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New Museum at the Bradford Brinton Ranch

EIN 45-3588359 · Big Horn, WY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BRINTON MUSEUM CONNECTS PEOPLE TO THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN WEST THROUGH ITS HISTORIC QUARTER CIRCLE RANCH, FINE ART, AND AMERICAN INDIAN ART COLLECTIONS.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
12 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
48
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$114,856, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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, 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. $2.8 million spent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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 December 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 June 2012.

    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.