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Erie Art Museum

EIN 25-1196748 · Erie, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ERIE ART MUSEUM IS TO PROMOTE AND ADVANCE THE VISUAL ARTS BY MAINTAINING A QUALITY ART COLLECTION, BY ENCOURAGING ART IN ALL ITS FORMS, BY FOSTERING LIFELONG ART LEARNING, AND BY BUILDING COMMUNITY AMONG ARTISTS, ART STUDENTS, AND THE PUBLIC.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
22
Volunteers
0

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 66% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

    14 of 14 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.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $790,663 spent. EXHIBITIONS - ERIE ART MUSEUM MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE PROGRAM OF CHANGING AND PERMANENT EXHIBITS WHICH PRESENT ART FROM AROUND THE WORLD, THE WORK OF INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL AND REGIONAL ARTISTS. THE EXHIBITS ARE DRAWN FROM THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTIONS, AND FROM LOANS BY ARTISTS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND COLLECTORS. THEY SPAN CULTURES AND TIME PERIODS, AND ARE AIMED AT ENCOURAGING DIALOGUE AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG VIEWERS. THEY ARE SUPPLEMENTED BY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING GALLERY TALKS AND LECTURES, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, FILMS, AND OTHER PRESENTATIONS DEALING WITH THE IDEAS EXPRESSED IN THE EXHIBITIONS.
  2. $118,145 spent. EDUCATION - THE MUSEUM'S EDUCATION PROGRAM ENCOURAGES LIFELONG LEARNING IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAM OFFERINGS, INCLUDING STUDIO ART CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, GUIDED TOURS, AND PROJECTS THAT OFFER THE PUBLIC ART-MAKING OPPORTUNITIES. STUDIO ART CLASSES TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS OFFER BEGINNERS AND AMATEURS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE ART IN A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT WITH QUALITY INSTRUCTION. THE EDUCATION PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGHSCHOOL TEACHERS THROUGH IN-SERVICE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. THE MUSEUM HOSTS INTERNS FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND BEYOND IN AN APPLIED LEARNING SITUATION THAT ENABLES STUDENTS TO EXPERIENCE THE REAL-WORLD APPLICATION OF THEIR ACADEMIC LEARNING THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN MUSEUM PROGRAMMING.

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 April 1985.

    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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