Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art

EIN 23-7112328 · Virginia Bch, VA

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

THE VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (VIRGINIA MOCA) IS A NON-PROFIT INSTITUTION WHICH EXISTS TO FOSTER AWARENESS, EXPLORATION, AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE SIGNIFICANT ART OF OUR TIME. ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS, VIRGINIA MOCA'S INTEGRATION OF ITS FOUR PRIMARY ACTIVITIES-GALLERY EXHIBITIONS, STUDIO ART CLASSES, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND THE BOARDWALK ART SHOW - VIRGINIA MOCA ENGAGES A DIVERSE REGIONAL PUBLIC IN THE RICH AND ACTIVE LANGUAGE OF CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ART. ITS ANNUAL ATTENDANCE ACROSS ALL EVENTS, INCLUDING THE RENOWNED ANNUAL BOARDWALK ART SHOW, IS MORE THAN 300,000.

Income
$7.0 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
63
Volunteers
160
Highest pay
$140,126, executive di

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 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 59% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 139% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

    24 of 24 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 (3)
  1. $1.6 million spent. EXHIBITIONS: VIRGINIA MOCA,AN AAM-ACCREDITED, NON-COLLECTING MUSEUM, IS DEDICATED TO SHOWCASING EXCEPTIONAL CONTEMPORARY ART THAT RESONATES BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, REFLECTING OUR SHARED HUMAN EXPERIENCE. THE MUSEUM'S FOUR EXHIBITION SPACES HOST APPROXIMATELY 20 EXHIBITIONS ANNUALLY, WITH MAJOR SHOWS FEATURED IN THE MAIN GALLERY UP TO THREE TIMES PER YEAR. RECENT PAST EXHIBITIONS HAVE INCLUDED THE WORK OF MARK DION AND ALEXIS ROCKMAN. VIRGINIA MOCA IS COMMITTED TO ACCESSIBILITY, OFFERING FREE ADMISSION TO ALL EXHIBITIONS.
  2. $381,495 spent. EDUCATION: CLOSE LOOKING AND INQUIRY-BASED EXPLORATION ANCHOR EDUCATION FOR YOUTH, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, TEACHERS, AND ADULTS AT VMOCA. COUPLED WITH UNDERSTANDING THE IDEAS BEHIND THE WORK IS MATERIALS AND METHODS INSTRUCTION. PROGRAMS INCLUDE SCHOOL TOURS (ON SITE AND VIRTUAL), ARTIST- IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAMS IN THE MUSEUM ATRIUM SPACE, REGULAR AND FREE FAMILY FEST DAYS; YOUTH AND ADULT STUDIO CLASSES; MASTER CLASSES WITH PRESENTING ARTISTS; LECTURES IN THE GALLERIES; PRESENTATION AND CELEBRATIONS OF STUDENT WORK; SUMMER ART CAMPS, AND CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR TEACHERS. MANY EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE FREE, AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT, SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING IS AVAILABLE.
  3. $147,701 spent. BOARDWALK ART SHOW: THIS ANNUAL EVENT, NOW IN ITS 69TH YEAR, WAS THE SEED FROM WHICH THE CURRENT MUSEUM SPRUNG. THE MUSEUM CELEBRATES ITS LOCAL AND ARTISTIC COMMUNITIES WITH THIS FREE, 3-DAY OUTDOOR EXHIBITION OF ORIGINAL ARTWORK, ACROSS MEDIA, ON THE ICONIC VIRGINIA BEACH BOARDWALK. CLOSE TO 30,000 VISITORS CONNECT WITH A COUPLE HUNDRED ARTISTS, EXPLORING THEIR WORK, LEARNING ABOUT THEIR PRACTICE, AND BUYING ARTWORK. CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS FROM ACROSS THE REGION PROVIDE SUPPORT, WHILE PATRONS MAKE A VISIT TO THE FREE AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE BOARDWALK ART SHOW A YEARLY PILGRIMAGE. THE CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH CONSIDERS THE VMOCA BOARDWALK ART SHOW A SIGNATURE EVENT FOR THE CITY. THE ART SHOW IS EMBEDDED IN THE DNA OF VIRGINIA BEACH GIVEN THE ART SHOW BEGAN 7 YEARS BEFORE THE CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH WAS FORMED. BOARDWALK ART SHOW: THIS ANNUAL EVENT, NOW IN ITS 69TH YEAR, WAS THE SEED FROM WHICH THE CURRENT MUSEUM SPRUNG. THE MUSEUM CELEBRATES ITS LOCAL AND ARTISTIC COMMUNITIES WITH THIS FREE, 3-DAY OUTDOOR EXHIBITION OF ORIGINAL ARTWORK, ACROSS MEDIA, ON THE ICONIC VIRGINIA BEACH BOARDWALK. CLOSE TO 30,000 VISITORS CONNECT WITH A COUPLE HUNDRED ARTISTS, EXPLORING THEIR WORK, LEARNING ABOUT THEIR PRACTICE, AND BUYING ARTWORK. CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS FROM ACROSS THE REGION PROVIDE SUPPORT, WHILE PATRONS MAKE A VISIT TO THE FREE AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE BOARDWALK ART SHOW A YEARLY PILGRIMAGE. THE CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH CONSIDERS THE VMOCA BOARDWALK ART SHOW A SIGNATURE EVENT FOR THE CITY. THE ART SHOW IS EMBEDDED IN THE DNA OF VIRGINIA BEACH GIVEN THE ART SHOW BEGAN 7 YEARS BEFORE THE CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH WAS FORMED.

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 June 1971.

    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.

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.