Design Museum Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
To inspire social change through the transformative power of design through public programming, education initiatives,and publications.
- Income
- $240,185
- Spending
- $246,402
- Spent on programs
- 51%
- Reserves
- -32.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 7
- Highest pay
- $75,292, interim 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: 16 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 1186% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 56% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1551% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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 92% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $43,014 spent. Design Museum Foundation (DBA CoDesign Collaborative) produces public programming in the form of workshops, forums, field trips and community meetups in the Greater Boston area and in Portland, Oregon. Our workshops provide practical tools, strategies, and learning that strengthen creative leaderships. Forums are in person and virtual conversations with thought leaders, platforming the designs impact on people, systems, and the world. Field Trips are organized visits to innovation hubs that connect our community to the creative minds and spaces redefining the boundaries of design and social impact. Our community meetup or Third Space events provide a structured way for our community and the public to connect with others, build relationships, and foster a sense of community while participating in hands-on creative making.
- $41,803 spent. CoDesign Collaborative hosts two ongoing educational programs. The Current is a virtual, student-led lightning talk series that highlight vital topics in design. College-level students invite a professional leader to engage in a fireside conversation on a topic related to design and social impact. Through these student-curated conversations, we met the emerging voices shaping the future of design and the creative leaders at the forefront of design impact. The CoDesign Student Challenge is an annual summer program that provides teens with hands-on design education in partnership with leading brands, industry professionals, and clients. Design Educators lead students through a two-part workshop, prototyping concepts and realizing innovative designs. The students are compensated for their time in line with CoDesign Collaboratives commitment to equity. Design Educators lead students through a two-part workshop, prototyping concepts and realizing innovative designs.
- $41,719 spent. Design Museum Foundation (DBA CoDesign Collaborative) produces a biannual publication under the title, Unfold (formerly Design Museum Magazine). Each edition of the magazine highlights a vital topic in design, featuring a Guest Editor, and expert contributors, who write in-depth, feature-length articles. Each issue of Unfold is printed and also published on CoDesign Collaboratives website. Select articles are made available at no cost to the general public.
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 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 July 2012.
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 November 4, 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.