You can make a difference at the Museum by contributing to its projects and ongoing needs. Each donation helps us continue our mission of preserving rail history for future generations.
The Museum is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization; your contributions are tax deductible. To learn more, contact us at (951) 943-3020 or by email at info@socalrailway.org.
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By becoming a monthly donor, you provide essential, ongoing support that allows us to:
Why Monthly Giving Matters
Monthly donations provide a steady and reliable source of funding, allowing us to plan ahead and embark on long-term projects with confidence. It’s an easy and convenient way for you to make a significant impact over time.
Become a Monthly Donor Today
Join our dedicated community of monthly donors and make a difference every day. No matter the amount, your consistent support is invaluable to us. Together, we can preserve the past and inspire the future.
Monthly donors will enjoy exclusive email updates, perks, discounts, and swag sent throughout the year.
Monthly Giving Tiers:
Prefer to donate via check? Download and mail in our pledge form here. Mail to: Southern California Railway Museum PO Box 548, Perris CA 92572.
As part of your estate planning, your legacy gift to the Museum provides a way to honor you or a loved one for future generations. Legacy gifts are designations in you will or other financial planning documents. For more information on how you can leave a Legacy Gift, contact our Museum Manager at (951) 943‑3020 or by e‑mail info@socalrailway.org. Thank you for your consideration.
Money is often donated to the Museum for its ongoing support. Frequently, the donation is spent quickly for a specific purpose but sometimes it’s placed in an endowment fund where it’s invested, and the earnings are used by the Museum. Most endowments are structured so that the principal amount is kept intact while the investment income is available for use. They can be set up to release part of the principal each year, allowing the donation to have a larger impact than using only investment earnings. Endowments often come with restrictions on their use.
The museum has four endowment funds:
There is also a board-directed investment fund that is treated like an endowment. It is unrestricted; its earnings can be used as the board deems appropriate. For more information on how you can leave a Legacy Gift, contact our Museum Manager at (951) 943‑3020 or by e‑mail info@socalrailway.org.
If you are having to deal with a Required Minimum Distribution from your IRA and want to avoid some tax, here is way. If you are over 70 ½ and you have traditional IRA, you can direct all or part of the distribution be paid directly to the Museum in the form of a Qualified Charitable Distribution. This only applies to traditional IRAs, not Roth, Simple, or SEP.
The maximum allowed each year is $100,000.00 per taxpayer. The mechanics of the transaction is you direct the IRA custodian to issue and mail a check to the Museum. You cannot receive the funds. You must get an acknowledgement or receipt for tax purposes.
The acknowledgment or receipt must meet these tests:
The 1099 will be issued under your social security number by your IRA custodian. You will have to note on your tax return that you made a Qualified Charitable Distribution and match the dollar figure to the receipt.
As in any tax transaction, please consult your tax adviser first.
We welcome in-kind donations including much needed materials as well as professional services. Although the Museum is expansive, we very little coverer storage space. To coordinate in-kind donations, please contact our Museum Manager at (951) 943‑3020 or by e‑mail info@socalrailway.org.
Palletainers (wire baskets)
We could use ten wire basket (stackable) palletainers or something similar in the 1,000-4,000 lb. capacity range. They will help us organize parts and better utilize space inside storage containers and car barns. If you are able to donate, please contact us.
Storage Containers
We could use more 20-foot or 40-foot containers in reasonable condition. Containers with roll-up doors would be particularly useful.
Self-Dumping Hopper
We need a new self-dumping hopper for trash collection. These hoppers are lifted by a forklift and tilt forward to dump their load into our large roll-off dumpsters when their locking pin is pulled by a person on the ground. The Stor-Quip Premium Series 2,000 lb. capacity hopper would be a good choice.
Golf Carts
At the Museum, electric golf carts and utility vehicles are very useful. Docents use them for giving guided tours, special event volunteers move supplies through a crowded venue, and maintenance volunteers transport their tools and material throughout the grounds.
Transportation Services
The Museum is regularly offered valuable material donations from around the country. Small items are easy to ship, but for larger items, we need trucking services. We also have an ongoing need to move railcars and materials on the Museum property.
Signage Services
Our exhibit development programs can always use professional signage services.
The Museum is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit organization and donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
You may download a copy of the IRS Letter confirming the Museum’s non-profit status.
There are two IRS publications that may be useful:
The Form 990s that the Museum files with the IRS every year are available on Guidestar. For more information or questions, please contact our Museum Manager at (951) 943‑3020 or by e‑mail info@socalrailway.org.
2201 S. "A" Street, Perris, CA 92570
PO Box 548, Perris, CA 92572
© 2025 Southern California Railway Museum. All Rights Reserved. Terms & Conditions
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