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Barnes Foundation

EIN 23-6000149 · 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

TO PROMOTE THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE APPRECIATION OF THE FINE ARTS AND HORTICULTURE. TO MAINTAIN AN ART GALLERY CONTAINING WORKS OF ANCIENT TO MODERN ART.

Income
$33.7 million
Spending
$30.1 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
9.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
267
Volunteers
97
Highest pay
$656,345, executive director & president

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 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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 25

    15 of 15 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. $4.8 million spent. VISITOR EXPERIENCE - THE BARNES FOUNDATION PRESENTS A DYNAMIC PROGRAM OF PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY EXHIBITS WITH SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS EXPANDING UPON THE PERMANENT COLLECTION AND CREATING FRESH OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISITOR ENGAGEMENT. FY25 FEATURED THE EXHIBITIONS MATISSE & RENOIR: NEW ENCOUNTERS AT THE BARNES, VISIONS, MICKALENE THOMAS: ALL ABOUT LOVE, CECILY BROWN: THEMES AND VARIATIONS.
  2. $3.4 million spent. RESEARCH AND COLLECTION - THE BARNES ART COLLECTION IS COMPRISED OF OVER 8,000 WORKS OF FINE AND DECORATIVE ARTS, INCLUDING PAINTINGS, FRAMES, WORKS ON PAPERS, FURNITURE AND DECORATIVE METALWORK. THE BARNES ENGAGES IN ACTIVE STEWARDSHIP THROUGH COLLECTION CARE, CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH OF ITS PERMANENT COLLECTION.
  3. $2.6 million spent. EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS - THE BARNES CONTINUES TO BUILD ON THE FOUNDING PRINCIPAL OF MAKING ART AND CULTURAL LEARNING ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES, SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ARE AMONG THE DIVERSE ONSITE AND OFFSITE PROGRAMING OFFERED THROUGH THE YEAR.
  4. $10.7 million spent. SHOP & FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS ENHANCE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND EXTENDS THEIR LEARNING THROUGH OUR SELECTION OF EDUCATIONAL BOOKS AND REPRODUCTIONS. CAMPUS OPERATIONS PROVIDE A CLEAN, SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

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 October 13, 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 February 1923.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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