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Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences

EIN 11-1672743 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE BROOKLYN INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, D/B/A BROOKLYN MUSEUM (THE "MUSEUM") IS TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH ART AND EXPERIENCES THAT INSPIRE CELEBRATION, COMPASSION, COURAGE, AND THE WILL TO ACT. (SEE SCHEDULE O).

Income
$61.7 million
Spending
$70.9 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
8.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
580
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$733,399, shelby white & leon levy 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

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 25

    61 of 61 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 (4)
  1. $32.9 million spent. CURATORIAL AND EDUCATIONAL CURATORIAL - THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM STUDIES, PRESERVES AND EXHIBITS A VAST AND COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION THAT SPANS NEARLY 6,000 YEARS OF HISTORY AND REPRESENTS CULTURES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. PERMANENT INSTALLATIONS PRESENT THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTIONS OF ARTS OF THE AMERICAS AND EUROPE; ARTS OF ANCIENT EGYPT, AFRICA, ASIA, AND THE MIDDLE EAST; CONTEMPORARY, AND FEMINIST ART. SEVERAL OF THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTIONS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE AMONG THE HIGHEST QUALITY IN THE WORLD, INCLUDING ITS AMERICAN AND EGYPTIAN ART COLLECTIONS. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS PROVIDE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUDIENCES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE TO EXPERIENCE WORKS FROM THE MUSEUM'S RENOWNED COLLECTION. EDUCATION - INNOVATIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS SERVE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, FAMILIES AND ADULTS THIS YEAR. THROUGH EXPLORING THE COLLECTION AND SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS AND THROUGH HANDS-ON ART-MAKING, THESE PROGRAMS STRENGTHEN CLASSROOM LEARNING AND PROMOTE LIFELONG CONNECTIONS TO THE VISUAL ARTS. NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAMS SUCH AS FIRST SATURDAYS HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED BROOKLYN PROGRAMS, HOSTING APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILLION VISITORS SINCE ITS DEBUT IN 1988. EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE CENTRAL TO THE MUSEUM'S MISSION OF FOCUSING AND ENRICHING THE EXPERIENCES OF OUR VISITORS.
  2. $8.8 million spent. SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS BROOKLYN MUSEUM PIONEERS THE PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE VISUAL AND ARTISTIC HERITAGE OF WORLD CULTURES. A WELL-ROUNDED SELECTION OF EXHIBITIONS REINFORCES THE MUSEUM'S LEADERSHIP IN ARTS SCHOLARSHIP. THESE EXHIBITIONS ATTRACTED ROBUST PUBLIC ATTENTION AND ENGAGED AUDIENCES OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND AGES IN THE VISUAL ARTS.
  3. $5.2 million spent. PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION IN FY25, MORE THAN 500,000 VISITORS EXPLORED OUR EXTRAORDINARY PERMANENT COLLECTIONS, ATTENDED SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS AND PARTICIPATED IN OUR PUBLIC PROGRAMS.
  4. $1.8 million spent. MERCHANDISE OPERATIONS THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM SHOP EXTENDS OUR VISITORS' EXPERIENCE. OUR INVENTORY IS COMPRISED OF EXHIBITION-RELATED ITEMS, BROOKLYN MUSEUM LOGO PRODUCTS, CATALOGS AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS.

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 June 1935.

    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.

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.