Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To explore the kaleidoscope of the American experience-using the courageous lessons of Jewish History as well as those of other individuals and communities that have thrived despite marginalization -to advocate for a world that builds understanding and connection.
- Income
- $4.0 million
- Spending
- $3.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 14.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 47%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 302
- Highest pay
- $188,301, managing director until 9/30/24
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: 96 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (3)
- $2.1 million spent. Core Collection - The Museum features two core exhibitions. An American Story chronicles the immigrant experience, development of Cleveland, Civil Rights Movement, and the Holocaust. The Temple-Tifereth Israel Gallery displays the internationally renowned collection of Judaica from its namesake synagogue. Tours of the collections include the topics of immigration and assimilation, the Holocaust and Civil Rights Movement, Cleveland history, and Jewish faith and traditions. Students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District also receive free admission, ensuring that cost is never a barrier to experiencing the Museum. As part of its core collection, The Maltz Museum is now home to two interactive biographies, of a Holocaust survivor and of a civil rights activist. Through advanced filming techniques, specialized display technologies, and natural language processing, the experiences of these two upstanders against hate have been preserved in a format that allows audiences to interact with their images as if they were actually present in the same room. For years to come, visitors will see these upstanders in high-definition, hear their voices, absorb their eyewitness accounts of history in the making, and draw inspiration from their courage and commitment to nonviolent change.
- $157,733 spent. Special Exhibitions - The Museum has presented 43 special exhibitions, including 3 in fiscal year 2025, the content of which has varied from Rube Goldberg to the Holocaust.
- $401,288 spent. Stop the Hate - Every year the Stop the Hate program gives thousands of students across Northeast Ohio a means of understanding and responding to acts of bias and hate in their own communities. Through museum tours, teaching-artist workshops, creative projects, and contests culminating in an awards ceremony, this program targets students in middle and high school, an impressionable age for learning the critical thinking skills and empathy they will need to lead their communities to a more accepting, inclusive future. The Museum prioritizes the needs of students from underserved school districts by providing free transportation and admission to all Stop the Hate workshop participants.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.