Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Rockford Art Museum

EIN 36-2349612 · Rockford, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 48% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO ENRICH THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES BY COMMUNICATING THE PLEASURE, APPRECIATION AND MEANING OF VISUAL ARTS THROUGH PROGRAMS OF COLLECTION, EXHIBITION AND EDUCATION.

Income
$523,961
Spending
$704,992
Spent on programs
48%
Reserves
36 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
0
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$112,273, executive di

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 36.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    48% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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, 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 (1)
  1. $340,150 spent. COLLECTS AND MAINTAINS ARTIFACTS FOR THE CULTURAL ENRICHMENT OF THE COMMUNITY. OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE EXHIBITION PROGRAM OF HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY ART. OFFERS LECTURES, GALLERY WALKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHANGING EXHIBITIONS, AND CLASSES TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC IN VARIOUS ART MEDIA. THE MUSEUM HAS INITIATED SUCH UNIQUE PROGRAMS AS TERRIFIC TUESDAYS, FABULOUS FINE ARTS FRIDAY, CAMP COLLAGE AND THE ONGOING ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE STRONG PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE MUSEUM AND THE AREA'S HOME SCHOOLED AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. TOTAL ATTENDANCE FOR 2025 WAS APPROXIMATELY 19,813.

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 November 1955.

    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.