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Scottsdale Museum of the West Inc

EIN 20-8862731 · Scottsdale, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

INCREASE AND DIFFUSE KNOWLEDGE; ENCOURAGE THE APPRECIATION OF ART AND HISTORY OF THE NORTH AMERICAN WEST; MAINTAIN A MUSEUM OR MUSEUMS TO EXHIBIT, COLLECT AND PRESERVE OBJECTS OF ARTISTIC AND HISTORIC INTEREST; AND PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION.

Income
$5.0 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 45%
Employees
43
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$281,304, ceo

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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, 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)
  1. $5.8 million spent. WESTERN SPIRIT: SCOTTSDALES MUSEUM OF THE WEST TELLS THE STORY OF THE NORTH AMERICAN WEST THROUGH ITS VISUAL CULTURE. AS WE CELEBRATED OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY IN JANUARY 2025, IT WAS ALSO A YEAR OF GROWTH AND THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA WHICH INCLUDED SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF SCOTTSDALES MUSEUM OF THE WEST 12,000 SQUARE FOOT EXPANSION AND REFURBISHMENT OF THE MUSEUMS THEATER. WE WELCOMED ACTOR/FILMMAKER KEVIN COSTNER FOR OUR FIRST WESTERN SPIRIT AWARD FUNDRAISER AND KICKED OFF THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW SPACE WITH A SALOON NIGHT FUNDRAISER. WE WELCOMED ALMOST 50,000 GUESTS TO THE MUSEUM AND PROUDLY OPENED 3 NEW EXHIBITS: 10TH ANNIVERSARY TIMELINE, MAC SCHWEITZER: A SOUTHWEST MAVERICK REDISCOVERED, THE WEST IN MINIATURE. WESTERN SPIRIT EXPANDED COMMUNITY ACCESSIBILITY IN 2025 BY WELCOMING MORE THAN 2500 INDIVIDUALS FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THROUGH INTITIATIVES SUCH AS COFFEE WITH SENIORS, ACT ONE ARIZONAS CULTURE PASS PROGRAM, AND STRATEGIC PARNTERSHIPS THAT REDUCED FINANCIAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS TO MUSEUM PARTICIPATION. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED DELIVERY OF 110 PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND 40 SCHOOL TOURS WITH NEARLY 4000 AND 3000 ATTENDEES, RESPECTIVELY.

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 November 6, 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 February 2008.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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