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Athenaeum of Philadelphia

EIN 23-1352027 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ATHENAEUM OF PHILADELPHIA NURTURES CURIOSITY IN MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORS, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY THROUGH LEARNING, DISCOURSE AND MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT. THE ATHENAEUM IS A HISTORIC AND VIBRANT PHILADELPHIA-CENTERED AND MEMBER-SUPPORTED CIRCULATING LIBRARY, RESEARCH ARCHIVE AND CULTURAL FORUM DEDICATED TO HARNESSING OUR RESOURCES - OUR EXPERT STAFF, OUR COLLECTIONS OF BOOKS, ART AND ARCHITECTURE TREASURES AND OUR NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK BUILDING - TO STRENGTHEN OUR GROWING COMMUNITY THROUGH IDEAS, CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT AND FELLOWSHIP.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
33.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
16
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$200,931, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 33.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 (1)
  1. $1.4 million spent. MUSEUM/LIBRARY BUILDING: THE ATHENAEUM'S THREE LARGEST PROGRAM SERVICES, AS MEASURED BY EXPENSES IN FYE 2025 WERE 1) MAINTAINING AND OPERATING THE ATHENAEUM'S 1847 NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK BUILDING AND ITS CIRCULATING AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS; 2) PAYING THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS OF THE STAFF NEEDED TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC AND CARE FOR THE BUILDING AND COLLECTIONS; AND 3) PROVIDE PUBLIC RESEARCH SUPPORT. 1) THE ATHENAEUM BUILDING AND COLLECTIONS CONNECTED WITH THE HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF AMERICA, AND THE USEFUL ARTS, DISSEMINATE USEFUL KNOWLEDGE FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT REQUIRES CARE AND UPKEEP. THE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS CONSIST OF MORE THAN 800,000 BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, MAPS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS OF PARTICULAR VALUE TO ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIANS, HISTORIANS, AND PRESERVATIONIST. THOUSANDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR RESEARCH ON TWO SITES MAINTAINED BY THE ATHENAEUM: PHILAGEOHISTORY.ORG AND PHILADELPHIABUILDINGS.ORG AND WERE ACCESSED BY MORE THAN 150,000 PEOPLE IN FYE 2025, WHILE STAFF SERVED MORE THAN 30 RESEARCH REQUESTS IN PERSON, PHONE, OR VIA EMAIL EACH MONTH. THE ATHENAEUM'S CIRCULATING COLLECTION OF BOOKS, EBOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS, AND PERIODICALS THAT ARE PART OF THE CIRCULATING BUILDING ARE NOT CAPITALIZED. 2) PERSONNEL COSTS MAKE UP A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET. OUR TEAM OF LIBRARIANS AND CURATOR CARE FOR OUR COLLECTIONS AND MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS AND RESEARCHERS. IN FYE 2025, MORE THAN 18,000 ITEMS CIRCULATED. FRONT DESK, MEMBERSHIP, AND PROGRAMMING STAFF PROVIDED HOSPITALITY, TOURS, AND A ROBUST SCHEDULE OF MORE THAN 170 PROGRAMS AND EVENTS IN FYE 2025, ALMOST ALL OF WHICH WERE OPEN TO BOTH MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC. 3) PUBLIC RESEARCH SUPPORT. THE ATHENAEUM SUPPORTS A ROBUST PROGRAM OF FELLOWSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS, AND PRIZES THROUGH THE CHARLES E. PETERSON FELLOWSHIP AND THE PETERSON PRIZES. EACH YEAR, THE CHARLES E. PETERSON FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE REVIEWS APPLICATIONS AND AWARDS FUNDING TO RESEARCHERS AND SCHOLARS WHOSE PROJECTS FOCUS ON AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN, LANDSCAPE, OR ENGINEERING PRIOR TO 1860. THE FELLOWSHIP ALSO SUPPORTS 1-3 UNDERGRADUATE OR GRADUATE INTERNS TO GAIN EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH OUR ARCHITECTURAL COLLECTIONS. THE CHARLES E. PETERSON PRIZES ARE JOINTLY OVERSEEN BY THE ATHENAEUM OF PHILADELPHIA, THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, AND THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS, AND AWARD CASH PRIZES TO TEAMS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS FOR THE BEST ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE'S HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY (HABS) PROGRAM.

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 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 June 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 August 1927.

    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.

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.