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Milwaukee Art Museum Inc

EIN 39-0806316 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE AND EDUCATE PEOPLE IN THE GREATER MILWAUKEE AREA, ACROSS THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND BEYOND BY COLLECTING, PRESERVING AND PRESENTING ART; TO EXPAND AND DIVERSIFY THE LOCAL ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL IDENTITY OF THE GREATER MILWAUKEE AREA, AND EDUCATE BOTH RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ABOUT ART AND ART HISTORY; TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BY SUPPORTING EMERGING ARTS AND ARTISTS, AND TO OFFER FAMILY-FRIENDLY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE ARTISTIC SPIRIT OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY; TO PRESERVE, PROTECT AND MAINTAIN THE CALATRAVA ADDITION, THE FIRST BUILDING IN THE UNITED STATES TO BE DESIGNED BY SANTIAGO CALATRAVA, AND TO WORK IN COOPERATION WITH PUBLIC ENTITIES IN THE USE OF THE SAARINEN AND KAHLER BUILDINGS, CITY PROPERTY AND LAKEFRONT LANDS.

Income
$29.8 million
Spending
$24.8 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
280
Volunteers
631
Highest pay
$565,495, donna & donald baumgartner director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 25

    35 of 35 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 August 31, 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 (4)
  1. $8.0 million spent. PRESENTATION AND CURATORIAL: SPECIAL EXHIBITS DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025 INCLUDED ERIN SHIRREFF; PERMANENT DRAFTS; THE BRILLIANCE OF THE SPANISH WORLD: EL GRECO, VELASQUEZ, ZURBARAN; REVIVING THE DANCE OF DEATH; FARM TO FRAME; WINTER SERIES: MEADOW; TRUE STORY: PHOTOGRAPHY, JOURNALISM AND MEDIA; ROBERT LONGO: THE ACCELERATION OF HISTORY; LIGHT AND SHADOW: JOHN CONSTABLE'S ENGLISH LANDSCAPES IN PRINT: CURRENTS39: LATOYA M. HOBBS, CARVING OUT TIME; AND 2025 SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS: WISCONSIN EXHIBITION
  2. $5.5 million spent. AUDIENCE, COMMUNICATION, AND MEMBER DEVELOPMENT: ADMISSIONS AND TOURS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 TOTALED 243,116. 593 VOLUNTEERS ASSISTED IN ACTIVITIES.
  3. $2.5 million spent. BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND ACQUISITION OF ART: EXPENSES INCURRED IN OPERATION OF THE MUSEUM'S CAFE AND GIFT SHOP AS WELL AS EXPENDITURES ASSOCIATED WITH ACQUIRING NEW PIECES FOR THE PERMANENT COLLECTION.
  4. $1.8 million spent. EDUCATION: WE SERVED A TOTAL OF 134,487 PEOPLE IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN FISCAL YEAR 2025. WE MAKE THE MUSEUM A GATHERING PLACE FOR ALL AGES TO EXPERIENCE THE ARTS. ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS ENHANCE GALLERY INTERPRETATION STRATEGIES, EXPAND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE GALLERIES TO ANIMATE THE ART AND ENCOURAGE DEEPER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN VISITORS AND THE ART. PROGRAMS INCLUDE GALLERY TALKS, LECTURES, SYMPOSIA, MUSICAL PERFORMANCE AND MORE. SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ALIGN OUR PROGRAMS WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL EDUCATION AGENDAS TO SERVE SCHOOL CHILDREN THROUGH SCHOOL TOUR PROGRAMS FROM 214 SCHOOLS. OTHER PROGRAMS SERVED 479 SCHOOLS INCLUDING THE JR. DOCENT PROGRAM, SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS, KOHL'S ART STUDIO, OUR HIGH SCHOOL AND TEEN PROGRAMS, ALONG WITH TEACHER WORKSHOPS AND PASSES. YOUTH PROGRAMS ENGAGE YOUNG CHILDREN EARLY AND OFTEN BY PROVIDING BETTER ON-SITE PROVISIONS, PROGRAMS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FAMILIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 October 13, 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 August 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 May 1937.

    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 October 21, 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.