER PUBLISHERS AND AUTHORS. ONE EXAMPLE IS THE "ARCHIVES TREASURE" FEATURE THAT APPEARS IN EACH ISSUE OF CLASSIC TRAINS MAGAZINE AND SPOTLIGHTS A PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE CENTER'S ARCHIVE. THE CENTER'S COLLECTION IS NOT RECORDED ON THE ORGANIZATION'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.COLLECTION PRIORITIES IN 2024 WERE THE ONGOING PROCESSING OF SEVERAL LARGE AND SIGNIFICANT COLLECTIONS, INCLUDING THOSE OF STAN KISTLER, HENRY POSNER III, JIM SHAUGHNESSY, RICHARD STEINHEIMER, AND KARL ZIMMERMANN. THE CENTER ALSO MADE A SIGNIFICANT ADDITION TO ITS ART HOLDINGS WITH THE KALMBACH ART COLLECTION. IT CONTAINS 53 ORIGINAL PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS, DONATED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF KALMBACH PUBLISHING CO. PRIOR TO THE SALE OF THE COMPANY'S RAILROAD MAGAZINE TITLES TO FIRECROWN MEDIA. THE CENTER PAUSED NEW ADDITIONS OF LARGE PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTIONS FOR MUCH OF THE YEAR WHILE ITS COLLECTIONS & ACQUISITIONS COMMITTEE REVIEWED AND UPDATED ITS ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA IN 2024 TO HELP THE CENTER MANAGE BOTH THE GREAT VOLUME AND DIVERSITY OF POTENTIAL MATERIAL. ACCESSIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTIONS RESUMED IN LATE 2024, WHILE ACCESSIONS OF ADDITIONAL PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS, AND ART PRINTS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.Expenses $435,560
- PUBLICATIONSTHE CENTER PUBLISHES A QUARTERLY JOURNAL, RAILROAD HERITAGE, THAT USES PHOTOGRAPHS AND ART TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE RAILROAD'S INFLUENCE ON ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, POPULAR CULTURE, AND THE LIVES OF THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO BUILT, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN RAILROADS IN NORTH AMERICA AND BEYOND. BOOKS ADD TO THIS MESSAGE, AND THE CENTER CONTINUES TO PUBLISH ONE EACH YEAR. THE TITLE FOR 2024 IS BURLINGTON'S SPECTACULAR STEAM PROGRAM. IT DRAWS FROM THE PEOPLE-FOCUSED PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE CENTER'S JOHN E. GRUBER COLLECTION AND THE EXPERT WRITING OF TWO CENTER BOARD MEMBERS TO SHOW THE CULTURAL IMPACT OF THE BURLINGTON STEAM EXCURSIONS OF THE 1950S AND 1960S.Expenses $107,910
- CONFERENCESTHE CENTER HOSTS AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEAR CHICAGO AND SOMETIMES ANOTHER REGIONAL CONFERENCE IN A DIFFERENT CITY FEATURING PRESENTATIONS ABOUT RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART. THE EVENTS GIVE PHOTOGRAPHERS AND RESEARCHERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK AND EXCHANGE IDEAS THROUGH PROGRAMMING AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. ATTENDEES COME FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND SEVERAL OTHER COUNTRIES. THE 2023 CONFERENCE SOLD OUT WITH 170 ATTENDEES IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS; A MOVE TO A LARGER AUDITORIUM FOR THE 2024 CONFERENCE EXPANDED CAPACITY TO 192 AND THE EVENT WAS SOLD OUT. THE CENTER HOSTED ITS FIRST ONLINE PROGRAM IN 2020 AND NOW MANAGES A MONTHLY SERIES OF ONLINE PRESENTATIONS THAT APPEAR LIVE VIA ZOOM AND ARE THEN RECORDED AND POSTED TO YOUTUBE FOR LATER VIEWING. ATTENDANCE ON ZOOM RANGES FROM 100 TO 400, WHILE SEVERAL OF THE YOUTUBE RECORDS HAVE RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF VIEWS.Expenses $91,169
- EXHIBITS AND AWARDSTHE CENTER PREPARES AND MANAGES SEVERAL PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITIONS THAT TRAVEL TO MUSEUMS AND OTHER VENUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. WITH THE 2024 ACCESSION OF THE KALMBACH ART COLLECTION, THE CENTER PREPARED AN EXHIBITION ABOUT IT THAT DEBUTED IN 2025 AT THE GROHMANN MUSEUM IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN. OTHER EXHIBITIONS CURRENTLY OR RECENTLY IN CIRCULATION INCLUDE AFTER PROMONTORY: 150 YEARS OF TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROADING; BEEBE & CLEGG: THEIR ENDURING PHOTOGRAPHIC LEGACY; MILWAUKEE'S BEER LINE; REQUIEM FOR STEAM: THE RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHS OF DAVID PLOWDEN; AND WALLACE W. ABBEY: A LIFE IN RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHY. AFTER PROMONTORY'S WINTER 2024-2025 EXHIBITION AT THE EITELJORG MUSEUM OF AMERICAN INDIANS AND WESTERN ART IN INDIANAPOLIS LED TO A JOINT EVENT BETWEEN THE MUSEUM AND THE CENTER. THE CENTER'S ANNUAL CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS PROGRAM RECOGNIZES CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY AND PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT POINT OF ENTRY FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHERS AND NEW AUDIENCES. NAMED FOR PRINCIPAL FOUNDER JOHN E. GRUBER, THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO RECOGNIZE AND ENCOURAGE EXCELLENCE IN RAILROAD IMAGERY. THE VOLUNTEER PANEL OF THREE JUDGES IS CHAIRED BY A BOARD MEMBER AND TYPICALLY SPLITS THE PROGRAM INTO TWO CATEGORIES, ONE FOR COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS AND ONE FOR BLACK-AND-WHITE, BOTH AROUND A DIFFERENT THEME EACH YEAR. THE WINNING IMAGES ARE PUBLISHED IN THE CENTER'S JOURNAL AND IN RAILFAN & RAILROAD MAGAZINE, AND THEY ARE DISPLAYED AT THE COLORADO RAILROAD MUSEUM.Expenses $75,088
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | Not on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 39-1917972
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1998
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A50)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $491,539
- Income (IRS master file)
- $945,863
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $933,249 | $964,349 | $491,539 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $894,659 | $952,603 | $476,458 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $791,126 | $860,686 | $538,353 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 39-1917972).
Questions about CENTER FOR RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART INC
- What is the EIN of CENTER FOR RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of CENTER FOR RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART INC is 39-1917972.
- Is CENTER FOR RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1998.
- Are donations to CENTER FOR RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does CENTER FOR RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of CENTER FOR RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did CENTER FOR RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
- Who is the principal officer of CENTER FOR RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names SCOTT LOTHES.
- Who are the officers and directors of CENTER FOR RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 15 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $90,000 (SCOTT LOTHES, EXEC. DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT).
- How much revenue does CENTER FOR RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $933,249, expenses of $964,349 and total assets of $491,539 at year end.
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