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Nelson Gallery Foundation

EIN 44-6012977 · Kansas City, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$55.6 million
Spending
$51.0 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
27.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 46%
Employees
508
Volunteers
437
Highest pay
$981,080, director/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 27.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 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

    26 of 26 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 April 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. $35.9 million spent. THE NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART'S COLLECTION OF OVER 44,100 OBJECTS SPANS 5,000 YEARS. IT IS CELEBRATED FOR ITS HOLDINGS OF CHINESE ART, CONSIDERED AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD, WITH IMPORTANT COLLECTIONS OF JAPANESE AND SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN WORKS OF ART. ITS CELEBRATED EUROPEAN PAINTINGS COLLECTION-INCLUDING THE SECOND PAINTING BY VINCENT VAN GOGH PURCHASED BY A US MUSEUM-CONTAIN ONE OF THE FEW CARAVAGGIO PAINTINGS IN NORTH AMERICA, AS WELL AS MASTERPIECES OF IMPRESSIONIST ART. THE PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION IS ONE OF THE FINEST IN THE COUNTRY, SPANNING THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE MEDIUM. THE ACCLAIMED NATIVE AMERICAN COLLECTIONS ARE AMONG THE OLDEST IN THE US. THERE ARE ALSO IMPORTANT COLLECTIONS OF EIGHTEENTH CENTURY EUROPEAN DECORATIVE ARTS, AMERICAN PAINT AND SCULPTURE, AND AFRICAN ART, COMPLEMENTED BY THE 22 ACRE DONALD J. HALL SCULPTURE PARK, WHICH ACTS AS ONE OF THE CITY'S FRONT LAWNS AND IS THE SITE OF FREE, POPULAR FESTIVALS CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH, SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN HERITAGE, AND LUNAR NEW YEAR, AMONG OTHER COMMUNITIES. IN RECENT YEARS, THE MUSEUM HAS DRAMATICALLY INCREASED ITS CONTEMPORARY COLLECTIONS WITH A DELIBERATE CAMPAIGN OF INCLUSIVITY, ACQUIRING IMPORTANT WORKS IN ALL MEDIA BY BIPOC MAKERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending April 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1957.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.