International Center of Photography
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY IS A MUSEUM AND SCHOOL DEDICATED TO THE UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF PHOTOGRAPHY. ICP CREATES PROGRAMS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY TO ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE OF THE MEDIUM. THESE INCLUDE EXHIBITIONS, COLLECTIONS, AND EDUCATION FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, MEMBERS, STUDENTS, AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD OF PHOTOGRAPHY.
- Income
- $7.5 million
- Spending
- $15.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- -10.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 51%
- Employees
- 376
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $396,183, former 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
Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 4% 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 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 101% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 65% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 18 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $6.3 million spent. THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY IS A MUSEUM, SCHOOL, AND COLLECTION. ICP'S EDUCATION OFFERINGS INCLUDE EXHIBITIONS, CLASSES, PUBLIC PROGRAMS, SEMINARS, AND WORKSHOPS THAT COVER ALL ASPECTS OF PHOTOGRAPHY. ITS SCHOOL OFFERS ON-SITE AND ONLINE PROGRAMS. THERE ARE OPEN EDUCATION CLASSES FOR ADULTS AND THREE FULL-TIME, YEAR-LONG CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS IN DOCUMENTARY AND CREATIVE PRACTICES PHOTOGRAPHY. THE MUSEUM PRESENTS THREE CYCLES OF INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS AND ITS LIBRARY AND COLLECTION SERVE STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, SCHOLARS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
- $4.4 million spent. EXHIBITIONS - ICP'S IN-HOUSE AND TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS REFLECT THE HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLES AND APPLICATIONS.
- $1.5 million spent. ARCHIVES & COLLECTIONS - ICP MAINTAINS A PERMANENT COLLECTION OF APPROXIMATELY 200,000 PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS, 5,000 TIME BASED MEDIA AUDIO, VIDEO AND MOTION PICTURE FILMS, AND 200,000 NEGATIVES. GENERALLY, RESEARCHERS UTILIZE THE ICP PRINT STUDY ROOM FOR CONSULTED WORKS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1974.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.