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Museum of Arts and Design

EIN 13-3585408 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO COLLECT, DISPLAY AND INTERPRET OBJECTS IN CRAFT ART AND DESIGN.

Income
$8.8 million
Spending
$12.8 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
-2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
122
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$446,512, executive director

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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 46% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 (2)
  1. $6.1 million spent. EXHIBITIONS EACH YEAR, THE MUSEUM OF ARTS AND DESIGN PRESENTS GROUNDBREAKING EXHIBITIONS THAT SUPPORT ITS MISSION TO CHAMPION MAKERS ACROSS CREATIVE FIELDS. IN FY24, THE MUSEUM MOUNTED ORIGINAL EXHIBITIONS AT ITS HOME IN COLUMBUS CIRCLE, INCLUDING CRAFT FRONT & CENTER (FEBRUARY 4, 2023-APRIL 21, 2024); SHARY BOYLE: OUTSIDE THE PALACE OF ME (SEPTEMBER 23, 2023-FEBRUARY 25, 2024); TAYLOR SWIFT: STORYTELLER (MARCH 20, 2023-SEPTEMBER 5, 2024); THE BURKE PRIZE (NOVEMBER 7, 2023-MARCH 5, 2024); SONYA CLARK: WE ARE EACH OTHER (MARCH 23-SEPTEMBER 22, 2024); MICHAEL SYLVAN ROBINSON (MARCH 29-AUGUST 4, 2024); ANNE WILSON: ERRANT BEHAVIORS (APRIL 20, 2024-MAY 11, 2025); OUT OF THE JEWELRY BOX (APRIL 20, 2025-OCTOBER 11, 2026); CRAFT FRONT AND CENTER: CONVERSATION PIECES (JUNE 1, 2024-APRIL 20, 2025); BARBIE: A CULTURAL ICON (OCTOBER 19, 2024-MARCH 16, 2025).
  2. $3.1 million spent. EDUCATION AND PROGRAMMING: THE MUSEUM OF ARTS AND DESIGN'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROVIDE ENRICHMENT AND EXPOSURE TO THE ARTS FOR THOUSANDS OF K-12 STUDENTS ANNUALLY-WITH AN EMPHASIS ON REACHING UNDERSERVED YOUTH. THESE PROGRAMS TAKE PLACE THROUGHOUT THE GALLERIES AND MAD'S SIXTH-FLOOR EDUCATION CENTER, AS WELL AS VIRTUALLY WHEN SCHOOLS ARE NOT ABLE TO COME TO MAD, WHICH ALLOWS THE MUSEUM TO REACH WIDER AUDIENCES AND CATER TO A VARIETY OF STUDENTS. THESE TOURS ARE CURRENTLY OFFERED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. WHILE THE MECHANISMS AND/OR TARGET POPULATIONS OF THESE PROGRAMS DIFFER, THEY SHARE THE SAME OVERARCHING GOALS: TO BROADEN THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF NEW YORK CITY'S SCHOOL CHILDREN; MAKE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE ACCESS; BUILD CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS; AND CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF SUCCESS THAT NOT ONLY FOSTERS SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM, BUT ALSO IMPACTS LIFELONG ACHIEVEMENT.DOCENT TOURS:NINE WEEKLY FREE PUBLIC TOURS LED BY MAD'S DYNAMIC GUIDES OF THE MUSEUM'S EXHIBITIONS AND PERMANENT COLLECTION, IN WHICH VISITORS LEARN ABOUT THE MATERIALS, PROCESSES, AND CONCEPTS THAT DRIVE CONTEMPORARY INNOVATION IN THE FIELDS OF ART, CRAFT, AND DESIGN.VERBAL DESCRIPTION TOURS:HELD VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON, EXPERTS LEAD A TOUR OF CURRENT EXHIBITIONS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR VISITORS WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION. THROUGH VERBAL DESCRIPTION, CONVERSATION, AND SENSORY EXPERIENCES, VISITORS GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE MATERIALS, PROCESSES, AND CONCEPTS THAT DRIVE INNOVATION IN THE FIELDS OF ART, CRAFT, AND DESIGN. IN ADDITION TO VERBAL DESCRIPTION TOURS, MAD OFFERS ASL-INTERPRETED PROGRAMS INCLUDING TOURS OF EXHIBITIONS, PERFORMANCES, AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN MAD'S THEATER.K-12 MADLAB:THE MUSEUM OF ARTS AND DESIGN OFFERS INQUIRY-DRIVEN, THEMATICALLY BASED ONLINE AND ON-SITE PROGRAMS FOR K-12 SCHOOL GROUPS, SUMMER CAMPS, AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS. MADLAB IS THE MUSEUM'S FLAGSHIP ARTS-IN-EDUCATION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENGAGE K-12 STUDENTS ACROSS NEW YORK CITY IN THE ART OF MAKING; ENCOURAGE SOCIAL AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT VIA LEARNING WITH THE HANDS; AND HELP STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ACHIEVE THE REQUIREMENTS OF NYC'S BLUEPRINT FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING IN THE ARTS. THE PROGRAM'S CORE IS A 90-MINUTE TOUR AND ART-MAKING WORKSHOP TIED TO CLASSROOM SUBJECTS AND STRUCTURED AROUND CURRENT EXHIBITIONS.ARTS ACCESS:AS A CORE PART OF MAD'S COMMITMENT TO BRING ARTS EDUCATION TO UNDERSERVED YOUTH, THE MUSEUM OFFERS MADLAB K-12 FREE OF CHARGE TONYC'S TITLE I SCHOOLS THROUGH ARTS ACCESS. SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2010, THE PROGRAM HAS COME TO ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN 40% OF ALL SCHOOLS SERVED.PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS:LED BY ARTISTS, CURATORS, AND MUSEUM EDUCATORS, MAD'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS ENABLE K-12 EDUCATORS TO DISCOVER CREATIVE WAYS OF INTERPRETING AND PRESENTING FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS IN ALL SUBJECT AREAS, USING ART, CRAFT, AND DESIGN AS A BRIDGE FOR COMPREHENSION. WORKSHOPS TAKE PLACE DURING NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DISTRICT-WIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS, WITH ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ONLINE AND ONSITE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. MAD ALSO OFFERS CUSTOM DESIGNED WORKSHOPS FOR INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS OR DISTRICTS.TEEN COUNCIL:MAD'S TEEN COUNCIL IS COMPRISED OF ARTSLIFE AND RECESS INTENSIVE ALUMNI WHO SHARE A COMMON INTEREST IN ART, DESIGN, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THE TEEN COUNCIL PLANS EVENTS FOR TEENS, INCLUDING ARTSLAB WORKSHOPS.ARTSLIFE INTERNSHIPS:EACH SUMMER, ARTSLIFE ENABLES TEN RISING HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS TO PURSUE SEVEN-WEEK PAID INTERNSHIPS WITH THE MUSEUM,INTEGRATING THEM INTO A VARIETY OF OPERATIONS AND PROVIDING THEM WITH AN IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORKING WORLD. PARTICIPANTS REFLECT THE VAST GEOGRAPHIC, CULTURAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC DIVERSITY OF THE CITY, AND MANY COME INTO THE PROGRAM WITH LIMITED OR NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH THE ARTS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES THE STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP A RANGE OF KEY LEADERSHIP, COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL SKILLS NEEDED FOR FUTURE SUCCESS. ARTSLIFE INTERNS ENGAGE IN A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES THAT FALL INTO FOUR CATEGORIES-MUSEUM STUDIES, LEADERSHIP, WORKSHOPS, AND FIELD TRIPS.RECESS:IS A WEEK-LONG INTENSIVE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR TEENS 13 TO 18 TO LEARN ABOUT ART AND ART HISTORY WITH OTHER NYC TEENS, DEVELOP AND LEAD PEER-TO-PEER TOURS AND LEARN HOW MUSEUMS WORK. THE WEEK-LONG INTERNSHIPS TAKE PLACE DURING NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS' WINTER AND SPRING BREAKS.ARTIST STUDIOS:THE ARTIST STUDIOS HOST ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS 4 DAYS A WEEK AS THEY PRODUCE THEIR WORK IN A LIVE STUDIO ENVIRONMENT. VISITORS TO MAD MEET WORKING ARTISTS WHO OPENLY WELCOME QUESTIONS AND DIALOGUE, AND DISCUSS THEIR PROCESSES, MATERIALS, AND CONCEPTS WITH DIVERSE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THIS PROGRAM SERVES AS AN INNOVATIVE MODEL OF INTERACTIVITY AND ENGAGEMENT THAT BENEFITS LOCAL ARTISTS AND MUSEUM VISITORS THROUGH OBSERVATION, MAKING, AND DISCUSSION OF CREATIVE PROCESSES. THE MUSEUM SUPPORTS LIVING ARTISTS, PROVIDING NEEDED RESOURCES SUCH AS STIPENDS,STUDIO SPACE, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND EXPOSURE TO ART PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS CURATORS, ACADEMICS AND PROGRAMMERS.ARTSLAB:ARTSLAB IS A FREE WORKSHOP SERIES FOR TEENS, CREATED BY TEENS IN MAD'S INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. ARTSLAB CONNECTS AN ALUM OF MAD'S ARTIST STUDIOS RESIDENCY PROGRAM WITH A GROUP OF NEW YORK CITY TEENS. ADMISSION IS FREE AND GRANTED ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVE BASIS.FAMILY AND INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMS:FAMILY STUDIO IS A COLLABORATIVE MULTI-GENERATIONAL ART MAKING WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN AGES FIVE AND UP AND THEIR CAREGIVERS TO LEARN, EXPLORE, AND CREATE TOGETHER IN A SEMI-STRUCTURED AND GALLERY-BASED ENVIRONMENT. ADMISSION FOR CHILDREN IS FREE AND CHILDREN MUST BE ATTENDED BY A CAREGIVER. TICKETS FOR ADULTS ARE REQUIRED AND INCLUDE ADMISSION TO THE MUSEUM.PUBLIC PROGRAMS:OPENING NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR AUDIENCES TO ENGAGE WITH ARTISTS, DESIGNERS, AND CULTURAL PRODUCERS, MAD ORGANIZES A BROAD SPECTRUM OF INNOVA

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 February 1992.

    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.