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The Corning Museum of Glass

EIN 16-0764349 · Corning, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO SEE GLASS IN A NEW LIGHT BY ENGAGING VISITORS AND THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ART, HISTORY, AND SCIENCE OF GLASS; BUILDING, STEWARDING, AND PROMOTING THE WORLD'S FOREMOST COLLECTION OF OBJECTS REPRESENTING THE ART, HISTORY, AND SCIENCE OF GLASS, AND SUPPORTING THE LIBRARY OF RECORD ON THOSE SUBJECTS, FOR A BROAD RANGE OF CURRENT AND NEW MUSEUM VISITORS, ARTISTS, AND RESEARCHERS; DISPLAY THE GLASS AND LIBRARY COLLECTIONS IN PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS AND ARRANGE TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS THAT DRAW ATTENTION TO PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF THE ART AND HISTORY OF GLASS; PRESENT PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS OF GLASS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY THAT EDUCATE AND ENGAGE VISITORS OF ALL AGES IN THE STORIES OF HISTORIC INNOVATIONS AND FUTURE APPLICATIONS OF GLASS AND GLASS-RELATED MATERIALS; PROVIDE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES TO VIEW GLASS ARTISTS CREATING NEW WORKS, AS WELL AS OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE GLASSMAKING FIRSTHAND THROUGH CREATIVE ENGAGEMENTS IN THE STUDIO.

Income
$59.9 million
Spending
$47.2 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
18 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
188
Volunteers
177
Highest pay
$706,688, president and executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 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, 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. $12.4 million spent. CURATORIAL, EXHIBITIONS AND RESEARCH - THE CURATORIAL DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR COLLECTING AREAS, STEWARDS, DISPLAYS AND INTERPRETS THE WORLD'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF GLASS ART, HISTORY, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN FOUR MAIN PERMANENT GALLERIES, AND THROUGH SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS, PROGRAMS AND PUBLICATIONS. IN 2025, THE MUSEUM HOSTED ONE MAJOR EXHIBITION AND EIGHT MINOR EXHIBITIONS. THE MUSEUM CONTINUED TO INVEST IN RESEARCH RESIDENCIES (2) AND GRANTS (6) AND PUBLISHED TWO ANNUAL JOURNALS. AS THE LIBRARY OF DISTINCTION FOR THE STUDY OF GLASS, THE JULIETTE K. AND LEONARD S. RAKOW RESEARCH LIBRARY SUSTAINS A VIBRANT, SINGULAR COLLECTION THAT EMBODIES CENTURIES OF KNOWLEDGE ON GLASS, GLASSMAKING, AND GLASSMAKERS. THE LIBRARYTHROUGH COLLECTING, PRESERVING, AND MAKING ACCESSIBLE EXCELLENT RESEARCH MATERIALSADVANCES SCHOLARSHIP, CREATIVITY AND THE ARTS, AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF GLASS THROUGHOUT THE REALMS OF ART, HISTORY, CULTURE, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY. THE LIBRARY'S PLATFORM FOR OPENLY ACCESSIBLE DIGITAL COLLECTIONS GREW TO 73,992 DIGITAL OBJECTS BY THE END OF 2025. THE LIBRARY SUPPORTED GLASS RESEARCH ACROSS 27 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING 99,373 CONSULTATIONS OF ONLINE RESEARCH RESOURCES. LIBRARY STAFF FACILITATED 2,852 RESEARCH INQUIRIES AND ADDED 6,512 BOOKS AND OTHER ITEMS TO THIS WORLD-CLASS COLLECTION.
  2. $13.4 million spent. STUDIO, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH - THE MUSEUM EDUCATES PEOPLE OF ALL AGESIN A DIVERSITY OF TOPICS ABOUT GLASS. OUR GLASSMAKING SCHOOL, THE STUDIO, PROVIDES CLASSES, RESIDENCIES, LIVE ONLINE PROGRAMMING AND SCHOLARSHIPS AND RESIDENCIES TO ARTISTS AND SCHOLARS AROUND THE WORLD. IN 2025, THE MUSEUM HOSTED 1,875 STUDENTS, INSTRUCTORS, AND TEACHING ASSISTANTS IN A VARIETY OF CLASSES AND SUPPORTED ARTISTS THROUGH SIXTEEN RESIDENCIES. ON A DAILY BASIS, THE MUSEUM PROVIDES A VARIETY OF GLASSMAKING DEMONSTRATIONS FOR OUR VISITORS, WHICH ENABLES THEM TO OBSERVE AND LEARN ABOUT THE ART, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND PROPERTIES OF GLASS. THE MUSEUM EXPANDS THIS LEARNING BY PROVIDING HOT GLASS OUTREACH PROGRAMS WHEREBY WE TAKE OUR STAFF ARTISTS AND MOBILE GLASSMAKING DEMONSTRATION EQUIPMENT INTO A VARIETY OF VENUES. THE MUSEUM ALSO PROVIDES PROGRAMS ENABLING OUR VISITORS TO PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF UNIQUE HANDS-ON GLASSMAKING EXPERIENCES. IN 2025, 29% OF OUR INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY VISITORS ENGAGED IN ONE OF THESE GLASSMAKING EXPERIENCES. OUR EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROVIDING PROGRAMS FOR ALL GUESTS, AS WELL AS STUDENTS IN OUR LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS. IN 2025, THE MUSEUM HOSTED 8,166 SCHOOL CHILDREN ON FIELD TRIPS TO THE MUSEUM, DEVELOPED PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL BREAKS (WINTER AND SPRING), SUPPORTED THE JR. CURATORS AND CMOG CHALLENGE PROGRAMS, AND HOSTED SIX EDUCATIONAL PERFORMACES FOR PRE-K AUDIENCES.
  3. $10.6 million spent. MUSEUM SHOPS - THE MUSEUM'S SHOPS ARE DESIGNED TO REFLECT AND ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE OF THE COLLECTION. THE SHOPS INCLUDE PRODUCTS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE AND MANY WORKS PRODUCED LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY BY A VARIETY OF ARTISTS. THERE IS A WIDE ARRAY OF PRODUCTS INCLUDING FINE ART, STEUBEN, PYREX AND CORELLE KITCHENWARE, JEWELRY, COLLECTIBLES AND BOOKS AND VIDEOS, OFFERED IN OUR ALMOST 20,000-SQUARE-FOOT SHOP, AS WELL AS IN OUR ONLINE SHOPS AND STEUBEN STORES.
  4. $3.8 million spent. MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 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 1952.

    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.