Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Shelburne Museum Incorporated

EIN 03-0179436 · Shelburne, VT

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BROADEN OUR AUDIENCE, ENGAGE THEIR CURIOSITY, ANIMATE THEIR CREATIVITY, AND GIVE THEM AN EXTRAORDINARY, EDUCATIONAL MUSEUM EXPERIENCE.

Income
$19.1 million
Spending
$9.7 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
204
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$373,323, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 270% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 (1)
  1. $6.5 million spent. OPERATION OF A MUSEUM OF ART AND AMERICANA INCLUDING IMPRESSIONIST PAINTINGS, FOLK ART, QUILTS, TEXTILES, DECORATIVE ARTS, FURNITURE, AMERICAN PAINTINGS AND 17TH TO 20TH CENTURY ARTIFACTS. DURING THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2025, THE MUSEUM'S OVERALL VISITORS TOTALED 136,413 INCLUDING 28,349 SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN. SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS INCLUDED: SHELBURNE MUSEUM ORGANIZES AND PRESENTS EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMS FOR THE ENRICHMENT OF THE COMMUNITY. EACH YEAR THE MUSEUM PRESENTS APPROXIMATELY TEN TO TWELVE ROTATING AND PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS. DURING THE YEAR 2025, SHELBURNE MUSEUM PRESENTED THE FOLLOWING ROTATING EXHIBITIONS: MAKING A NOISE: INDIGENOUS SOUND ART; SOUND, ART, & INK: HIGHER GROUND POSTERS; HERD: KAREN PETERSEN'S BRONZE HORSES; DAHLOV IPCAR: THE POSSIBILITIES OF PATTERN; BLUEPRINT OF A COLLECTION: CYANOTYPE PHOTOGRAPHY OF DAVID SOKOSH; PORCELAIN LOVE LETTERS: THE ART OF MARA SUPERIOR; A GRAND SPECTACLE IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS: ELLIOT FERNANDER'S CIRCUS PHOTOGRAPHY; CIRCUS POSTER SELECTIONS FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION; ROTATING QUILT INSTALLATIONS FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION. SPECIAL PROGRAMS: DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING RETURNED TO PREPANDEMIC LEVELS, BUILDING UPON AND EXPANDING PROGRAMS FROM FISCAL YEAR 2024. SHELBURNE MUSEUM HOSTED PROGRAMS FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND THOSE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA; SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS; SUMMER CAMPS THAT SPECIALIZED IN ART PROGRAMMING SUCH AS KNITTING AND PRINT MAKING; YOGA CLASSES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL STUDIO; ONGOING WEBINARS REGARDING CONSERVATION EFFORTS; AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS PRE-K THROUGH COLLEGE, INCLUDING UNDERWRITING OF ADMISSION AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS FOR SCHOOLS UPON REQUEST. SHELBURNE MUSEUM CONTINUED TO HOST FREE ADMISSION EVENTS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY DAY AND FREE FIRST FRIDAYS, WHICH PROVIDES FREE ADMISSION TO THE PUBLIC AFTER 3PM ON THE FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH DURING THE SEASON. THIS PROGRAM WELCOMED A TOTAL OF 8,609 VISITORS, 15 FOOD & BEVERAGE VENDORS, AND 4 LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES. IN 2025 SHELBURNE MUSEUM CONTINUED OFFERING SENSORY FRIENDLY FRIDAYS/TIMES, TO ALLOW CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH SENSORY PROCESSING DIFFERENCES TIME TO VIEW SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS IN A LIGHT AND SOUND ADJUSTED ENVIRONMENT. SHELBURNE MUSEUM PLANS TO EXPAND THIS INITIATIVE IN THE COMING YEARS. IN ADDITION, SHELBURNE MUSEUM CONTINUED THE WINTER LIGHTS PROGRAMMING, WHICH IS AN OUTDOOR LIGHTSHOW & EXPERIENCE THAT RUNS FROM LATE NOVEMBER THROUGH JANUARY 1ST. THIS EVENT ALLOWS US TO ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. WINTER LIGHTS CONTINUES TO BE AN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, WELCOMING OVER 58,000 VISITORS IN 2025. OPERATION OF A MUSEUM OF ART AND AMERICANA INCLUDING IMPRESSIONIST PAINTINGS, FOLK ART, QUILTS, TEXTILES, DECORATIVE ARTS, FURNITURE, AMERICAN PAINTINGS AND 17TH TO 20TH CENTURY ARTIFACTS. DURING THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2025, THE MUSEUM'S OVERALL VISITORS TOTALED 136,413 INCLUDING 28,349 SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN. SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS INCLUDED: SHELBURNE MUSEUM ORGANIZES AND PRESENTS EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMS FOR THE ENRICHMENT OF THE COMMUNITY. EACH YEAR THE MUSEUM PRESENTS APPROXIMATELY TEN TO TWELVE ROTATING AND PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS. DURING THE YEAR 2025, SHELBURNE MUSEUM PRESENTED THE FOLLOWING ROTATING EXHIBITIONS: MAKING A NOISE: INDIGENOUS SOUND ART; SOUND, ART, & INK: HIGHER GROUND POSTERS; HERD: KAREN PETERSEN'S BRONZE HORSES; DAHLOV IPCAR: THE POSSIBILITIES OF PATTERN; BLUEPRINT OF A COLLECTION: CYANOTYPE PHOTOGRAPHY OF DAVID SOKOSH; PORCELAIN LOVE LETTERS: THE ART OF MARA SUPERIOR; A GRAND SPECTACLE IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS: ELLIOT FERNANDER'S CIRCUS PHOTOGRAPHY; CIRCUS POSTER SELECTIONS FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION; ROTATING QUILT INSTALLATIONS FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION. SPECIAL PROGRAMS: DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING RETURNED TO PREPANDEMIC LEVELS, BUILDING UPON AND EXPANDING PROGRAMS FROM FISCAL YEAR 2024. SHELBURNE MUSEUM HOSTED PROGRAMS FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND THOSE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA; SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS; SUMMER CAMPS THAT SPECIALIZED IN ART PROGRAMMING SUCH AS KNITTING AND PRINT MAKING; YOGA CLASSES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL STUDIO; ONGOING WEBINARS REGARDING CONSERVATION EFFORTS; AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS PRE-K THROUGH COLLEGE, INCLUDING UNDERWRITING OF ADMISSION AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS FOR SCHOOLS UPON REQUEST. SHELBURNE MUSEUM CONTINUED TO HOST FREE ADMISSION EVENTS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY DAY AND FREE FIRST FRIDAYS, WHICH PROVIDES FREE ADMISSION TO THE PUBLIC AFTER 3PM ON THE FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH DURING THE SEASON. THIS PROGRAM WELCOMED A TOTAL OF 8,609 VISITORS, 15 FOOD & BEVERAGE VENDORS, AND 4 LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES. IN 2025 SHELBURNE MUSEUM CONTINUED OFFERING SENSORY FRIENDLY FRIDAYS/TIMES, TO ALLOW CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH SENSORY PROCESSING DIFFERENCES TIME TO VIEW SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS IN A LIGHT AND SOUND ADJUSTED ENVIRONMENT. SHELBURNE MUSEUM PLANS TO EXPAND THIS INITIATIVE IN THE COMING YEARS. IN ADDITION, SHELBURNE MUSEUM CONTINUED THE WINTER LIGHTS PROGRAMMING, WHICH IS AN OUTDOOR LIGHTSHOW & EXPERIENCE THAT RUNS FROM LATE NOVEMBER THROUGH JANUARY 1ST. THIS EVENT ALLOWS US TO ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. WINTER LIGHTS CONTINUES TO BE AN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, WELCOMING OVER 58,000 VISITORS IN 2025.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1949.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 21, 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.