Grand Rapids Public Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE GRPM EXISTS TO BE A LIVING MONUMENT OF ARTIFACTS, IDEAS AND STORIES TOLD THROUGH EXHIBITIONS, EVENTS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO INSPIRE, MOTIVATE AND CELEBRATE OUR HUMAN BOND. WE ENRICH THE LIVES OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH EXPERIENCES OF THE WIDER WORLD IN A UNIQUELY GRAND RAPIDS CONTEXT. OUR VISION IS TO INSPIRE PASSIONATE CURIOSITY AND A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD AROUND US.
- Income
- $19.8 million
- Spending
- $10.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- -6.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 75%
- Employees
- 150
- Volunteers
- 109
- Highest pay
- $247,799, president/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 74% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 255 of 5 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 June 30, 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 (1)
- $7.9 million spent. THE GRPM OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR VISITORS OF ALL AGES FOCUSING ON HISTORY, SCIENCE AND CULTURE. IN ADDITION TO THREE FLOORS OF CORE EXHIBITS, THE GRPM OFFERS A ROTATING SELECTION OF TEMPORARY EXHIBITS. THE CHAFFEE PLANETARIUM PROVIDES VISITORS WITH AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE THAT EXPLORES THE WONDERS OF SPACE AND THE UNIVERSE. EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES, INCLUDING FIELD TRIPS, WORKSHOPS, AND SUMMER CAMPS. THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION FEATURES OVER 250,000 ARTIFACTS AND SPECIMENS FROM A VARIETY OF FIELDS, INCLUDING ANTHROPOLOGY, NATURAL HISTORY, AND MORE. THE DIGITAL STRATEGY IS FOCUSED ON MAKING THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION AND EDUCATIONAL CONTENT MORE ACCESSIBLE USING NEW INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES. THE MUSEUM HOSTS A VARIETY OF EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING LECTURES, CONCERTS, AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES. THE GRPM PROVIDES OUTREACH SERVICES TO SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, BRINGING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND PROGRAMMING TO UNDERSERVED AREAS. THE MUSEUM'S STAFF AND SCHOLARS ENGAGE IN RESEARCH RELATED TO THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTIONS, CONTRIBUTING TO THE FIELD OF KNOWLEDGE IN A VARIETY OF DISCIPLINES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.
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 March 2008.
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.
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.