Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O.
- Income
- $39.0 million
- Spending
- $28.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 67%
- Employees
- 287
- Volunteers
- 105
- Highest pay
- $723,605, norma jean calderwood 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 74% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2526 of 27 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 (5)
- $16.5 million spent. COLLECTION AND CONSERVATION - DISTINGUISHED AMONG OTHER GREAT MUSEUMS FOR PRESERVING THE CURATORIAL VISION OF ITS FOUNDER, THE GARDNER MUSEUM IS A WORK OF ART IN TOTALITY. IT ENCOMPASSES A COLLECTION OF APPROXIMATELY 20,000 OBJECTS, INCLUDING ARCHIVAL ITEMS AND WORKS OF ART SPANNING 30 CENTURIES. ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER BEQUEATHED THIS REMARKABLE COLLECTION AND HISTORIC BUILDING AS A RESOURCE "FOR THE EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PUBLIC FOREVER." ON CONTINUAL DISPLAY, THE ONGOING CONSERVATION OF THE COLLECTION EMPLOYS CUTTING EDGE SCIENTIFIC METHODS AND NEW PRACTICES TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND SAFEGUARD THESE WORKS FOR POSTERITY. SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS, PUBLICATIONS, AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS FEATURE NEW RESEARCH ON THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION AND CATALYZE DIALOGUES THAT ADDRESS QUESTIONS OF CONTEMPORARY CULTURAL RELEVANCE.
- $2.3 million spent. EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS - THE GARDNER'S EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS CREATE WELCOMING AND ENJOYABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCES. KNOWN FOR A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AS WELL AS COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES, THE GARDNER OFFERS A RICH VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS THAT SPARK IN-DEPTH EXPERIENCES WITH WORKS OF ART AND PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH SOME OF TODAY'S MOST CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS. IN ADDITION TO HIGH-QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS AND DOCENTS, THE MUSEUM CONDUCTS THOUGHTFUL RESEARCH THAT BRINGS NEW KNOWLEDGE TO THE MUSEUM EDUCATION FIELD. THE THINKING THROUGH ART K-12 PROGRAM, KNOWN FOR ITS EMPHASIS ON CLOSE LOOKING AND INTERPRETATION, HAS PRODUCED RESEARCH ON HOW IN-DEPTH EXPERIENCES WITH ART HELPED BOSTON STUDENTS DEVELOP SIGNIFICANTLY MORE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS THAN STUDENTS IN CONTROL SCHOOLS WITHOUT THE PROGRAM. WORKING WITH LOCAL ARTISTS, PERFORMERS, CULTURAL LEADERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, THE MUSEUM WORKS TO BUILD MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS. FIRST FREE THURSDAYS, A SUCCESSFUL EVENING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS, HAS BECOME A MODEL FOR MUSEUMS AROUND THE COUNTRY IN ENGAGING YOUNG, LOCAL AUDIENCES. NEIGHBORHOOD SALON LUMINARIES AND STUDIO ARTIST PROGRAMS BUILD COMMUNITY WITH LOCAL ARTISTS AND CREATIVES, CONNECTING THEM WITH THE MUSEUM, THE STAFF, COLLECTION, AND RESOURCES, INFORMING FUTURE PROGRAM CO-CREATION AND ARTISTIC RESPONSES TO THE GARDNER. EXHIBITION INTERPRETATION AND PROGRAMMING FEATURE A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES, CREATING MULTIPLE ENTRY POINTS FOR VISITORS. THE GARDNER AMBASSADORS PAID INTERNSHIP PROVIDES PRACTICAL, COMPENSATED JOB PATHWAYS FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND STATE (UMASS BOSTON) COLLEGE STUDENTS, EMPHASIZING BOTH PERSONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS GROUNDING THEIR LEARNING IN THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE.
- $1.3 million spent. MUSIC - A VITAL PART OF ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER'S VISION, MUSIC CONTINUES TO BE CENTRAL TO THE GARDNER MUSEUM'S INTERDISCIPLINARY MISSION. ISABELLA'S MUSEUM OPENED IN 1903 WITH A CONCERT BY THE BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, AND HER DYNAMIC MUSICAL LEGACY CONTINUES TODAY WITH THE COUNTRY'S OLDEST MUSEUM-BASED CONCERT SERIES. THE MUSEUM'S SUNDAY CONCERT SERIES PRESENTS OUTSTANDING ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING MUSICIANS IN THE MUSEUM'S INTIMATE CONCERT SPACE, CALDERWOOD HALL. THE PERFORMERS, COMPOSERS, AND REPERTOIRE FEATURED IN THE MUSEUM'S MUSICAL PROGRAMMING REFLECT A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, WHILE THE COMMISSIONING OF NEW WORKS CELEBRATES THE INNOVATIVE PERSPECTIVES OF CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS. THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT PRESENTS MULTIDISCIPLINARY PERFORMANCES THAT RESPOND TO THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION AND EXHIBITIONS THROUGH DANCE, MUSIC, SPOKEN WORD, AND THEATER.
- $1.2 million spent. LANDSCAPE & HORTICULTURE - IN BUILDING THE MUSEUM, THE FIRST PUBLIC INSTITUTION ON THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED BACK BAY FENS, ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER CONTRIBUTED TO A CONCEPTION OF THE CITY AS SHAPED BY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE. THE MUSEUM REMAINS COMMITTED TO BEING A PREEMINENT CULTURAL VENUE FOR LANDSCAPE AND ITS ROLE IN THE CONTEMPORARY CITY. THE LANDSCAPE DEPARTMENT CURATES EXHIBITIONS AND CONVENES PUBLIC PROGRAMS ON TOPICS OF SOCIETAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR CONTEMPORARY BOSTON. THESE PROGRAMS PRESENT OUR AUDIENCES WITH THE MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES OF THE DAY, AS WELL AS THE ROLE OF DESIGN AND PLANNING IN ADDRESSING THOSE CHALLENGES. THE MUSEUM MAINTAINS A VARIED LIVING PLANT COLLECTION, WITH MANY SPECIES DESCENDING FROM THE FOUNDER'S OWN ERA. ADDITIONALLY, THE HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT PROPAGATES THOUSANDS OF PLANTS EACH YEAR FOR SEASONAL DISPLAYS IN ITS ICONIC COURTYARD. THE MONK'S GARDEN, HORTICULTURE WORKSHOPS, AND OTHER PROGRAMMING FURTHER BRING THE ART OF HORTICULTURE TO LIFE AS PART OF THE MUSEUM EXPERIENCE.
- $856,985 spent. CONTEMPORARY ART - THE ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE OLDEST IN THE COUNTRY, BEGINNING IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE MUSEUM WHEN GARDNER'S FRIEND JOHN SINGER SARGENT STAYED IN AN APARTMENT ON THE GROUND FLOOR. SINCE 1992 THE MUSEUM HAS INVITED ARTISTS FROM ALL CREATIVE DISCIPLINES AND BACKGROUNDS TO ONCE AGAIN STAY ON THE PREMISES TO RESEARCH, WORK AND RESPOND TO THE COLLECTION, OFFERING FRESH PERSPECTIVES ON GARDNER'S CREATION. THESE ARTISTS OFTEN RETURN MULTIPLE TIMES TO FIND INSPIRATION, TO ENJOY THE GIFT OF TIME AND TO STAY CONNECTED TO THE MUSEUM IN MEANINGFUL WAYS. THANKS TO THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN, THE CONTEMPORARY DEPARTMENT HAS CONTINUED TO FORGE DYNAMIC NEW CONNECTIONS BETWEEN MUSEUM AUDIENCES, LIVING ARTISTS AND THE COLLECTION, WHILE EXPANDING THE FOCUS ON SPECIFIC THEMATIC EXHIBITION PROJECTS AND COMMISSIONS, WHICH CONNECT GARDNER'S TOTAL WORK OF ART TO RELEVANT ISSUES OF CONTEMPORARY CULTURE.
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 December 1937.
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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