The Bingham Trust
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The collection, preservation, exhibition and interpretation of 113 preparatory drawings by George Caleb Bingham and 12 related engravings after Bingham's paintings in Missouri for the people of Missouri.
- Income
- $73,458
- Spending
- $42,419
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 86%
- Employees
- 0
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
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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)
- $26,419 spent. On November 15 and 16, 2025, The Bingham Trust, in conjunction with the Saint Louis Art Museum, hosted a two-day symposium on George Caleb Bingham that honored and celebrated the 50th anniversary of Missouri Governor Christopher S. Bond's public subscription campaign to acquire 112 preliminary drawings for Bingham genre paintings. The event was free. This symposium explored the connection between Bingham?s life as an artist and a politician, how those two existences are intimately intertwined, and how his work continues to be relevant to our nation today. Chaired by Andrew Walker, executive director of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, speakers included Claire Barry, emeritus director of conservation at the Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas; Amy Torbert, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Associate Curator of American Art at the Saint Louis Art Museum; Joan E. Stack, curator of art collections at the State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri; and Charles E. Valier, chairman of The Bingham Trust.
- The Trust holds 113 original preparatory drawings by George Caleb Bingham and 12 related engravings after Bingham's paintings in trust for the People of Missouri who contributed to the fund that enabled the purchases. The Trust, in partnership with the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City stored, conserved, collaborated with scholars to interpret, and lent the works to public museums in the U.S. to exhibit the drawings. The two museums provided these services to the Trust without charge. Due to the fragility of the ink and paper on which they were produced, they can only be exposed for limited periods of time and are stored in carefully controlled and secure environments.
- On October 12, 2023 Charles E. Valier, Trustee and Chairman of The Bingham Trust gave a talk about George Caleb Bingham at the Saint Louis Art Museum titled 'I Forget I am a Painter, Not a Politician'. Also in 2023, trustees of The Bingham Trust researched and prepared for two Washington University lectures relating to the life and art of George Caleb Bingham. The first lecture was on February 9, 2024 on the Washington University campus (and simultaneously zoomed) titled "George Caleb Bingham, How his Ejection from the Missouri Legislature Reshaped his Art". The second was on February 16, 2024 at the Saint Louis Art Museum titled "George Caleb Bingham, How his Election Series Paintings Illuminate Ante-bellum Missouri Politics".
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 October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2011 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2011.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.