North American Railway Foundation question

Matt Bumgarner · **Posted:** Mon Jun 13, 2011 8:40 pm

Does anybody on this list know much about this organization beyond what is at their website at www.narfoundation.org ?

Specifically, what size grants do they typically award? Actually, they claim not to do grants, but rather "direct funding." Any insight appreciated.

Thanks

Matt Bumgarner

Heavenrich · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 11:07 am **Posts:** 630

Never heard of 'em, but ....

Have you tried looking their 990 up on a site like Guidestar.

It should give the total awarded in grants and any really large ones.

Bob H

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Mon Jun 13, 2011 10:19 pm

I believe, in the case of the B&O Museum, that they underwrote the preparation and production of all the nice, "new" upright signs identifying the equipment and each one's individual history, complete with illustrations as appropriate, replacing the 1970's-era "music-stand"-type signs that, in many cases, had deteriorated to nothing.

Matt Bumgarner · **Posted:** Mon Jun 13, 2011 11:14 pm

Thank you Bob. I had never heard of the website you mentioned, but it was most helpful.

Matt

chlacey · **Posted:** Mon Jun 13, 2011 11:36 pm

North American Railway Foundation, located in Harrisburg, PA, is a philanthropic arm of organized railroad labor. The Foundation has been instrumental in preserving railroad history and in promoting railroad education and safety in numerous funded projects. One project was the digitization of Ron Nixon's Northern Pacific photographic collection at the Museum of the Rockies at Montana State University. The Foundation also assisted the Heber Valley Railroad in acquiring a set of Whiting 35-ton portable electric jacks, used for locomotive repairs, maintenance and restoration. Information on many of the Foundations projects, along with contact information, can be found on the Foundation's website.

Craig Lacey
Heber Valley Railroad
Heber City, UT

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2605

They are located in Harrisburg PA, seem to be labor organization related. Their CFO or Controller has come to some PICPA professional education in the past.

eldiner · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:39 am **Posts:** 534

I would recommend you call them and ask for the person who handles grants. While we applied three times and lost all three at least by talking to him he was able to at least tell me if a request would be evaluated by their grants committee or if it would not even be considered. They also gave money to the folks in Green Bay for their Pullman Porter exhibit.