Museum of the San Fernando Valley
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Museum of the San Fernando Valley is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit history, arts and culture museum that not only collects, displays and preserves artifacts but gives a central voice to the distinctive histories of all populations from the SFV whose cultures, races, religions and ideas contributed to the Valleys character, growth and development. The Museum is currently free to the public and offers a variety of exhibitions and programs; i.e. a history/artist speaker series, public art initiatives (PAI), Heritage Day events, and museum skill-training for volunteers which includes student interns from Cal State, Northridge. This CSUN partnership program engages students in research, archiving, docenting, exhibit development and metrics gathering. The Museum primarily pays its operating costs through grants and donations from walk-in visitors and museum events as well as limited gift-shop sales of consignment items from those SFV artists and history speakers who volunteer as
- Income
- $33,721
- Spending
- $33,132
- Reserves
- 69.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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)
- $3,630 spent. LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS GRANT:DCA MATCH GRANT [EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS] - $3,630.00. THE MUSEUM RECEIVED THIS GRANT REGARDNG THE CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN UPDATED HISTORIC, INCLUSIVE TIMELINE OF THE HISTORY OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY- PHASE I - FROM INCEPTION TO 1900. THE MUSEUM WAS ABLE TO MEET ITS $3,630 MATCH OBLIGATION IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 12 BY A 70% IN-KIND AND 30% MONETARY MATCH THROUGH A $2,000.00 PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION DONATION FROM ANCHOR EDUCATION FOUNDATION, A $1,630 OF IN-KIND MATCH OF VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED RESEARCH, CREATE, ARTISTICALLY DEVELOP, PAINT AND INSTALL THE FIRST OF FOUR 4'X 6' PANELS IN THE FRONT OF THE MUSEUM, AND $1,630 OF MUSEUM GENERAL FUNDS WHICH WERE TIMELY MATCHED. THIS GRANT WILL BE RE-AUTHORIZED, RENEWED AND RE-FUNDED SEPARATELY FOR BOTH PHASE II(1900 THROUGH 1949) AND PHASE III (1950 THROUGH 2010) WITH A COMPLETION TIME EXPECTED TO BE JUNE 30, 2026. ON 8/23/2024 THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES ISSUED ITS REMITTANCE ADVICE AND THEREAFTER SENT ITS 9/19/2024 CHECK FOR $3,630 WHICH WAS DEPOSITED BY THE MUSEUM ON 10/3/2024.
- $2,500 spent. JOHN LEE'S CHILDREN ART GRANT:JOHN LEE'S CHILDREN ART GRANT - "MAKING MOVIES THAT MATTER - YOUTH SHORT FILM FESTIVAL. COST-FREE ARTS EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY THAT MEMBERS OF THE MUSEUM'S PAI (PUBLIC ARTS INITIATIVE) ARTISTS HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN WITH THE COMMUNITY. FREBA MEHMAN WAS THE LEAD VOLUNTEER PAI ARTIST AND PROJECT MANAGER FROM THE MUSEUM WHO HANDLED THE GRANT. CITY OF LOS ANGELES 4/5/2024 CHECK FOR $2,500 WAS DEPOSTED IN THE MUSEUM'S BANK ACCOUNT ON 4/18/2024.
- $5,000 spent. THE UCLA FREEDOM MAPPING DONATION GRANT: THE UCLA FREEDOM MAPPING DONATION GRANT IS HELPING PUT ON A NEW EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR UNDERSERVED SCHOOLS WITH THEIR PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO ENHANCE THEIR SCIENCE AND HISTORY SKILLS. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 7/9/2024 CHECK FOR $5,000 WAS DEPOSITED IN THE MUSEUM'S BANK ACCOUNT ON 7/22/2024.
- $2,466 spent. NORTHRIDGE WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL GRANT:A NORTHRIDGE WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL GRANT FOR THE MUSEUM'S PAI ARTS FAIRE FOR SAN FERNANDO VALLEY ARISTS TO OFFER CREATIONS TO THE VALLEY COMMUNITY. OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK, CITY OF LOS ANGELES 9/27/2024 CHECK FOR $2,466 WAS DEPOSITED IN THE MUSEUM'S BANK ACCOUNT ON 10/15/2024.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2008.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.