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Musical Instrument Museum

EIN 16-1743588 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM (MIM) ENRICHES OUR WORLD BY COLLECTING, PRESERVING, AND MAKING ACCESSIBLE AN ASTONISHING VARIETY OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND PERFORMANCE VIDEOS FROM EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. MIM OFFERS GUESTS A WELCOMING AND FUN EXPERIENCE, INCOMPARABLE INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGY, DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING, AND EXCEPTIONAL MUSICAL PERFORMANCES. MIM FOSTERS APPRECIATION OF THE WORLD'S DIVERSE CULTURES BY SHOWING HOW WE INNOVATE, ADAPT, AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER TO CREATE MUSIC - THE LANGUAGE OF THE SOUL.

Income
$41.1 million
Spending
$21.0 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
14.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
115
Volunteers
533
Highest pay
$268,857, executive director/treasurer

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $13.1 million spent. GALLERIES AND SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS: MORE THAN 300 DISPLAYS WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART AUDIO-VISUAL TECHNOLOGY IMMERSE GUESTS IN MUSIC FROM EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. TEMPORARY SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS DIVE DEEPER INTO MUSICAL TOPICS THROUGH ORIGINAL STORYTELLING. HANDS-ON GALLERIES INVITE GUESTS TO MAKE THEIR OWN MUSIC.
  2. $3.4 million spent. MIM MUSIC THEATER: MIM OFFERS OVER 300 CONCERTS YEARLY IN AN INTIMATE, ACOUSTICALLY SUPERB ENVIRONMENT. PERFORMANCES ARE CURATED TO BRING THE GALLERIES TO LIFE, CONNECTING AUDIENCES TO DIVERSE LIVE PROGRAMMING FROM LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS.
  3. $838,315 spent. EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS: PEOPLE OF ALL AGES LEARN THROUGH MUSIC AT MIM. EDUCATION OFFERINGS INCLUDE CHILDREN'S CLASSES, A STUDENT FIELD TRIP PROGRAM THAT WELCOMES UP TO 70,000 PARTICIPANTS ANNUALLY, TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR ADULTS AND SENIORS. WEEKEND PUBLIC PROGRAMS CALLED SIGNATURE EVENTS BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE WORLD CULTURES, MUSICAL GENRES, AND ICONIC ARTISTS.

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 2025.

    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.