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Olaf Wieghorst Museum Foundation

EIN 33-0799944 · El Cajon, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE OLAF WIEGHORST MUSEUM IS TO PRESERVE AND CELEBRATE THE HERITAGE OF THE AMERICAN WEST BY SHOWCASING THE LIFE AND ART OF INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED WESTERN PAINTER OLAF WIEGHORST PROVIDING THE PUBLIC WITH EDUCATIONAL INSPIRING AND IMMERSIVE CULTURAL EXPERIENCES.

Income
$53,113
Spending
$58,872
Spent on programs
50%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
1
Volunteers
20

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    50% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 25

    5 of 5 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.

  • 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, 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. $29,291 spent. THE OLAF WIGHORST MUSEUM FOUNDATION OPERATES IN EL CAJON CALIFORNIA TO PRESERVE THE ART AND HERITAGE OF THE AMERICAN WEST. THE MUSEUMS THREE LARGEST PROGRAM SERVICES CATEGORIZED BY THEIR ALLOCATED ESPENSES FOCUS ON PUBLIC EDUCATION HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AND COMMUNITY ARTS. MUSEUM OPERATIONS GALLERY EXHIBITS AND FACILITY MAINTENANCE - THE PRIMARY EXPENDITURES FOCUS ON OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A 3,300 SQUARE FOOT MUSEUM IN WHICH OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES CAN BE PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC. KEY ITEMS INCLUDE INSURANCE UTILITIES REPAIRS AND UPKEEP. IT MANAGES THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS TO ENSURE A SAFE CLIMATE-CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT FOR VISITORS AND THE ART COLLECTION.
  2. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH - THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES ONGOING PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE ARTISTS ORIGINAL WORK FEATURING A MAIN GALLERY VISITING ARTISTS EXHIBITS AND ROTATING DISPLAYS OF 19TH-CENTURY WESTERN FRONTIER ART. DOCENT LED TOURS AND PRESENTATIONS ARE SUPPORTED WITH WRITTEN MATERIAL ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS RELATING TO LOCAL HISTORY AND THE AMERICAN WEST.
  3. HISTORIC PRESERVATION - THE MUSEUM MAINTAINS OLAF WIEGHORSTS ORIGINAL HOME DISIGNATED A HISTORIC LANDMARK BY THE CITY OF EL CAJON AND A BOTANICAL GARDEN MEANT TO ENHANCE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE BY REPLICATING THE ATMOSPHERE OF A SOUTHWEST DESERT ENVIRONMENT. IT PRESERVES A LARGE COLLECTION OF ORIGINAL WIEGHORST ART AND MEMORABILIA DATING TO THE EARLY 1900S.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 May 1998.

    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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