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New Britain Museum of American Art Inc

EIN 06-1422234 · New Britain, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NBMAA WELCOMES AND PROVIDES PUBLIC ENRICHMENT AND INSPIRATION THROUGH AMERICAN ART; COLLECTING, PRESERVING, AND PRESENTING THE FINEST EXAMPLES. DYNAMIC EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITIONS, PUBLICATIONS, AND PROGRAMS ILLUMINATE OUR NATION'S DIVERSE HISTORY AND ARTISTIC LEGACY.

Income
$5.7 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
24.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
62
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$263,859, director & ceo

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 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)
  1. $3.6 million spent. IN ADDITION TO DISPLAYING A SELECTION OF ITS PERMANENT COLLECTION, THE MUSEUM MOUNTS 10+ CHANGING EXHIBITIONS PER YEAR.
  2. $740,453 spent. EDUCATION IS CENTRAL TO THE MUSEUM'S MISSION ENGAGING NEARLY HALF OF ALL VISITORS IN A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES. SCHOOL PROGRAMS INCLUDED A VARIETY OF STANDARDSBASED, THEMED DOCENT-LED SCHOOL TOURS WITH RELATED STUDIO ACTIVITY THAT SUPPORT CLASSROOM TEACHING IN ART, HISTORY, LANGUAGE ARTS, MATH AND SCIENCE. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR EDUCATORS (TOURS, STUDIO ACTIVITIES, AND IDEAS FOR INTEGRATING AMERICAN ART INTO CLASSROOM LEARNING). REGULAR PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WERE OFFERED WEEKLY AND DURING SCHOOL VACATIONS, TAUGHT BY ARTISTS/EDUCATORS AND/OR MUSEUM EDUCATORS AND SERVE CHILDREN OF ALL AGES INCLUDING COMMUNITY DAYS, HOMESCHOOL DAYS, AND CHILDREN'S STUDIO ART CLASSES. ADULT PROGRAMMING CONSISTED OF: GALLERY TALKS, LECTURES, SYMPOSIA, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, AND TOURS MONTHLY SUNDAY MUSIC SERIES. FILM SCREENINGS WEEKLY ADULT STUDIO PROGRAMS: (SKETCHING, WATERCOLORS, PAINTING, PHOTOGRAPHY) THURSDAY EVENING AND WEEKEND STUDIO WORKSHOPS DROPIN DOCENTLED TOURS OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTIONS SPECIALTY EXHIBITION TOURS DOCENT-LED TOURS FOR ADULT/COLLEGE GROUPS A REGULARLY SCHEDULED DOCENT TRAINING PROGRAM EXHIBITION OPENINGS INCLUDING STUDENT ART SHOW OPENINGS AND MEMBERS ONLY PREVIEWS.
  3. $906,827 spent. IN ADDITION TO ITS CAFE AND BOOKSTORE, THE MUSEUM'S VISITOR SERVICE OFFERINGS INCLUDE PUBLIC SOCIAL PROGRAMS THAT SERVE AS ENTRY POINTS FOR FIRST TIME MUSEUM-GOERS, BROADENING AND DEVELOPING AUDIENCES, AND CULTIVATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF MUSEUM SUPPORTERS, LIKE MUSEUM AFTER DARK (MAD) PARTIES, FIRST FRIDAYS, WINTER SOCIALS, AND CRAFT SIPPIN'. ATTENDEES ARE WELCOMED, ENGAGED ON AN ACCESSIBLE LEVEL, AND INCENTIVIZED TO BECOME MUSEUM MEMBERS.

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

  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 November 6, 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 June 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 January 1996.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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