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Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Arts

EIN 36-2487600 · Oak Brook, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE LIZZADRO MUSEUM OF LAPIDARY ART'S PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE IS TO OPERATE A MUSEUM OF ART FOR THE COLLECTION, CARE, STUDY, AND EXHIBITION OF PRECIOUS AND NON-PRECIOUS GEMS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER OBJECTS OF ART, AND THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC WITH REFERENCE TO THE MUSEUM'S ART COLLECTION, WHICH CONSISTS OF GEMSTONES, DIORAMAS, JADE CARVINGS, AND VARIOUS ROCK, MINERAL, AND FOSSIL SPECIMENS.

Income
$827,427
Spending
$595,108
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
10
Volunteers
0

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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. $301,852 spent. THE PROMOTION OF THE LAPIDARY ART THROUGH SPECIAL PROGRAMS ON THE HISTORY AND MAKEUP OF THE MUSEUM. OVER 34,423 CHILDREN AND ADULTS VISITED THE MUSEUM THIS YEAR ON SITE OR THROUGH EXTERNAL OR VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING. EVERY WEDNESDAY IS FREE ADMISSION. THE MUSEUM COLLABORATES WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR THE PUBLIC. THE MUSEUM DISPLAYED 3 TEMPORARY SPECIAL EXHIBITS: THE FIRST: THE ARTFUL SOUL OF FAUST WHICH EXHIBITED FOURTEEN LARGE CAMEOS DEPICTING THE STORY OF FAUST FROM GERMANY ENDED JANUARY 7, 2024. THE RICHARD H. DRIEHAUS LAPIDARY COLLECTION FEATURING A VARIETY OF STONE OBJECTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND 2 19TH CENTURY ROMAN MICROMOSAICS FROM FEBRUARY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 29, 2024. SYNERGY AND SYMBIOSIS FEATURED 12 COLLABORATIVE JEWELRY CREATIONS BY PAULA CREVOSHAY AND GLENN LEHRER FROM NOVEMBER 2, 2024 TO APRIL 27, 2025.
  2. $229,899 spent. THE MUSEUM STAFF OPERATES A GIFT SHOP AT THE MUSEUM'S FACILITY, WHICH AFFORDS VISITORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE BOOKS, LITERATURE, AND LAPIDARY REPLICAS. THE GIFT SHOP'S INVENTORY OF LAPIDARY SPECIMENS CONSISTS PRIMARILY OF LOW-PRICED ITEMS WHICH ARE REPRESENTATIVE FACSIMILES OF THE LAPIDARY AND RELATED ART OBJECTS DISPLAYED AT THE MUSEUM. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE GIFT SHOP FACILITY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE UNDERLYING EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE MUSEUM AND THUS IS CHARACTERIZED AS RELATED BUSINESS INCOME FOR PURPOSES OF THE MUSEUM'S REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. SEE SECTION 513 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1954, AS AMENDED, AND THE REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER.
  3. $11,886 spent. TOURS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: THE MUSEUM HELD 48 ONSITE WEEKEND PROGRAMS ON EDUCATIONAL SUBJECTS RELATED TO ROCKS AND MINERALS, AS WELL AS LIVE COMMUNITY MUSIC PROGRAMS. LECTURES AND ACTIVITIES PERTAINING TO THE CHINESE COLLECTION AND EARTH SCIENCE PROGRAMS ARE USUALLY RECORDED AND POSTED TO OUR WEBSITE'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL, GENERATING ADDITIONAL VIEWS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1964.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.