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Louis Armstrong House Museum

EIN 26-4178283 · Corona, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG HOUSE MUSEUM SUSTAINS AND PROMOTES THE CULTURAL, HISTORICAL, AND HUMANITARIAN LEGACY OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG BY PRESERVING AND INTERPRETING ARMSTRONG'S HOUSE AND GROUNDS, COLLECTING AND SHARING ARCHIVAL MATERIALS THAT DOCUMENT ARMSTRONG'S LIFE AND LEGACY, AND PRESENTING PUBLIC PROGRAMS SUCH AS EXHIBITS, CONCERTS, LECTURES, AND FILM SCREENINGS. THE MUSEUM SEEKS TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ORIGINS, AND LOCATIONS.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
24.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
9
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$191,362, 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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 53% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 (1)
  1. $1.7 million spent. IN 2025, LOUIS ARMSTRONG HOUSE MUSEUM (LAHM) WAS DESIGNATED AS A NEW MEMBER OF NEW YORK CITY'S CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS GROUP (CIG). THIS DESIGNATION WILL PROVIDE FURTHER FISCAL STABILITY TO THE ORGANIZATION AND RECOGNIZES LAHM'S DECADES-LONG COMMITMENT TO ART AND EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY.IN 2025 OUR PROGRAMS WERE INSPIRED BY THE ARMSTRONG VALUES OF: PRESERVING AND SHARING THE LEGACY, ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY. THESE PROGRAMS SERVED OVER 20,000 CONSTITUENTS CONSISTING OF STUDENTS, ADULTS, AND SENIORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND DIVERSE ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS.PRESERVING AND SHARING THE LEGACYTOURS OF THE EXPANDED CAMPUS: IN ADDITION TO THE ARMSTRONG HOME GUIDED TOUR, WE ALSO WELCOMED THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO THE NEW ARMSTRONG CENTER. THE CENTER FEATURES A STATE OF THE ART EXHIBITION SPACE SHOWCASING HUNDREDS OF ITEMS FROM OUR ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS.THE CORONA COLLECTION EXHIBITION: THIS PROJECT DOCUMENTED THE ORAL HISTORIES OF 15 CORONA, NY RESIDENTS WHO PERSONALLY KNEW LOUIS AND LUCILLE ARMSTRONG. THE EXHIBITION INCLUDED AN EXHIBITION VIDEO, EXHIBIT CASES SHOWCASING 36 ASSETS, AND A MURAL. THE EXHIBIT OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN OCTOBER 2025 AND IS CURRENTLY OPEN TO THE PUBLICARTISTIC EXCELLENCEARMSTRONG NOW!: NOW IN ITS FIFTH YEAR, OUR ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM FEATURED TRINIDADIAN TRUMPETER, PERCUSSIONIST, COMPOSER, AND STORYTELLER ETIENNE CHARLES AND DISTINGUISHED CHOREOGRAPHER, FILMMAKER, AND EDUCATOR IRISHIA HUBBARD ROMAINE. EACH ARTIST EXPLORED THE ARMSTRONG ARCHIVAL COLLECTION FOR INSPIRATION TO FURNISH NEW PROJECTS SPANNING MUSIC, DANCE, SPOKEN WORD, AND VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS. THE COMMISSIONED PERFORMANCES FOR THESE ARTISTS WERE SHOWCASED IN FALL 2025 IN THE ARMSTRONG CENTER JAZZ ROOM.YEAR ROUND CONCERTS: IN ADDITION TO OUR ARMSTRONG NOW! PERFORMANCES, WE HOSTED YEAR ROUND PERFORMANCES FEATURING A WIDE RANGE OF JAZZ ARTISTS.EDUCATION & COMMUNITYPOPS IS TOPS, OUR LONGEST STANDING PROGRAM NOW IN ITS 39TH YEAR, FEATURED GRAMMY-NOMINATED TRUMPETER ALPHONSO HORNE. THIS 4 DAY FESTIVAL SERVED OVER 2,000 STUDENTS FROM CORONA, QUEENS AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. DURING THIS FREE EVENT EVERY STUDENT ALSO RECEIVED A COMPLIMENTARY TOUR OF THE ARMSTRONG HOME.TRUMPET LESSONS: OUR INSTRUMENT INSTRUCTION PROGRAM PROVIDED WEEKLY TRUMPET INSTRUCTION AT THE ARMSTRONG CENTER TO STUDENTS AGES 8 - 14. MORE THAN 30 STUDENTS WERE TAUGHT BY WORLD CLASS ARTISTS FOR LOW OR NO-COST AND RECEIVED A TRUMPET ON LOAN FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR CLASSES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2009.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.