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Nonprofit · EIN 82-1484249

COLORADO TOY TRAIN FOUNDATION

Tax-exempt · DENVER, CO 80228

Financials

$68K$71K2023$51K$59K2024$82K$70K2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of COLORADO TOY TRAIN FOUNDATION by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$82,186$70,214$11,972$596,428$323,890$272,538
December 31, 2024990$51,117$59,389-$8,272$595,562$333,617$261,945
December 31, 2023990$67,722$70,938-$3,216$613,944$343,727$270,217
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$32,241
Membership dues
$12,418
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$4,536
Net income from sales of inventory
$44,359
Other revenue
$45,409

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$0
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Accounting fees
$395
Occupancy
$14,504
Depreciation
$16,664
Program services (functional)
$70,214

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$595,562
Total assets, end of year
$596,428
Total liabilities, end of year
$323,890
Net assets, end of year
$272,538
Land, buildings and equipment
$458,909
Gross receipts
$137,653
Employees
0
Volunteers
42
Year formed
2017
State of legal domicile
CO

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, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
John CullenPresident
Officer
20$0
Jerry OwenVice President
Officer
10$0
Wayne JordanSecretary
Officer
11$0
Tom BishopTreasurer
Officer
10$0
Mark LaymanMember
Trustee or director
3$0
Mike ZimmermanMember
Trustee or director
5$0
Tom KennedyMember
Trustee or director
3$0
Bruce HillsworthMember
Trustee or director
4$0
Kevin JonesMember
Trustee or director
3$0
John BushMember
Trustee or director
10$0
Robert StaivlanMember
Trustee or director
3$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 12 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Anthony DowerPresident
Officer
20$0
Jerry OwenVice President
Officer
10$0
David GahagenSecretary
Officer
11$0
Shawn DuffyTreasurer
Officer
10$0
Mark LaymanMember
Trustee or director
3$0
Ken CookMember
Trustee or director
5$0
John CullenMember
Trustee or director
3$0
Larry FranzenMember
Trustee or director
4$0
Robert StavelandMember
Trustee or director
3$0
Rick ThorntonMember
Trustee or director
10$0
John BushMember
Trustee or director
5$0
Keith DorrellMember
Trustee or director
3$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 12 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
John CullenPresident
Officer
30$0
Jerry OwenVice President
Officer
10$0
John BuschSecretary
Officer
11$0
Shawn DuffyTreasurer
Officer
10$0
Mark LaymanMember
Trustee or director
3$0
Ken CookMember
Trustee or director
5$0
Anthony DowerMember
Trustee or director
1$0
Larry FranzenMember
Trustee or director
4$0
Robert StavelandMember
Trustee or director
3$0
Rick ThorntonMember
Trustee or director
10$0
David GahagenMember
Trustee or director
12$0
Keith DorrellMember
Trustee or director
3$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
171 S VAN GORDON STREET, DENVER, CO 80228-1712
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
JOHN CULLEN, 3948 PINEHURST CIR, DENVER, CO 80235
Signed the 990
JOHN CULLEN, PRESIDENT
Phone
(303) 877-6799
Return prepared by
BRAMMEIER TAX SERVICE

Mission

The Colorado Toy Train Foundation is dedicated to providing an educational experience to the public, encompassing the history and operation of toy and model trains while promoting the hobby of train collection

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • The O gauge modules are a portable system constructed according to the Lionel Collectors Club of America. The total layout measures 31 x 14 feet and consists of a double oval of track and an operating and operating accessory peninsula. The peninsula contains coal loading and unloading operations, a magnetic gantry crane, a barrel loading operation and a lumber unloading platform with forklift. The modules are set up in our museum periodically. They are also taken to other sites such as: the annual Sherman Hill train show in Cheyenne, Wy., the annual train show in Estes Park, Co., and the Veterans Museum in Broomfield, Co. This serves as outreach for the Foundation. The modules are instructive in how the operating accessories work and operations of the trains. The modules require maintenance continued improvements in landscaping. They are transported via a 16-foot trailer which requires licensing and insurance. All manpower is by volunteers.
    Expenses $70,214
  • Educational symposia are conducted throughout the year. Admission is free to each symposium. Speakers volunteer their time and any objects used in their demonstrations. Some symposia are educational focusing on collecting toy trains, while others are how to programs focusing on skills used in operating or building toy train layouts. Seven educational programs were presented in 2025. They included: Repair & maintenance of post war (manufactured between 1945 and 1969) steam locomotives; 3-D printing of HO gauge building and detailed accessories for a train layout; two sessions on airbrushing techniques and how to apply static grass; and 25 best Lionel Post War train models.0
  • In addition to the O gage modular layout, the museum has an HO operating layout and a Brio layout so the museum has over 100 linear feet of static displays. These displays are changed periodically and are used to demonstrate all gauges from G, standard, O, S, HO, N, and Z. These are displays showing: historical development of steam engines; a wide varity of transformers from 20 watts to 275 watts; the variations of boxes used by Lionel during the postwar period; the changes in O gauge track and in trucks and couplers used on model trains. The displays educate novice as well as the long-time collector of toy and model trains.0

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 yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
82-1484249
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
2018
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$596,428
Income (IRS master file)
$137,653

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$82,186$70,214$596,428IRS
990December 2024$51,117$59,389$595,562IRS
990December 2023$67,722$70,938$613,944XML
990December 2022$90,642$104,226$626,826IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––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 82-1484249).

Questions about COLORADO TOY TRAIN FOUNDATION

What is the EIN of COLORADO TOY TRAIN FOUNDATION?
The employer identification number (EIN) of COLORADO TOY TRAIN FOUNDATION is 82-1484249.
Is COLORADO TOY TRAIN FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2018.
Are donations to COLORADO TOY TRAIN FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does COLORADO TOY TRAIN FOUNDATION 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 COLORADO TOY TRAIN FOUNDATION due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did COLORADO TOY TRAIN FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who is the principal officer of COLORADO TOY TRAIN FOUNDATION?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names JOHN CULLEN.
Who are the officers and directors of COLORADO TOY TRAIN FOUNDATION?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 11 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
How much revenue does COLORADO TOY TRAIN FOUNDATION have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $82,186, expenses of $70,214 and total assets of $596,428 at year end.

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