Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 39% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art ("CBMAA") welcomes all to celebrate the American Spirit In a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. CBMAA explores the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting and preserving outstanding works of art that Illuminates America's heritage and artistic possibilities.
- Income
- $131.2 million
- Spending
- $96.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 39%
- Reserves
- 44.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 62%
- Employees
- 547
- Volunteers
- 600
- Highest pay
- $574,622, 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 44.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1539% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 33% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $24.8 million spent. In 2024, CBMAA acquired 268 works of art. By classification 144 prints, 47 sculptures, 22 ceramics, 14 paintings, 11 time-based media works, 7 high-value books, 6 photographs, 5 decorative arts works, 4 mixed media works, 4 textiles, 2 installations, 1 drawing, and 1 watercolor were acquired. In 2024, CBMAA borrowed 185 objects from 31 lenders. CBMAA loaned 58 objects to 20 institutions during 2024 across the United States and Europe. Conservation efforts in 2024 included: Paintings conservators conducted treatments and examinations of 69 paintings over 3 visits to the museum. Objects conservator conducted treatments and examinations of 70 sculptures over 2 visits to the museum. Works on paper conservator examined 43 works on paper over 1 visit to the museum. These significant conservation treatments were performed on-site: Yayoi Kusama/Flowers that Bloom Now (2018.5, sculpture); George Dombek/Tour de Apple Tree (2010.58, sculpture); Rockwell Kent/The Newfoundlander (2018.7, drawing); and Chiura Obata/Dust Storm, Topaz Relocation Center (2023.21, watercolor). In addition, two artworks were conserved off-site: Brian Tolle/Tempest (2017.15) and Melvin Edwards/Dancing in Nigeria (2017.9). Staff conducted regular cleaning and maintenance of approximately 25 artworks installed outdoors. A fine arts specialist team inspected and maintained three artworks by Dale Chihuly. At year's end, our online collection provided access to 79% of the collection (3,424 artworks) to the public through our website. (Expenses $ 241,152 including grants of $) LIBRARY PROGRAM
- $7.3 million spent. In 2024, CBMAA welcomed 704,257 guests and presented several collection focus shows, and three major exhibitions, including: Exquisite Creatures, Space Makers: Indigenous Expression and a New American Art, Time Loop by Klip Collective: A Forest Light Experience, Knowing the West: Visual Legacies of the American West, and American Sunrise: Indigenous Art at Crystal Bridges. Exquisite Creatures was an exhibition by artist and naturalist Christopher Marley that explored the connection between art, nature, and science. Through three-dimensional works made of animal, mineral, and plant specimens arranged in precise geometric patterns, Marley revealed the beauty and diversity of the natural world while inspiring wonder and a desire for preservation. Space Makers: Indigenous Expression and a New American Art examined the mid-century Indian Space Painters, the Indigenous visual culture that inspired them, and modern Native artists who built on these explorations through their own heritage. The exhibition reconfigured the history of American art by showing its foundations in Indigenous space, aesthetically, geographically, and socio-politically. The exhibition toured to one additional museum. Time Loop by Klip Collective: A Forest Light Experience transformed CBMAA's North Forest into an immersive journey through light, sound, and projection mapping by Klip Collective. Featuring six site-responsive installations, the experience brought the rhythms of the Earth to life, fractured visitors across a broken time machine, and illuminated the forest in dazzling ways. Knowing the West: Visual Legacies of the American West was the first major traveling exhibition to explore how people see the American West, aiming to tell a more inclusive story that highlights the diverse groups who shaped its art and life. Moving beyond stereotypes, it showcased overlooked perspectives, including those of Native American artists and women, revealing stories of persistence, innovation, adaptability, and resistance that continue to define the West. The exhibition is currently on tour at two additional museums. American Sunrise: Indigenous Art at Crystal Bridges showcased the beauty and intricacy of the museum's growing Indigenous art collection, including new acquisitions. Organized around the themes of Indigenous Futurism, Place, and Kinship, the exhibition celebrated connections to the land, intergenerational expression, and resilience across communities. Inspired by Joy Harjo's 2019 poetry collection American Sunrise, it featured basketry, beadwork, paintings, photography, and pottery by more than 30 artists from the United States and Canada, spanning 150 years of creativity.
- $5.2 million spent. In 2024, CBMAA was able to fulfill its mission of providing access to the arts through a variety of educational programs to the public, which reached 312,608 participants. Classes and Workshops are offered for all ages and varying skill levels, and include a variety of workshops in media such as painting, sculpture, printmaking, and multimedia, in addition to nature topics. Attendance = 2,491 Drop-In programs are non-ticketed and planned primarily for multigenerational audiences. These include large-scale events Trick Art Treat as well as drop-in artmaking on the weekends and school break programming. Attendance = 92,453 Film, Performance & Evening events are primarily targeted toward college and adult audiences, and include multidisciplinary arts such as music, theatre, dance, and film. Attendance = 5,209 Lectures and Talks include gallery conversations, nature talks, panel discussions, and exhibition lectures. Attendance = 5,844 Our School Visit program serves K-12 and college students, onsite and online, and aligns with curriculum. Attendance = 65,945 Teacher Professional Development programs offer continuing education credits through a variety of offerings, including Saturday Sessions, Summer Institutes and Evening for Educators. Attendance = 5,903 Access and Inclusive programs primarily serve individuals with disabilities as well as seniors. Examples include Family Access Night and programming for older adults. Attendance = 1,258 Tours include daily offerings of guided tours featuring the museum's collection and architecture, as well as tours provided for youth organizations. Guide training is provided for these offerings monthly. Attendance = 18,676 Community Engagement offerings in 2024 included community art-making activations with the Mobile Art Lab at festivals and libraries as well as co-hosting programs at the museum with community organizations. Attendance = 86,060 A variety of kits were distributed to community members and partner organizations. Kits included Community Creative care packages, Family Art kits, Food kits, and My Museum Classroom kits. Attendance = 30,000 School Partnership Programs entailed an in-person or virtual weeklong residency including art-kits for program participants. Attendance = 1,535 (Expenses $ 241,152 including grants of $) LIBRARY PROGRAM
- $241,152 spent. LIBRARY PROGRAM
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
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 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.