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Field Museum of Natural History

EIN 36-2167011 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FIELD MUSEUM IS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION CONCERNED WITH THE RELATIONSHIPS IN NATURE AND AMONG CULTURES. IT PROVIDES COLLECTION-BASED RESEARCH AND LEARNING FOR GREATER PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE WORLD (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) IN WHICH WE LIVE. ITS COLLECTIONS, PUBLIC LEARNING PROGRAMS, AND RESEARCH ARE INSEPARABLY LINKED TO SERVE A DIVERSE PUBLIC OF VARIED AGES, BACKGROUNDS AND KNOWLEDGE.

Income
$114.8 million
Spending
$95.3 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
16.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 35%
Employees
717
Volunteers
425
Highest pay
$874,416, 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

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% 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

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    79 of 80 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 (4)
  1. $32.0 million spent. SCIENCE & EDUCATION: SCIENCE AND EDUCATION CONSISTS OF FOUR COMPLEMENTARY CENTERS-THE COLLECTIONS CENTER, THE INTEGRATIVE RESEARCH CENTER, THE SCIENCE ACTION CENTER, AND THE LEARNING CENTER. TOGETHER, THESE CENTERS ADVANCE THE MUSEUM'S MISSION OF UNDERSTANDING THE PAST, EXPLORING ITS PRESENT, AND SHAPING A FUTURE FOR THE EARTH. THE COLLECTIONS AMOUNT TO OVER 30,000,000 NATURAL OBJECTS AND MAN-MADE ARTIFACTS SPANNING THE MUSEUM'S FOUR DISCIPLINES - ANTHROPOLOGY, BOTANY, GEOLOGY, AND ZOOLOGY.
  2. $22.5 million spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMS: THE MUSEUM BRINGS SCIENCE TO LIFE WITH MORE THAN 400,000 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE DEVOTED TO EXHIBITIONS AND OTHER PUBLIC PROGRAMS. IN 2024, THE MUSEUM WELCOMED MORE THAN 1,220,000 VISITORS.
  3. $16.3 million spent. MUSEUM SERVICES: THE MUSEUM HAS APPROXIMATELY 1,300,000 SQUARE FEET FOR WHICH MUSEUM SERVICES PROVIDES ENGINEERING, MAINTENANCE, AND SECURITY, AS WELL AS DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THE SCIENCE AND EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS.
  4. $8.3 million spent. MUSEUM OUTREACH AND BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.

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 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 November 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 October 21, 2026.

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