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International Spy Museum

EIN 46-1479450 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM CREATES COMPELLING EXHIBITIONS AND OTHER LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT SHED LIGHT ON THE SHADOW WORLD OF ESPIONAGE AND INTELLIGENCE, EDUCATING AND CHALLENGING EACH OF US TO ENGAGE CRITICALLY WITH THE COMPLEX WORLD AROUND US.

Income
$31.8 million
Spending
$29.4 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
244
Volunteers
86
Highest pay
$520,230, president / coo

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: 48 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 40 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 29 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. $23.2 million spent. "THE INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM HAS THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF HISTORIC ESPIONAGE ARTIFACTS ON PUBLIC DISPLAY. IN 2024, THE MUSEUM'S DISPLAYS, MEDIA AND INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES FEATURED THE HISTORY, PEOPLE, TRADECRAFT AND IMPACT OF INTELLIGENCE ON THE WORLD. IN 2024, THE MUSEUM WELCOMED A RECORD OF OVER 700,000 VISITORS. IT HOSTED OVER 400 ONSITE AND VIRTUAL PUBLIC PROGRAMS INCLUDING MANY EDUCAIONAL OFFERINGS FOR AREA SCHOOLS AND A COMMUNITY NIGHT FOR WARD 6 RESIDENTS.CHANGES TO THE PERMANENT EXHIBITION INCLUDED A NEW EXHIBIT ON WWII SPY VIRGINIA HALL. THE MUSEUM ALSO REDESIGNED AN INTERACTIVE THAT ALLOWS OUR VISITORS TO CREATE SPY DISGUISE SELFIES USING A UNIQUE FACE ALTERING SOFTWARE. IN ADDITION, THE MUSEUM LAUNCHED ITS FIRST TEMPORARY EXHIBITION: BOND IN MOTION. THIS POPULAR EXHIBITION FEATURED 6 DECADES OF CARS AND VEHICLES FROM THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS SPY, JAMES BOND. THE PROJECT WAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE IAN FLEMING FOUNDATION AND EON PRODUCTIONS. IT WILL BE OPEN THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1, 2025.IN ADDITION TO EXHIBITION AND PROGRAMS WORK, THE MUSEUM ALSO MADE PROGRESS ON THE INVENTORY OF ITS COLLECTION. THE COLLECTION, WHICH WAS MOVED INTO THE MUSEUM DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, WAS NEVER FULLY CATALOGUED AFTER THE MOVE INTO THE NEW BUILDING IN 2019. OVER 5000 ARTIFACTS WERE ENTERED INTO THE DATABASE IN 2024. THE STORAGE FACILITY WAS RENOVATED IN 2024 AND NOW PROVIDES OPEN STORAGE FOR VISITING SCHOLARS AND OTHER VISITORS. THIS ONSITE ACCESS TO OUR COLLECTION IS VITAL TO OUR MISSION."
  2. $275,469 spent. "ACCESS TO SPY: OPENING OUR DOORS TO COMMUNITIES FACING BARRIERS IS A SERIES OF PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, AND FINANCIAL CHALLENGES. IN 2024 THE MUSEUM SUPPORTED THESE COMMUNITIES THROUGH BOTH ONSITE AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING. 330 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN PROGRAMMING FOR THE AUTISM COMMUNITY, AND 223 ADULTS WITH MEMORY CARE ISSUES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS WERE REACHED THROUGH 15 PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, 51 FREE PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS SERVED 7,668 ATTENDEES FROM THE UNITED STATES AND 30 COUNTRIES. OUR POPULAR PODCAST, "SPYCAST" DELIVERED 51 PROGRAMS AND WAS DOWNLOADED 1.3 MILLION TIMES. "
  3. $638,113 spent. "STUDENT WORKSHOPS & RESOURCES: THE INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF WORKSHOPS (ONSITE AND VIRTUAL) & DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES THAT ENCOURAGE ACTIVE LEARNING AND MEET NATIONAL CURRICULUM AND COMMON CORE STANDARDS. DESIGNED FOR GRADES 3 - 12, SUBJECTS RANGE FROM HISTORY & GOVERNMENT TO SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND ADDRESS SKILL BUILDING IN THE AREAS OF CRITICAL & CREATIVE THINKING, PROBLEM SOLVING, AND TEAMWORK. SINCE 2011, MORE THAN 94,000 STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS HAVE ATTENDED WORKSHOPS. IN 2024 THE MUSEUM TAUGHT 280 WORKSHOPS TO 7,336 STUDENTS AROUND THE WORLD: 145 WERE ON-SITE WORKSHOPS, AND 135 WERE PROVIDED VIRTUALLY VIA OUR DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM. 635 TEACHERS WERE PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BOTH ONSITE AND VIRTUALLY "

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 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 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 2014.

    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.