Conner Prairie Museum Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Conner Prairie is a unique historic place that inspires curiosity and fosters learning by providing engaging and individualized experiences for everyone.
- Income
- $20.9 million
- Spending
- $18.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 517
- Volunteers
- 533
- Highest pay
- $338,094, president & ceo
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
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2537 of 38 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 (2)
- $14.4 million spent. HISTORIC MUSEUM EXPERIENCE: Conner Prairie is a unique historic place that inspires curiosity and fosters learning by providing engaging and individualized experiences for everyone. THE MUSEUM STRIVES TO CULTIVATE INQUISITIVE, LIFELONG LEARNERS WHO POSSESS THE INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO ADDRESS THE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES FACING OUR NATION. CONNER PRAIRIE'S MARKET IS COMPOSED OF A DIVERSE MIX OF AUDIENCES, FROM URBAN SCHOOL VISITORS TO SUBURBAN, THREE-GENERATIONAL FAMILY GROUPS. HOWEVER, THE MARKET CAN BE CATEGORIZED INTO FOUR BROADLY DEFINED OVERLAPPING GROUPS: 1) VISITORS FROM LOCAL AND REGIONAL COMMUNITIES, 2) SCHOOL GROUPS FROM THE STATE OF INDIANA, 3) TOURISTS, AND 4) A WORLD-WIDE COMMUNITY OF SCHOLARS AND LEARNERS, WHO NOT ONLY VISIT THE MUSEUM IN-PERSON, BUT ALSO GAIN UNDERSTANDING, KNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATION FOR THE MUSEUM AND ITS PROGRAMS THROUGH THE MUSEUM'S WEBSITE. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O) (CONTINUED FROM PART III, LINE 4A) Our on-site general attendance was approximately 312,000 this year. These attendees are drawn largely from Central Indiana. Approximately 60% of attendees ARE YOUTH WITH THE BALANCE BEING ADULTS AND SENIORS. USUALLY, APPROXIMATELY 50,000 SCHOOL GROUP PARTICIPANTS VISIT THE MUSEUM EACH YEAR AND COME FROM ALMOST EVERY COUNTY IN INDIANA AND NEIGHBORING STATES; THOSE SCHOOL GROUPS FROM THE GREATER INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN AREA REFLECT THE DIVERSITY WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT(S). AS A GENERAL RULE, THEREFORE, SCHOOL GROUP PARTICIPATION IS FAR MORE CULTURALLY DIVERSE THAN GENERAL ATTENDANCE. FOR THE MIDWEST, CONNER PRAIRIE IS A DESTINATION FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN OF ALL AGES; IT IS A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN SUPPLEMENT OR ENHANCE IN-CLASS LEARNING, PURSUE NEW INTERESTS, AND EXPLORE NATURE, SCIENCE, ART AND HISTORY. IT IS A PLACE WHERE GRANDPARENTS CAN SHARE MEMORIES WITH GRANDCHILDREN, OR TALK ABOUT HOW BEST TO CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN IT IS A MUCH SOUGHT AFTER DESTINATION. FOR SCHOOL TEACHERS, A PLANNED FIELD TRIP TO CONNER PRAIRIE IS ONE THAT UNFOLDS THE RICHNESS OF THE PAST WHILE ENCOURAGING INTEREST BEYOND FACTS, FIGURES AND DATES. FOR BUSINESSES, THE BEAUTY, INTEGRITY AND PROGRAMMING AT CONNER PRAIRIE IS A RECRUITING TOOL THAT HELPS SELL RECRUITS ON RELOCATING TO THE AREA, AND IS AN ASSET TO THOSE ALREADY HERE. THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE IN 2024 INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: 1816 LENAPE INDIAN CAMP, WILLIAM CONNER HOMESTEAD, 1836 PRAIRIETOWN, 1859 BALLOON VOYAGE, TREETOP OUTPOST, AG ADVENTURES PLAYGROUND, ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS, RIVER CROSSING SPLASH PAD, PROMISED LAND AS PROVING GROUND, HABITAT, AND THE TRAILS AT CONNER PRAIRIE. A PARTIAL LIST OF CONNER PRAIRIE'S SPECIAL PROGRAMMING FOR 2024 INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE FESTIVAL, GLORIOUS FOURTH, JUPITER FLIGHTS BALLOON FESTIVAL, HEADLESS HORSEMAN FESTIVAL, AND MERRY PRAIRIE HOLIDAY. THERE WERE ALSO OTHER ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR DEDICATED TO ART, CULTURE, AND EDUCATION. ULTIMATELY, THE MUSEUM IS NOT JUST A PURVEYOR OF HISTORY, BUT CONTINUALLY STRIVES TO INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF INQUISITIVE STUDENTS OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.
- $758,674 spent. CONNER PRAIRIE MUSEUM, INC. PROVIDES VARIOUS CLASSES, CAMPS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE GENERAL SCHOOL TOURS, GUIDED PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS AND TOUR GROUPS, AND SCIENCE PROGRAMMING. CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS INCLUDE HISTORIC CRAFTS/TRADES INCLUDING BLACKSMITHING, ARMS MAKING, TEXTILES, AND POTTERY. ANNUAL SUMMER DAY CAMPS CENTER ON OUTDOOR EXPLORATION, THE ARTS AND OTHER STEM TOPICS. SCOUT PROGRAMS INCLUDE BADGE WORKSHOPS. ADMISSION PROGRAMS INCLUDE SPECIAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ARE OFFERED ON A DAILY BASIS AS PART OF THE ADMISSION PRICE. PUBLIC PROGRAMS INCLUDE HEADLESS HORSEMAN, HEARTHSIDE SUPPERS, A MERRY PRAIRIE HOLIDAY, HISTORY ON TAP AND JUPITER FLIGHTS BALLOON FESTIVAL.
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.
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