Morris Museum Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
VISION: THE MORRIS MUSEUM IS THE REGION'S PREMIER ENGINE OF CURIOSITY AND WONDERMENT. MISSION: THE MORRIS MUSEUM ENRICHES LIVES WITH EXEMPLARY EXHIBITIONS AND PERFORMANCES OF ART, DESIGN, AND SCIENCE. SEE STATEMENT ATTACHED ON SCHEDULE O.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $4.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- -6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 49%
- Employees
- 44
- Volunteers
- 59
- Highest pay
- $247,497, 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
Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 59% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 42 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 2516 of 17 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 (2)
- $1.9 million spent. EXHIBITIONS AND EDUCATION:FOR COMPLETE PROGRAM PROFILE AND IMPACT, SEE THE MUSEUM'S ANNUAL REPORTS ON ITS WEBSITE: WWW.MORRISMUSEUM.ORG/OUR-TEAMFY2025 WAS A PIVOTAL PERIOD OF CURATORIAL EXCELLENCE AND PROGRAMMATIC GROWTH. ARTISTS OF INTERNATIONAL STANDING AND REGIONAL ROOTS PRESENTED THEIR WORK, MANY OF WHOM WERE WORKING WITH THE MUSEUM FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT PRESENTED 24 SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS AND INSTALLATIONS.SEE STATEMENT ATTACHED ON SCHEDULE O.EXHIBITIONS AND EDUCATION:FOR COMPLETE PROGRAM PROFILE AND IMPACT, SEE THE MUSEUM'S ANNUAL REPORTS ON ITS WEBSITE: WWW.MORRISMUSEUM.ORG/OUR-TEAMTHE MUSEUM PRESENTS OVER 20 SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS AND COLLECTION INSTALLATIONS EACH YEAR AND PUBLISHES CATALOGS FOR THESE PROJECTS FROM TIME TO TIME. RECENT OFFERINGS RANGED FROM A SHOWCASE OF CONTEMPORARY SCULPTURE MADE IN NJ TO A MID-CAREER RETROSPECTIVE OF JAMES PROSEK AND A MAJOR SURVEY OF THE WORKS OF 20TH CENTURY PAINTER SALLY MICHEL. THE 45,000+ COLLECTIONS THE MUSEUM HOLDS IN THE PUBLIC TRUST INCLUDE OBJECTS OF ART, DESIGN, GLOBAL MATERIAL CULTURE, AND NATURAL SCIENCE (MINERALS, FOSSILS, AND BIOLOGICAL SPECIMENS).THE MUSEUM'S EDUCATION PROGRAM EMPHASIZES GROUP VISITS OF K-12 STUDENTS YET ALSO INCLUDES ART CLASSES, COLLEGE AND GRADUATE-LEVEL INTERNSHIPS, TWO ENTHUSIAST-LED SOCIETIES (ASTRONOMICAL AND MINERALOGICAL), ADULT AND LIFELONG-LEARNING TOURS, FAMILY FESTIVALS, AND THE CREATIVE PLAY EXPERIENCE SPARK!LAB.FY2025 WAS A PIVOTAL PERIOD OF CURATORIAL EXCELLENCE AND PROGRAMMATIC GROWTH. ARTISTS OF INTERNATIONAL STANDING AND REGIONAL ROOTS PRESENTED THEIR WORK, MANY OF WHOM WERE WORKING WITH THE MUSEUM FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT PRESENTED 24 SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS AND INSTALLATIONS.IN TANDEM WITH THIS EFFORT, THE STAFF FOUND CREATIVE AND THOUGHTFUL OPPORTUNITIES TO FEATURE OBJECTS FROM THE 45,000+ COLLECTION WITHIN CONTEMPORARY PROJECTS. REFRESHING THE MAIN GALLERY BROUGHT THE SPACE TO A HIGHER AESTHETIC BEFITTING THE CALIBER OF THE EXHIBITING ARTISTS; SIMILAR UPGRADES HAVE MADE THE GUINNESS WORKSHOP AREA READY TO HOST FOCUSED PROJECTS. THERE WERE NOTABLE COLLECTION ACQUISITIONS, THE INCLUSION OF 38 COLLECTION ITEMS ON VIEW IN OUR CONTEMPORARY SHOWS, AND 41 LENDERS PROPELLING OUR EXHIBITION OFFERINGS. PUBLIC PROGRAMMING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THESE EXHIBITIONS GENERATED ADDITIONAL ENGAGEMENT.CONTINUING ITS 112-YEAR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION WITH A DYNAMIC AND MULTIFACETED APPROACH, EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT THE MUSEUM SERVED A WIDE RANGE OF AUDIENCES FROM YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO HIGH SCHOOL/COLLEGE/GRADUATE STUDENTS AND OLDER ADULTS. SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS WERE NEW INITIATIVES WITHIN TOUR PROGRAMS, FESTIVALS, AND PROFESSIONAL MENTORSHIP. THE MUSEUM HOSTED 83 GROUP VISITS INCLUDING K-12 STUDENTS FROM 69 INSTITUTIONS FROM ACROSS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NJ. OUR SMITHSONIAN SPARK!LAB WELCOMED 19,857 VISITS IN THE PERIOD.
- $817,589 spent. PERFORMING ARTS:PERFORMANCES BY GRAMMY-WINNING ARTISTS AND RENOWN DANCE TROUPES DELIGHT AUDIENCES AT THE MORRIS MUSEUM, WHETHER PRESENTED IN THE 312-SEAT BICKFORD THEATRE, ELSEWHERE IN THE BUILDING, OR OUTSIDE. THE FY2025 SEASON OFFERED A DYNAMIC RANGE OF EXPERIENCES IN 25 INDOOR PERFORMANCES, 13 FILM SCREENINGS, A VARIETY OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS, AND 13 OUTDOOR CONCERTS. COLLABORATIVE EVENTS WITH NJ PBS AFFILIATE, ART IN THE ATRIUM, FARLIEGH DICKINGSON UNIVERSITY, AND OTHER PARTNERS WERE ALSO ACTIVATED WITHIN OUR SPACES.
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 October 1954.
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.