Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Montclair Art Museum

EIN 22-1487582 · Montclair, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$6.1 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
17.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 39%
Employees
153
Volunteers
208
Highest pay
$134,579, executive director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    41 of 41 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 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 (4)
  1. $2.2 million spent. CURATORIAL:THE MONTCLAIR ART MUSEUM INSPIRES AND ENRICHES THE LIVES OF OVER 81,000 VISITORS (81,196 IN-PERSON AND 150 VIRTUAL) THROUGH EXHIBITIONS HELD AT THE MUSEUM OR SELF-ORGANIZED NATIONALLY TRAVELING SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS. THE MUSEUM'S PUBLICATIONS OFTEN ACCOMPANY THESE EXHIBITIONS. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO MANAGES THE DISPLAY, PRESERVATION, AND GROWTH OF THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION OF OVER 12,000 AMERICAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN WORKS OF ART, AS WELL AS LOANS OF SELECTED WORKS TO EXHIBITIONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD.
  2. $2.1 million spent. EDUCATION:THE MUSEUM OFFERS A DIVERSE SCHEDULE OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE A BROAD RANGE OF AUDIENCES. THROUGH AN ACTIVE SCHEDULE OF LECTURES, SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, TOURS AND EVENTS, THE MUSEUM PROVIDES VISITORS WITH ACCESSIBLE AND UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND ENGAGE WITH THE ARTS. THE MUSEUM ALSO OFFERS A VARIETY OF ART CLASSES, CAMPS AND STUDIO WORKSHOPS WHERE PARTICIPANTS CREATE VARIOUS TYPES OF ART WHICH ARE OFTEN RELEVANT TO THE MUSEUM'S CURRENT EXHIBITIONS.
  3. $503,961 spent. MEMBERSHIP:THE MONTCLAIR ART MUSEUM INCLUDES MORE THAN 2,500-MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS. MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, DISCOUNTS ON ART CLASSES AND STORE PURCHASES, AND FREE ACCESS TO A NATIONAL NETWORK OF PARTICIPATING MUSEUMS. THE MUSEUM ALSO ENJOYS THE ACTIVE SERVICE OF OVER 280 VOLUNTEERS WHO VOLUNTEER AS TRUSTEES, DOCENTS, STUDIO ASSISTANTS AND EVENT GREETERS. TOGETHER, MAM WAS THE BENEFICIARY OF OVER 10,000 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE ANNUALLY.
  4. $231,266 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES:MUSEUM STORE - THE STORE AT MAM OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF WELL-DESIGNED MERCHANDISE THAT CAN BE ENJOYED BY THE WHOLE FAMILY. ITEMS RELATED TO THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTIONS OF AMERICAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN ART ARE AVAILABLE AS WELL AS HAND-CRAFTED JEWELRY, AND GLASSWARE, CERAMIC OBJECTS AND DECORATIVE HOME ACCENTS OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER. IN ADDITION, THE STORE AT MAM OFFERS A WELL-EDITED SELECTION OF ART-RELATED GIFTS FOR CHILDREN INCLUDING BOOKS, ART IMPLEMENTS, TOYS, GAMES AND FUN COLLECTIBLES.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1926.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.