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Museum of African American History

EIN 38-1882096 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WRIGHT MUSEUM OPENS MINDS AND CHANGES LIVES THROUGH THE EXPLORATION AND CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE. THE WRIGHT MUSEUM PROVIDES LEARING OPPORTUNITIES, EXHIBITIONS, PROGRAMS, AND EVENTS BASED ON COLLECTIONS AND RESEARCH THAT EXPLORE THE DIVERSE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THEIR AFRICAN ORIGINS.

Income
$12.4 million
Spending
$13.4 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 72%
Employees
91
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$371,954, president & ceo

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

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    34 of 34 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (2)
  1. $8.7 million spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS: THE HEARTBEAT OF THE WRIGHT MUSEUM IS IN ITS WIDE ARRAY OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE WRIGHT MUSEUM'S RICH, ANNUALLY RECURRING CALENDAR INCLUDES OVER 250 PUBLIC EVENTS, INCLUDING CONCERT PERFORMANCES, THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS, FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS, FILM SCREENINGS, LECTURES, AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS WORKSHOPS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, THE FORD FREEDOM AWARDS, GRANDPARENTS DAY, KWANZAA, AND THE THREE-DAY AFRICAN WORLD FESTIVAL THAT ATTRACTS OVER 250,000 ATTENDEES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. PARTNERSHIPS WITH AREA ARTS, CULTURE, AND MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS ARE A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THIS AMBITIOUS SCHEDULE. THE WRIGHT MUSEUM PARTNERED WITH MORE THAN 100 SUCH ENTITIES DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025.
  2. $90,714 spent. IN APRIL 2025, THE WRIGHT DEBUTED LUMINOSITY: A DETROIT ARTS GATHERING, A DYNAMIC EXHIBITION CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF THE WRIGHT WITH OVER 60 ARTWORKS FROM PRESENT-DAY DETROIT ARTISTS, LONG-DEPARTED MASTERS, AND THE MUSEUM'S ARCHIVE. SPANNING PAINTING, SCULPTURE, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND MORE, LUMINOSITY ILLUMINATES THE CITY'S CREATIVE SPIRIT THROUGH SHARED HISTORIES, PERSONAL REFLECTIONS, AND BOLD ARTISTIC EXPLORATION.

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

  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 June 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 December 1966.

    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.