Museum of Wisconsin Art Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MUSEUM OF WISCONSIN ART CELEBRATES THE VALUE, DIVERSITY, AND UNIQUENESS OF THE VISUAL ARTS AND ARTISTS OF WISCONSIN. THIS IS ACHIEVED BY COLLECTING, CONSERVING, DOCUMENTING, EXHIBITING, AND PROMOTING AESTHETIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE VISUAL ARTS OF WISCONSIN.
- Income
- $2.6 million
- Spending
- $2.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 37
- Volunteers
- 80
- Highest pay
- $164,855, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 49% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $1.9 million spent. THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION REPRESENTS MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED ARTISTS, SPANS TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF HISTORY, AND INCLUDES OVER FIVE THOUSAND WORKS OF ART IN EVERY IMAGINABLE MEDIUM. INFORMED BY THE REGION'S CULTURAL HERITAGE AND DIVERSE POPULATION, MOWA IS A VIBRANT HUB FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS, SOCIALLY RELEVANT EXHIBITIONS, AND PIONEERING MEMBER INITIATIVES. THE MUSEUM'S PRIMARY VENUE RESTS ALONG THE MILWAUKEE RIVER IN DOWNTOWN WEST BEND, WISCONSIN. MOWA'S MAIN CAMPUS HAS BEEN DRAWING VISITORS AND TOURISTS FROM THE FAR CORNERS OF THE STATE AND BEYOND. THE MUSEUM'S SATELLITE MOWA | DTN IS IN SAINT KATE THE ARTS HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE'S CULTURAL DISTRICT. IN ADDITION TO ITS PRIMARY VENUES, MOWA PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE ITS PROGRAMS AND COLLECTIONS ACCESSIBLE AND FREE OF CHARGE IN NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
- $365,754 spent. EVERYONE IS A MEMBER AT MOWA. THE MUSEUM'S SIMPLE AND AFFORDABLE MODEL REPLACES SINGLE-DAY ADMISSION WITH MEMBERSHIP THAT OFFERS FREE UNLIMITED ACCESS FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR FOR EVERYONE. VISITORS COME ONCE, THEN COME BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN TO SEE NEW EXHIBITIONS, ENJOY LECTURES, AND DIVE INTO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. A SUITE OF VIRTUAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING TALKS, K-12 EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND ARTIST INTERVIEWS CREATE ACCESS AND FURTHER EXTEND MOWA'S REACH.
- $204,048 spent. MOWA IS AN INNOVATIVE FORUM FOR THOUGHTFUL EXHIBITIONS, LECTURES BY ARTISTS AND INDUSTRY EXPERTS, AND EDUCATIONAL CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES. WE BELIEVE THAT WHERE WE LIVE IS IMPORTANT AND WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT WISCONSIN. EVERYTHING WE EXHIBIT AND TALK ABOUT HAS BEEN MADE BY AN ARTIST WITH DEEP CONNECTIONS TO THE STATE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 March 1964.
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.
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