Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Muskegon Museum of Art Foundation

EIN 38-3402560 · Muskegon, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MUSKEGON MUSEUM OF ART FOUNDATION IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING, EDUCATION, AND ENJOYMENT OF FINE ART TO THE CITIZENS OF MUSKEGON COUNTY AND ALL OF WEST MICHIGAN.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
-5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
43
Volunteers
80
Highest pay
$134,555, executive di

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 47% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    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 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 (1)
  1. $2.2 million spent. BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF THE PROGRAM SERVICES ADMINISTERED BY MMAF. COLLECTIONS: THE MUSKEGON MUSEUM OF ART THROUGH ITS GOVERNING BOARDS, STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS, IS COMMITTED TO COLLECTING, PRESERVING, AND INTERPRETING ITS ART COLLECTIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. THIS PROGRAM SERVICE INCLUDES CURATORIAL RESEARCH AND OVERSIGHT, COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT, AND ACQUISITION AND DEACQUISITION ACTIVITIES, NEW ACQUISITIONS ARE ACQUIRED THAT ENHANCE BOTH THE CURRENT MAKE-UP OF THE COLLECTION AND THAT ADVANCE OUR MISSION AS ESTABLISHED IN THE VISION AND MISSION STATEMENTS OF THE INSTITUTION. EXHIBITIONS: THE MUSEUM IS DEDICATED TO THE CONTINUAL AND ROATING DISPLAY OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTION AND THE INSTALLATION OF TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS, FEARTURING BOTH THE PERMANENT COLLECTIONS AND WORKS FROM OTHER SOURCES. EXHIBITIONS ARE DEVELOPED TO CELEBRATE AND EXPAND THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION BY REINFORCING ITS VALUE, BUILDING SUPPORTING SCHOLARSHIP, AND DEMONSTRATING ITS LINKS BETWEEN THE PAST AND PRESENT. EDUCATION: THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DEVELOPED BY THE MUSKEGON MUSEUM OF ART ARE A CRITICAL TOOL FOR ADDRESSING OUR MISSION GOALS OF PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ENGAGEMENT, BUILDING AN ENVIRONMNET FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND STIMULATION, AND CONTRIBUTING TO COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT. EDUCATION PROGRAMS ALSO FACILITATE AND ENCOURAGE A STRONG MUSEUM CONNECTION WITH THE REGION, BUILDS MEMBERSHIP, INCREASES COMMUNITY INVOLVEMNET, AND PROVIDES ACCESSIBILITY TO A WIDE RANGE OF GROUPS, AGES, AND CULTURES. IT IS THROUGH PROGRAMMING THAT THE MUSEUM IS ABLE TO CONNECT DIRECTLY WITH ITS AUDIENCES, ENHANCING AND BUILDING UPON THE VISUAL EXPERIENCE PROVIDED IN THE GALLERIES. FACILITIES: THE MUSKEGON MUSEUM OF ART IS COMMITTED TO ITS ROLE AS STEWARD AND CARETAKER OF THE HISTORIC 1912 BUILDING IN WHICH IT IS LOCATED. PROGRAM SERVICES RELATED TO FACILITIES INCLUDES CUSTODIAL AND MAINTENANCE FUNCTIONS AND EXPENSES AS WELL AS ALL SECURITY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROTECTING BOTH THE ART AND THE FACILITY IN A SAFE AND PROTECTIVE MANNER. GIFT SHOP: THE MUSKEGON MUSEUM OF ART OPERATES A GIFT SHOP THAT CARRIES ARTIST CONSIGNMENT GOODS AND PRODUCTS AND BOOKS RELATED TO THE PERMANENT COLLECTION AND TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS. BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF THE PROGRAM SERVICES ADMINISTERED BY MMAF. COLLECTIONS: THE MUSKEGON MUSEUM OF ART THROUGH ITS GOVERNING BOARDS, STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS, IS COMMITTED TO COLLECTING, PRESERVING, AND INTERPRETING ITS ART COLLECTIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. THIS PROGRAM SERVICE INCLUDES CURATORIAL RESEARCH AND OVERSIGHT, COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT, AND ACQUISITION AND DEACQUISITION ACTIVITIES, NEW ACQUISITIONS ARE ACQUIRED THAT ENHANCE BOTH THE CURRENT MAKE-UP OF THE COLLECTION AND THAT ADVANCE OUR MISSION AS ESTABLISHED IN THE VISION AND MISSION STATEMENTS OF THE INSTITUTION. EXHIBITIONS: THE MUSEUM IS DEDICATED TO THE CONTINUAL AND ROATING DISPLAY OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTION AND THE INSTALLATION OF TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS, FEARTURING BOTH THE PERMANENT COLLECTIONS AND WORKS FROM OTHER SOURCES. EXHIBITIONS ARE DEVELOPED TO CELEBRATE AND EXPAND THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION BY REINFORCING ITS VALUE, BUILDING SUPPORTING SCHOLARSHIP, AND DEMONSTRATING ITS LINKS BETWEEN THE PAST AND PRESENT. EDUCATION: THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DEVELOPED BY THE MUSKEGON MUSEUM OF ART ARE A CRITICAL TOOL FOR ADDRESSING OUR MISSION GOALS OF PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ENGAGEMENT, BUILDING AN ENVIRONMNET FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND STIMULATION, AND CONTRIBUTING TO COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT. EDUCATION PROGRAMS ALSO FACILITATE AND ENCOURAGE A STRONG MUSEUM CONNECTION WITH THE REGION, BUILDS MEMBERSHIP, INCREASES COMMUNITY INVOLVEMNET, AND PROVIDES ACCESSIBILITY TO A WIDE RANGE OF GROUPS, AGES, AND CULTURES. IT IS THROUGH PROGRAMMING THAT THE MUSEUM IS ABLE TO CONNECT DIRECTLY WITH ITS AUDIENCES, ENHANCING AND BUILDING UPON THE VISUAL EXPERIENCE PROVIDED IN THE GALLERIES. FACILITIES: THE MUSKEGON MUSEUM OF ART IS COMMITTED TO ITS ROLE AS STEWARD AND CARETAKER OF THE HISTORIC 1912 BUILDING IN WHICH IT IS LOCATED. PROGRAM SERVICES RELATED TO FACILITIES INCLUDES CUSTODIAL AND MAINTENANCE FUNCTIONS AND EXPENSES AS WELL AS ALL SECURITY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROTECTING BOTH THE ART AND THE FACILITY IN A SAFE AND PROTECTIVE MANNER. GIFT SHOP: THE MUSKEGON MUSEUM OF ART OPERATES A GIFT SHOP THAT CARRIES ARTIST CONSIGNMENT GOODS AND PRODUCTS AND BOOKS RELATED TO THE PERMANENT COLLECTION AND TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS.

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 November 1986.

    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.