Wendell Gilley Museum of Bird Carving the
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE WENDELL GILLEY MUSEUM IS A COMMUNITY CENTER THAT CELEBRATES THE LIFE AND WORK OF WENDELL GILLEY, A PIONEER IN THE FIELD OF DECORATIVE BIRD CARVING. IT TEACHES THE ART OF BIRD CARVING AS WELL AS OTHER HANDS-ON CREATIVE PROGRAMS. THE MUSEUM ALSO PRESENTS ART EXHIBITIONS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON PEOPLE, NATURE AND ART. THE MUSEUM ENDEAVORS TO INSPIRE APPRECIATION OF THE VISUAL ARTS, ENGAGEMENT IN ARTISTIC CREATIVITY, AND RESPECT AND CARE FOR THE NATURAL WORLD.
- Income
- $444,389
- Spending
- $573,393
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $96,450, museum direc
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 39 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $230,708 spent. ART EXHIBITIONS - THE WENDELL GILLEY MUSEUM HAS REGULAR GALLERY HOURS MAY THROUGH MID-DECEMBER AND YEAR-ROUND TOURS FOR GROUPS. EVERY YEAR, IN ADDITION TO ROTATING EXHIBITIONS DRAWN FROM THE GROWING PERMANENT COLLECTION , THE MUSEUM MOUNTS AT LEAST ONE MAJOR, TEMPORARY EXHIBITION BRINGING ARTIFACTS FROM OTHER MUSEUMS AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS TO SOUTHWEST HARBOR. SEVERAL FREE ADMISSION DAYS ARE HOSTED ANNUALLY BY THE MUSEUM TO ENCOURAGE ATTENDANCE REGARDLESS OF ECONOMIC MEANS. IN ADDITION, ADMISSIONS FEES HAVE BEEN KEPT DOWN AND A LOW-COST MEMBERSHIP OPTION IS OFFERED AS WELL FOR THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS.
- $109,243 spent. BIRD CARVING AND OTHER HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS - OUTSIDE OF VISITOR HOURS, THE MUSEUM BUILDING IS AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP MEETINGS AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS AT NO CHARGE. BIRD CARVING WORKSHOPS ARE OFFERED YEAR-ROUND AND OTHER HANDS-ON CREATIVE PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED PERIODICALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SESSIONS RANGE FROM 1 1/2 HOURS TO 10-WEEK SERIES OF 3-HOUR CLASSES TO MEMBERS, SCHOOL GROUPS, SENIOR GROUPS AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. MUSEUM MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO MEMBERS' CARVING CLUB HELD WEEKLY NOVEMBER- APRIL, ENSURING REGULAR YEAR-ROUND ACCESS TO THE MUSEUM.
- $39,538 spent. NATURAL HISTORY PROGRAMS - NATURAL HISTORY AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED YEAR-ROUND TO SCHOOL GROUPS, HOMESCHOOLERS, AND OTHER ADULT AND CHILDREN'S GROUPS. EXAMPLES OF CURRENTLY OFFERED PROGRAMS ARE OWL ECOLOGY, "MY CHANGING NEIGHBORHOOD" STORYBOARD, AND "BUILD-A-BIRD." DURING MUSEUM VISITING HOURS, FILMS, PERSONAL TOURS AND CARVING DEMONSTRATIONS ARE REGULAR FEATURES. THE MUSEUM LIBRARY IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC USE WITH SPECIALIZED HISTORICAL RESOURCES AS WELL AS CURRENT PUBLICATIONS FOCUSED ON BIRDS OF THE WORLD AND THE WORLD OF BIRD CARVING. A COLLECTION OF MOUNTED BIRDS IS MAINTAINED AS REFERENCE MATERIAL FOR ARTISTS AND NATURALISTS. THE MUSEUM GIFT SHOP STOCKS LOCAL BIRD CARVINGS, CARVING TOOLS AND SUPPLIES, ORIGINAL BLANKS, AND INSTRUCTION BOOKS, AS WELL AS BIRD-RELATED BOOKS, AUDIO-VISUAL GUIDES, BINOCULARS, AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST TO AVIAN AFICIONADOS. THE MUSEUM STAFF WORKS WITH SCHOOL TEACHERS, OTHER EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE CUSTOMIZED TOURS AND WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS AND ADULTS OF ALL AGES. NATURAL HISTORY PROGRAMS - NATURAL HISTORY AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED YEAR-ROUND TO SCHOOL GROUPS, HOMESCHOOLERS, AND OTHER ADULT AND CHILDREN'S GROUPS. EXAMPLES OF CURRENTLY OFFERED PROGRAMS ARE OWL ECOLOGY, "MY CHANGING NEIGHBORHOOD" STORYBOARD, AND "BUILD-A-BIRD." DURING MUSEUM VISITING HOURS, FILMS, PERSONAL TOURS AND CARVING DEMONSTRATIONS ARE REGULAR FEATURES. THE MUSEUM LIBRARY IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC USE WITH SPECIALIZED HISTORICAL RESOURCES AS WELL AS CURRENT PUBLICATIONS FOCUSED ON BIRDS OF THE WORLD AND THE WORLD OF BIRD CARVING. A COLLECTION OF MOUNTED BIRDS IS MAINTAINED AS REFERENCE MATERIAL FOR ARTISTS AND NATURALISTS. THE MUSEUM GIFT SHOP STOCKS LOCAL BIRD CARVINGS, CARVING TOOLS AND SUPPLIES, ORIGINAL BLANKS, AND INSTRUCTION BOOKS, AS WELL AS BIRD-RELATED BOOKS, AUDIO-VISUAL GUIDES, BINOCULARS, AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST TO AVIAN AFICIONADOS. THE MUSEUM STAFF WORKS WITH SCHOOL TEACHERS, OTHER EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE CUSTOMIZED TOURS AND WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS AND ADULTS OF ALL AGES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1980.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
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