Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Navy Pier Inc

EIN 27-4813461 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NAVY PIER IS THE "PEOPLE'S PIER AND AIMS TO FULFILL VISIONARY DANIEL BURNHAM'S EDICT THAT CHICAGO'S MAGNIFICENT LAKEFRONT REMAIN OPEN AND AVAILABLE TO THE PEOPLE. THROUGH 50 ACRES OF PARKS AND UNMATCHED VIEWS OF THE CITY SKYLINE TOUCHING THE ENDLESS SHORELINE, (SEE SCHEDULE O) NAVY PIER ENGAGES LOCALS AND VISTORS BY PROVIDING DYNAMIC AND ECLECTIC EXPERIENCES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS THAT INSPIRE DISCOVERY AND WONDER.

Income
$74.6 million
Spending
$78.3 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
-7.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 91%
Employees
496
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$700,876, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 41% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 30 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.

  • 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 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 (1)
  1. $70.8 million spent. AS AN ICON OF THE CITY, NAVY PIER IS FIRMLY ROOTED IN CHICAGO'S VIBRANT CULTURE, UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE, AND CONNECTED COMMUNITIES. NAVY PIER IS A VITAL ECONOMIC ENGINE AND PROUD FIRST EMPLOYER, PROVIDING SPACE AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL AND LOCALLY-OWNED BUSINESSES AND SUSTAINING 3,000 JOBS ANNUALLY. NAVY PIER PROVIDES A YEAR-ROUND WORLD-CLASS PLATFORM FOR CHICAGO'S CULTURAL COMMUNITY, PARTNERING WITH THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND HUNDREDS OF PERFORMING ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENT THE VIBRANCY OF CHICAGO AND ITS 77 NEIGHBORHOODS. NAVY PIER IS HOME TO NONPROFIT PARTNERS CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER, CHICAGO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, AND CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA AND PROUDLY PRESENTS ACCESSIBLE PROGRAMMING INTENDED TO INSPIRE, EDUCATE, AND AUTHENTICALLY CONNECT ARTISTS TO (SEE SCHEDULE O) AUDIENCES. NAVY PIER IS GOVERNED BY A 30-MEMBER VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSISTING OF BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADERS, AND CONTINUES TO OPERATE DILIGENTLY UNDER ITS CORE VALUES OF EXCELLENCE, INCLUSION, STEWARDSHIP, AND INTEGRITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 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 July 2011.

    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.

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.