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Mystic Seaport Museum Inc

EIN 06-0653120 · Mystic, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MYSTIC SEAPORT MUSEUM STRIVES TO INSPIRE AN ENDURING CONNECTION TO THE AMERICAN MARITIME EXPERIENCE.

Income
$25.3 million
Spending
$24.7 million
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
-2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
382
Volunteers
405
Highest pay
$368,053, president/ceo & trustee

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 25

    33 of 34 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $5.0 million spent. VISITOR EXPERIENCE - MYSTIC SEAPORT MUSEUM WELCOMES 250,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY. DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING VISITOR SERVICES, EXHIBITIONS, INTERPRETATION, AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS WELCOME VISITORS; RESEARCH, DESIGN, PRODUCE, AND CARE FOR EXHIBITS; OFFER EDUCATIONAL AND ILLUSTRATIVE EXPERIENCES ABOUT AMERICA AND THE SEA; AND OFFER A VARIETY OF SEASONAL AND THEMED PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
  2. $2.5 million spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS - MYSTIC SEAPORT MUSEUM SERVES 25,000 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ANNUALLY WITH A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING SUMMER CAMPS; SAILING PROGRAMS; SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS; AND AFTERSCHOOL, IN-SCHOOL, HOMESCHOOL, VIRTUAL, AND OVERNIGHT PROGRAMS.
  3. $6.6 million spent. COLLECTIONS & RESEARCH - MYSTIC SEAPORT MUSEUM'S COLLECTION CONTAINS MORE THAN 2 MILLION ITEMS SPANNING THE EIGHTEENTH THROUGH TWENTY-FIRST CENTURIES, INCLUDING WATERCRAFT, HISTORIC BUILDINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND FILM, ART, TOOLS, AND ARTIFACTS. THE WATERCRAFT COLLECTION IS THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD WITH MORE THAN 560 VESSELS, INCLUDING FOUR NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS. THE HENRY B. DUPONT PRESERVATION SHIPYARD CARES FOR THESE VESSELS, WHILE THE CURATORIAL DEPARTMENT ACQUIRES, RESEARCHES, DOCUMENTS, RESTORES, AND CONSERVES ITEMS FOR THE COLLECTION. THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION ARE HOUSED IN A STATE OF THE ART FACILITY, THE COLLECTIONS RESEARCH CENTER, WHICH SERVES STUDENTS, MEMBERS, STAFF, AND OUTSIDE SCHOLARS.THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION INCLUDES 560 WATERCRAFT (INCLUDING 5 MAJOR VESSELS), 24 HISTORIC HOUSES AND BUILDINGS, 2000 SHIP MODELS, 1100 SCRIMSHAW PIECES, 5000 VIDEO TAPES, 1,500,000 FEET OF HISTORIC FILM AND A COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 1,000,000 PHOTOGRAPHS, AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANT COLLECTIONS OF PRINTS, NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUMENTS, TOOLS, MARINE PAINTINGS AND OTHER MARITIME MEMORABILIA. IN ADDITION, THE COLLECTION CONTAINS LARGE QUANTITIES OF NONNAUTICAL FURNISHINGS FOR THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS, AS WELL AS SHIP AND BOAT PARTS, ENGINES, AND SIMILAR OBJECTS. THE MUSEUM'S LIBRARY COLLECTION CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 BOOKS AND PERIODICALS, 1,000,000 MANUSCRIPTS, 10,000 MAPS, WELL OVER 100,000 SHIP PLANS, 2,000 ROLLS OF MICROFILM, AND 600 ORAL HISTORY TAPES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 August 1938.

    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.