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Cincinnati Museum Center

EIN 31-1212634 · Cincinnati, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER INSPIRES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WORLD THROUGH SCIENCE, REGIONAL HISTORY, AND EDUCATIONAL, ENGAGING AND MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES.

Income
$34.5 million
Spending
$28.8 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
18.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
266
Volunteers
424
Highest pay
$467,684, president & ceo

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    33 of 34 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 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)
  1. $11.8 million spent. THREE MUSEUMS ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 363 DAYS EACH YEAR. CINCINNATI HISTORY MUSEUM, CINCINNATI MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY AND SCIENCE, AND DUKE ENERGY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM PROVIDE PUBLIC EXHIBITS AND INTERACTIVE PROGRAMMING FOR VISITORS OF ALL AGES. WE CREATE EXHIBITS THAT TRAVEL TO OTHER MUSEUMS IN NORTH AMERICA AND ALSO HOST TEMPORARY EXHIBITS THAT WE RENT FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPLEMENT THE TOPICS PRESENTED IN OUR PERMANENT MUSEUM EXHIBITS. OMNIMAX LARGE-FORMAT FILM THEATER PRESENTS FILMS ON NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY TOPICS. WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PRODUCTION OF FILMS SHOWN WORLDWIDE. FILMS ARE OFTEN SELECTED TO COMPLEMENT CURRENT EXHIBIT TOPICS, ENHANCING OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR REGIONAL AUDIENCE.
  2. $1.5 million spent. COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH. PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION OF OBJECTS IN OUR COLLECTIONS FOR USE BY CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF SCIENTISTS AND HISTORIANS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING OBJECTS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THEM FOR OUR MUSEUM EXHIBITS. OUR STAFF CONDUCTS FIELD INVESTIGATIONS IN PALEONTOLOGY, ARCHAEOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY TO INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE PROCESSES, EARTH AND HUMAN HISTORY. THIS RESEARCH PROVIDES INFORMATION AND MATERIAL FOR EXHIBITS AND FOR ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN POPULAR AND SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS. 1.8 MILLION OBJECTS, ARTIFACTS AND DOCUMENTS ARE CURATED BY CMC , INCLUDING A NUMBER OF EXCLUSIVE AND BEST IN CLASS COLLECTIONS.
  3. $5.4 million spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, DAY CAMPS, OVERNIGHT CAMPS, LECTURES AND TOURS THAT INTERPRET AND EXPAND ON MUSEUM EXHIBIT THEMES. ONE LARGE AND TWO SMALL THEATER SPACES ARE USED FOR LIVE PERFORMANCES THAT BRING HISTORICAL EVENTS TO LIFE, PROVIDING REINFORCEMENT OF TOPICS AND AN ADDITIONAL AVENUE FOR MISSION DELIVERY. SCHOOL GROUP PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED IN OUR MUSEUMS AND ALSO AT SCHOOL SITES. DOCENTS ARE STATIONED IN ALL MUSEUM EXHIBIT AREAS TO INTERACT WITH VISITORS AND ENHANCE THE VISITOR'S LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

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 November 6, 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 October 1987.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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