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Harry and Della Burpee Museum Association

EIN 36-2045414 · Rockford, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE ALL PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN A LIFETIME OF DISCOVERY AND LEARNING ABOUT THE NATURAL WORLD, THROUGH PRESERVATION AND INTERPRETATION.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 55%
Employees
24
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$79,043, executive director

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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 75% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $493,063 spent. MUSEUM: BURPEE MUSEUM HAS 4 FLOORS OF EXHIBITS THAT BRING NATURAL SCIENCE TO LIFE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC FROM THE EARTH'S EARLY HISTORY TO PRESENT DAY PLANTS AND ANIMALS. THE MUSEUM SPACE CONSISTS OF PERMANENT EXHIBITS, TEMPORARY AND TRAVELING EXHIBITS, CLASSROOMS, AND SPACE DEVOTED TO PUBLIC PROGRAMS.
  2. $216,681 spent. EDUCATION: BURPEE MUSEUM EDUCATION PROGRAMMING IS CRITICAL TO ADVANCING DISCOVERY OF THE NATURAL WORLD. THE MUSEUM'S PROGRAMMING ENGAGES THE PUBLIC THROUGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS, OUTREACHES TO DAYCARES AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, PUBLIC CLASSES, LECTURES, COURSES AND SPECIAL ONE-DAY PROGRAMS SHAPING THE COMMUNITYS KNOWLEDGE AND RESPECT OF OUR EARTH THAT IS RICH WITH BIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY.
  3. $109,634 spent. RESEARCH: THE MUSEUM MAINTAINS A PERMANENT COLLECTION OF NATURAL OBJECTS AND MAN-MADE ARTIFACTS SPANNING THE MUSEUM'S DISCIPLINES: BIOLOGY, GEOLOGY, AND ANTHROPOLOGY. THE MUSEUM ENGAGES IN ACTIVE RESEARCH COLLECTING NEW SPECIMENS THROUGH LOCAL RESEARCH, AS WELL AS 2 MAJOR DIG SITES THROUGH THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT IN BOTH UTAH AND MONTANA. BURPEE IS HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST RARE AND IMPORTANT FOSSILS IN THE WORLD, AND PARTICIPATES IN RESEARCH WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

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 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 2024.

    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 April 1945.

    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.

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.