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De Cordova and Dana Museum and Park

EIN 04-2067315 · Lincoln, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE, EDUCATE, AND DELIGHT WITH CONTEMPORARY ART FROM NEW ENGLAND AND BEYOND THROUGH SCULPTURES IN THE LANDSCAPE AND MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS.

Income
$4.5 million
Spending
$3.7 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 34%
Employees
64
Volunteers
27
Highest pay
$476,680, vice president

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $1.9 million spent. EXIBITION OF ART: APPROXIMATELY 55,000 PEOPLE VISITED THE PARK AND THE MUSEUM DURING THE FISCAL YEAR TO VIEW OUTDOOR SCULPTURES, INSTALLATIONS, ARTIST PROJECTS, AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS, THE DETAILS OF WHICH MAY BE VIEWED ON THE MUSEUM WEBSITE. THE INDOOR EXHIBITION PROGRAM IS TEMPORARILY PAUSED DUE TO BUILDING RENOVATIONS. DECORDOVA'S PERMANENT COLLECTION CURRENTLY CONTAINS 3,634 WORKS OF ART.
  2. $1.4 million spent. ART EDUCATION: DECORDOVA EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS WERE ACCESSED BY MORE THAN 3,775 OF OUR VISITORS, INCLUDING VISITING SCHOOL GROUPS, TEACHERS, GIRL SCOUTS, SENIOR GROUPS, AND GROUPS OF DEVELOPMENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY DISABLED STUDENTS AND ADULTS. THE INSTITUTION PROVIDED AROUND 53 PRIVATE AND PUBLIC TOURS LED BY TRAINED MUSEUM GUIDES, APPROXIMATELY 50 FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, AND HOSTS AN EMBEDDED PRESCHOOL ON ITS CAMPUS THAT SERVES 59 CHILDREN FIVE DAYS PER WEEK, AMONG OTHER EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES OFFERED TO A DIVERSE PUBLIC.
  3. $217,880 spent. CORPORATE ART PROGRAM: THE CORPORATE ART PROGRAM EXHIBITS HUNDREDS OF WORKS FROM REGIONAL LENDING ARTISTS AT THE OFFICES OF APPROXIMATELY 50 CORPORATE MEMBERS WHO DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE MUSEUM, WITH MORE THAN 50,000 EMPLOYEES AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC VIEWING THESE WORKS OF ART.

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 November 6, 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 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.