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Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum

EIN 42-6081638 · Decorah, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BUILDING COMMUNITY AND CREATING EXPERIENCES INSPIRED BY NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN STORIES AND FOLK ART.THE MUSEUM IS A NATIONAL TREASURE THAT EXPLORES THE DIVERSITY OF AMERICAN IMMIGRATION THROUGH THE LENS OF NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, SHOWCASES THE BEST IN HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY NORWEGIAN FOLK AND FINE ARTS, AND PRESERVES LIVING TRADITIONS THROUGH CLASSES IN NORWEGIAN CULTURE AND FOLK ART, INCLUDING ROSEMALING (DECORATIVE PAINTING), WOODWORKING, KNIFEMAKING, TRADITIONAL FOOD WAYS, AND TEXTILE ARTS.

Income
$4.7 million
Spending
$4.3 million
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
-3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
63
Volunteers
312
Highest pay
$141,141, president

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

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 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 25

    25 of 25 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 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. $1.2 million spent. EDUCATION - THE MUSEUM OFFERS EDUCATION CLASSES ON VARIOUS NORWEGIAN FOLK ART TRADITIONS AS WELL AS OFFER EDUCATIONAL GUIDED TOURS OF NORWAY TO THEIR MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. ONLINE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING CLASSES AND COLLECTION TALKS, BEGAN IN 2020 AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC.
  2. $847,862 spent. COLLECTION CARE- THE MUSEUM HOUSES A COLLECTION OF OVER 33,000 ARTIFACTS, A COMPLEX OF 16 BUILDINGS, AND A FARMSTEAD. MUSEUM STAFF PROVIDE CARE AND UPKEEP AS WELL AS THE AQUISITION OF 606 NEW ARTIFACTS.
  3. $406,020 spent. MUSEUM STORE - THE MUSEUM HAS VARIOUS NORWEGIAN-RELATED BOOKS, CRAFTS, AND OTHER ITEMS FOR RESALE TO THEIR MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 April 1965.

    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.