Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE BALZEKAS MUSEUM OF LITHUANIAN CULTURE IS DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION AND PERPETUATION OF LITHUANIAN CULTURE. THROUGH OUR EXHIBITS, CLASSES, SEMINARS, PROJECTS, AND INTERCULTURAL PROGRAMS WE CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF LITHUANIAN AMERICANS, THE LITHUANIAN NATION, AND LITHUANIAN COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE.
- Income
- $791,421
- Spending
- $637,423
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 29.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 44%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 20
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 29.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 46% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, 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)
- $577,936 spent. WE CELEBRATE THE UNIQUE CONTRIBUTIONS LITHUANIANS HAVE MADE IN WORLD HISTORY AND THE ARTS BY OPERATING A MUSEUM ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF CHICAGO. WE MAINTAIN A LIBRARY, CURATE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL EXHIBITS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING SUCH AS CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS,CULTURAL EVENTS SUCH AS FILMS AND CONCERTS, PROVIDE GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH, AND SCHOLARLY WORK SUCH AS COLLABORATIONS AND INTERCULTURAL EXCHANGES. OUR MUSEUM HOUSES THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LITHUANIAN CULTURAL ARTIFACTS OUTSIDE OF LITHUANIA. DURING 2023, WE CONTINUED TO RECOVER FROM THE CONTRACTION OF THE COVID ERA, AND WE PURCHASED A BUILDING ON MICHIGAN AVENUE IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO WHICH WE ARE RENOVATING TO BE OUR FIRST SATELLITE LOCATION, OPENING IN 2026. WE MAINTAIN A MEMBERSHIP OF 3000+, MANY OF WHOM LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE CHICAGO AREA. WE CELEBRATE THE UNIQUE CONTRIBUTIONS LITHUANIANS HAVE MADE IN WORLD HISTORY AND THE ARTS BY OPERATING A MUSEUM ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF CHICAGO. WE MAINTAIN A LIBRARY, CURATE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL EXHIBITS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING SUCH AS CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS,CULTURAL EVENTS SUCH AS FILMS AND CONCERTS, PROVIDE GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH, AND SCHOLARLY WORK SUCH AS COLLABORATIONS AND INTERCULTURAL EXCHANGES. OUR MUSEUM HOUSES THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LITHUANIAN CULTURAL ARTIFACTS OUTSIDE OF LITHUANIA. DURING 2023, WE CONTINUED TO RECOVER FROM THE CONTRACTION OF THE COVID ERA, AND WE PURCHASED A BUILDING ON MICHIGAN AVENUE IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO WHICH WE ARE RENOVATING TO BE OUR FIRST SATELLITE LOCATION, OPENING IN 2026. WE MAINTAIN A MEMBERSHIP OF 3000+, MANY OF WHOM LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE CHICAGO AREA.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2023.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1967.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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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