Museum of Fine Arts
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O.
- Income
- $186.6 million
- Spending
- $141.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 59%
- Reserves
- -7.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 52%
- Employees
- 865
- Volunteers
- 350
- Highest pay
- $1.2 million, ann & graham gund director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1559% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2541 of 41 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
7 of 7Has a 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.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (4)
- $20.2 million spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS: THE MUSEUM MAINTAINS AN ONGOING SERIES OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES IN ORDER TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE MUSEUM AND PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN ART. EDUCATION PROGRAMS COVER A WIDE SPECTRUM OF TOPICS AND INCLUDE STUDIO ART CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN, TEENS AND ADULTS, LECTURES, FILMS, CONCERTS, A VARIETY OF OTHER COURSES, FREE DEMONSTRATIONS AND TALKS, FREE WORKSHOPS FOR EDUCATORS, SCHOOL GROUP TOURS, PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL AREA SCHOOLS, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO ENGAGE YOUTH IN ARTS AND PROGRAMS FOR FAMILY VISITS TO THE MUSEUM.
- $17.2 million spent. EXHIBITIONS: WITH A COLLECTION OF NEARLY 500,000 OBJECTS, THE MUSEUM OWNS SOME OF THE RARE AND IMPORTANT ARTISTIC TREASURES IN THE WORLD. SUCH A COLLECTION ENABLES THE MUSEUM TO PRESENT MANY SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS WITH A BALANCE BETWEEN SCHOLARLY PROGRAMS AND THOSE WITH BROAD PUBLIC APPEAL. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE MUSEUM PRESENTED 20 EXHIBITIONS. SOME HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: DALI: DISRUPTION AND DEVOTION; GEORGIA O'KEEFFE AND HENRY MOORE; POWER OF THE PEOPLE: ART AND DEMOCRACY; DEEP WATERS: FOUR ARTISTS AND THE SEA; THE SUN WILL SET: CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACTION AND THE BODY; FRAGMENTS OF SELF: SMFA AT TUFTS JURIED STUDENT EXHIBITION; UTOPIA, DYSTOPIA: TONY COKES AND OSCAR MUNOZ; CURATED BY TEENS DEATH AS A CONSTANT COMPANION, A COLLABORATION BETWEEN MFA TEEN PROGRAMS AND THE CENTER FOR NETHERLANDISH ART; LANDSCAPE AND LABOR: DUTCH WORKS ON PAPER IN VAN GOGH'S TIME; ROBERT FRANK: MARY'S BOOK; WITNESSING HUMANITY: THE ART OF JOHN WILSON; VAN GOGH: THE ROULIN FAMILY PORTRAITS; QI BAISHI: INSPIRATION IN INK; THE VISIONARY ART OF MINNIE EVANS; FY25 COMMUNITY ARTS INITIATIVE: INTO THE FOREST; FABRIC OF A NATION: AMERICAN QUILT STORIES AT NASHVILLE, TN; DUTCH ART IN GLOBAL AGE AT FORT WORTH, TX; HOKUSAI: INSPIRATION AND INFLUENCE AT KANSAS CITY, MO; LBM: LIVING WITH THE GODS: ARTS, BELIEFS, AND PEOPLES AT HOUSTON, TX; LMB: JAPAN, AN ARTISTIC MELTING POT: ADMIRATION AND IMITATIO, MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND MODIFICATIONS, AND MOTTAINAI? AT KYOTO NATIONAL MUSEUM, JAPAN.
- $2.2 million spent. ENTERPRISE: THE MUSEUM'S RETAIL OPERATIONS OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF MERCHANDISE RELATED TO THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTIONS AND SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS, WHICH CONTRIBUTE IMPORTANTLY TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE MUSEUM'S EXEMPT EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE BY MAKING WORKS OF ART FAMILIAR TO A BROADER SEGMENT OF THE PUBLIC. OFFERINGS AT SHOP INCLUDE ART BOOKS, POSTERS, CARDS, GLASS, TEXTILES, JEWELRY AND SCULPTURE. MERCHANDISE IS FOR SALE IN THE PHYSICAL SHOPS OR THROUGH RETAIL'S WEB-BASED OUTLET.THE MUSEUM IS EXEMPT AS AN EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION ON THE BASIS OF ITS OWNERSHIP, MAINTENANCE, AND EXHIBITION FOR PUBLIC VIEWING OF WORKS OF ART. THE SALES OF SUCH ITEMS CONTRIBUTES IMPORTANTLY TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE MUSEUM'S EXEMPT EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES BY STIMULATING AND ENHANCING PUBLIC AWARENESS, INTEREST, AND APPRECIATION OF ART. MOREOVER, A BROADER SEGMENT OF THE PUBLIC MAY BE ENCOURAGED TO VISIT THE MUSEUM ITSELF TO SHARE IN ITS EDUCATIONAL FUNCTIONS AND PROGRAMS AS A RESULT OF SEEING THE ITEMS SOLD.
- $43.3 million spent. OPERATING SUPPORT: EXPENSES: $24,009,233 REVENUE: $0OPERATING SUPPORT CONSISTS OF ALL OTHER AREAS OF THE MUSEUM. INCLUDING PROTECTIVE SERVICES, FACILITIES AND OTHER AREAS WHICH SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS OF THE MUSEUM AND ITS MISSION.PARKING FACILITIES: EXPENSES: $1,304,091 REVENUE: $4,877,518THE MUSEUM OWNS A PARKING GARAGE AND HAS TWO OPEN-AIR PARKING LOTS. ALL OF THESE FACILITIES ARE OPEN TO MEMBERS AND VISITORS TO THE MUSEUM. THE OPERATION OF ADJACENT PARKING LOTS BY THE MUSEUM, IN AREAS OF INSUFFICIENT PARKING SPACES FOR THE USE OF ITS VISITORS, CONTRIBUTES IMPORTANTLY TO THE MUSEUM'S EXEMPT PURPOSE BY ENCOURAGING VISITATION AND LONGER PERIODS VIEWING OF ITS COLLECTIONS, AND SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS. ANY PROFITS FROM THE FEE CHARGED FOR THE USE OF THE LOT IS PLACED IN THE GENERAL OPERATING FUND.FOOD SERVICES: EXPENSES: $154,800 REVENUE: $1,914,669THE MUSEUM IS ORGANIZED AND OPERATED AS AN ART MUSEUM. THE EATING FACILITIES WHICH ARE CONTRACTED AND MANAGED BY RA, ARE OPEN TO THE MUSEUM STAFF, EMPLOYEES, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC VISITING THE MUSEUM AND ARE OF A SIZE COMMENSURATE WITH ACCOMMODATION OF THESE SPECIAL GROUPS OF PATRONS.MEMBERSHIP & VISITORS: EXPENSES: $4,545,440 REVENUE: $10,994,317OVER 1,053,000 VISITORS ATTENDED THE MUSEUM DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025, THERE WERE MORE THAN FIVE COMMUNITY DAYS DURING WHICH ADMISSION CHARGES WERE WAIVED. THE MUSEUM HAS OVER 58,000 ACTIVE MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS. THERE ARE 8 LEVELS OF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP WITH FEES RANGING FROM $90 TO $300. EACH CATEGORY OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF PRIVILEGES, SUCH AS FREE ADMISSION, PUBLICATIONS, RECIPROCAL MEMBER BENEFITS AT OTHER MAJOR ART MUSEUMS AROUND THE U.S. AND SPECIAL EVENTS.OTHER MISC. PROGRAM SERVICES: EXPENSES: $13,353,850 REVENUE: 7,877,518
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.
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 January 1965.
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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