Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Griffin Museum of Photography Inc

EIN 04-3517288 · Winchester, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GRIFFIN MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY, INC. IS DEDICATED TO THE PROMOTION OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS. IT WILL STRIVE TO ELEVATE THE SENSITIVITY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO THE BEAUTY OF PHOTOGRAPHY AS AN ART MEDIUM, TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON PHOTOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES, TO PRESERVE HISTORY THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHIC DISPLAYS, TO INTEREST THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN PHOTOGRAPHY, AND TO BECOME THE LEADING INSTITUTION IN NEW ENGLAND FOR THE RECOGNITION AND PROMOTION OF PHOTOGRAPHY. TO ACCOMPLISH THESE OBJECTIVES, THE MUSEUM WILL DISPLAY THE COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS BY ARTHUR GRIFFIN, OFFER A PLACE FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS TO DISPLAY THEIR ARTISTIC WORKS AND TO GIVE LECTURES, TO PRESERVE AND STORE PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKS OF ARTHUR GRIFFIN AND OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO DONATE THEIR WORKS TO THE MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM WILL ALSO PROVIDE A PLACE FOR MEETINGS, AND WORK WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTUTITIONS TO PROMOTE PHOTOGRAPHY, AND WILL PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS.

Income
$835,083
Spending
$821,731
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
-2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
8
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$101,628, executive director

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

Financial health

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 (2)
  1. $547,953 spent. THE GRIFFIN MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY, BUILDING UPON 33 YEARS OF SHOWCASING EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED PHOTOGRAPHERS, IS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING THE ART AND CRAFT OF PHOTOGRAPHY. WE PROVIDE A DYNAMIC PLATFORM FOR DIVERSE VISUAL VOICES, FROM ARTISTS OF NOTE TO NEW CREATIVE ARTISTS, FOSTERING A SPACE FOR INNOVATIVE IDEAS. THE MUSEUM CREATES AN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY VIA LOCAL ARTS, HUMANITIES, AND SCIENCE ORGANIZATIONS' PUBLIC PROGRAMMED EVENTS. EMBRACING THE EVOLVING LANDSCAPE OF VISUAL MEDIA, WE EXPLORE THE INTERSECTION OF TECHNOLOGY AND ART, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON THE POWER OF STILL AND MOVING IMAGES. WITH A GLOBAL REACH AND A COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, THE MUSEUM SAW OVER 7,000 VISITORS AND IN 2024 WE SUPPORTED OVER 500 PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTISTS AND 40 EXHIBITIONS ANNUALLY ACROSS VARIOUS VENUES, INCLUDING OUR WINCHESTER MUSEUM, SATELLITE SPACES, AND ONLINE EXHIBITIONS. WE ARE A COMMUNITY PARTNER, WORKING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE WINCHESTER CULTURAL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE EVENT SPACE FOR PROGRAMS AND PRESENTATIONS. MUSEUM PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING MEMBERS' EXHIBITIONS AND CONTEMPORARY NARRATIVES AND EXPLORATIONS ON A THEME, STRIVES TO ENGAGE AUDIENCES THROUGH INTERACTIVE ANALOG AND DIGITAL EXPERIENCES. WE SUPPORT ARTISTIC GROWTH THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND INSIGHTFUL LECTURES, CELEBRATING THE MAKERS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF PHOTOGRAPHY.
  2. $17,392 spent. THE GRIFFIN MUSEUM IS A FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE WINCHESTER CULTURAL DISTRICT (WCD): CREATING AN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY VIA LOCAL ARTS, HUMANITIES, AND SCIENCE ORGANIZATIONS' PUBLIC PROGRAMMED EVENTS. THE WCD SERVES THE TOWN TO CREATE PUBLIC ART EXPERIENCES, PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS LIKE THE WINCHESTER OPEN STUDIOS, AND WORKS WITH THE GRIFFIN MUSEUM TO CREATE A SUMMER PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION, VISION(ARY), THROUGHOUT THE TOWN OF WINCHESTER. THE WCD FACILITATED A NEW INITIATIVE CALLED THE RIVERWALK, PLACING SCULPTURE ALONG THE MAIN BIKE PATH THROUGH THE CENTER OF TOWN AND SPONSORED A SUMMER MUSIC SERIES AND PERFORMING ARTS ON THE GRIFFIN MUSEUM TERRACE, PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL OF WINCHESTER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 May 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 May 2000.

    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.