Plano African American Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of the Plano African American Museum is to tell the story of the fortitude it took to endure the hardships of slavery, the commitment to the dream of freedom, and the many citizens that helped along the way. Our story is America's story. The museum is a historical home that was once owned by a white woman who deeded the home to John Thornton (a black man) married to Charity Thorton in the late 1800's which was frowned upon but provided the basis for how some African Americans originally acquired homes at that time. The museum (aka Thornton house) is located in a historic African American community in Plano.
- Income
- $87,104
- Spending
- $71,537
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 2
- Highest pay
- $2,324, director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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, 2025, 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)
- $27,060 spent. The most significant exhibit for the museum is the house itself. The museum is housed in a 1 1/2 story Texas Victorian style home built in the late 1800s that has much of the original flooring and walls and includes several pieces of furniture from that time period. The house has the original well in the backyard. The museum houses lots of historic information and photos of pioneers who built the first African American community in Plano once known as Freedman town. The museum hosted exhibits in the historic house as well as conducted tours Tuesday through Saturday and some special events on Mondays. The museum is open throughout the year with closures during the holidays.
- $16,173 spent. The Plano African American Museum hosted special programming in 2025 that included a special symposium at the Dallas Historical Society in collaboration with the Webber Family Foundation. A special reception was held at the museum to introduce the presenters and the exhibits that were on display for over a month. PAAM hosted pop-up exhibits on African American Ladies Societies at Willow Bend during International Women's Month. It hosted tiny porch concerts throughout the month at the museum along with a public concert at McCall Plaza in celebration of Black Music Month in June and collaborated with the Douglass Community by hosting Juneteenth events at the museum during the community celebration. When Food Speaks is a cultural food event that PAAM hosted for the past 3 years. Each year the focus is on a different food history, and cultural significance that combines teaching and tastes. In 2025 PAAM highlighted the origin of barbeque combined with a best barbeque competition. This event provides the perfect backdrop for community engagement with the inclusion of vendors who offer unique cultural products and some business services that support the cultural and educational experience. Many participants include families as this is a great opportunity for younger people in the city to learn about history, otherwise not taught in school. They are given an opportunity to experience it firsthand by those who offered personal knowledge. Tickets are sold to the event and totaled 3,134. Tuesday with a book is a weekly after school program that supports children in the local community. Each week children from the Plano Daycare and children who are part of their afterschool program visit the museum where local community leaders read to the children. Local leaders in 2025 included Mayor John Muns, Plano Police Chief Ed Drain, Rev. Isaiah Joshua of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Suzy Jones Executive Director of the Art Centre of Plano and countless other leaders and educators. Tuesday with a book is an opportunity for children to learn about different cultures and build confidence through the love of reading.
- $15,620 spent. PAAM completed the necessary building improvement to the historical home with an ADA ramp addition. This extension opens the opportunity for the museum to receive guests with disabilities and opens access to diverse populations. This amount also includes needed repairs and maintenance to preserve the historical property and enhance the visitor experience providing an authentic depiction of life in Plano in the late 1800's.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2013 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on July 15, 2021.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2021.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.