Museum of Contemporary Art
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MCA IS AN INNOVATIVE AND COMPELLING CENTER OF CONTEMPORARY ART WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN DIRECTLY EXPERIENCE THE WORK AND IDEAS OF LIVING ARTISTS, AND UNDERSTAND THE HISTORICAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT OF THE ART OF OUR TIME. THE MUSEUM BOLDLY INTERWEAVES EXHIBITIONS, PERFORMANCES, COLLECTIONS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO EXCITE, CHALLENGE, AND ILLUMINATE OUR VISITORS AND TO PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO THE CREATIVE PROCESS. THE MCA ASPIRES TO ENGAGE A BROAD AND DIVERSE AUDIENCE, CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND BE A PLACE FOR CONTEMPLATION, STIMULATION, AND DISCUSSION ABOUT CONTEMPORARY ART AND CULTURE.
- Income
- $25.0 million
- Spending
- $35.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 31.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 203
- Volunteers
- 80
- Highest pay
- $894,699, pritzker director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 31.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 42% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 45% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2564 of 65 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (3)
- $23.3 million spent. EXHIBITIONS: MCA EXHIBITIONS SEEK TO INTRODUCE AUDIENCES TO THE MOST IMPORTANT ART AND ARTISTS OF OUR TIME. EXHIBITIONS ARE DESIGNED TO EXCITE, CHALLENGE, AND ILLUMINATE OUR VISITORS, EXPLORE CURRENT CRITICAL ISSUES, ENCOURAGE CRITICAL THINKING, AND TO PROVIDE THEM WITH INSIGHT INTO THE CREATIVE PROCESS. IN THE FY25 FISCAL YEAR THE MUSEUM WELCOMED 180,991 ACROSS ALL ITS OFFERINGS.
- $2.0 million spent. PERFORMANCE: THE MCA PRESENTS CUTTING-EDGE DANCE, THEATER, MUSIC, AS WELL AS PERFORMANCES THAT CROSS AND COMBINE GENRES. ARTISTS ARE IN ALL STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS, AND LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL. THESE INCLUDE POPULAR SERIES LIKE OUR TUESDAYS ON THE TERRACE, ON STAGE, AND CHICAGO PERFORMS. OVER 10,871 PEOPLE ATTENDED THESE EVENTS, A NUMBER OF WHICH WERE FREE.
- $1.4 million spent. EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS: THE MCA'S EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMMING DEPARTMENT PRODUCE NUMEROUS PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS. OUR PROGRAMS SEEK TO CREATE A CONTINUUM OF LIFELONG LEARNING, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN THROUGH OUR FREE FAMILY DAY PROGRAMS, TEACHER PROGRAMS, SCHOOL TOURS, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH SPECIFIC SCHOOLS. MOST OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE FREE. OVER 11,968 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WELCOMED TO THESE PROGRAMS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1966.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.