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Walt Disney Family Museum

EIN 46-4118590 · Presidio, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM PRESENTS AN INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEY THOUGH THE LIFE OF WALTER ELIAS DISNEY. OUR MISSION IS TWO-FOLD: TO INFORM PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS ABOUT THE MAN AND, THROUGH HIS STORY, TO INSPIRE THEM TO HEED THEIR IMAGINATION AND PERSEVERE IN PURSUING THEIR GOALS. TO EXECUTE THIS MISSION, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES RELATED EDUCATIONAL, OUTREACH, AND PUBLIC PROGRAMMING.

Income
$11.5 million
Spending
$12.8 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
-37.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
78
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$437,033, executive director

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: 29 out of 100. Higher than 1% 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

    0 of 20

    It owes 105% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $7.3 million spent. OPERATION OF THE WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM - 2024 ATTENDANCE TOTALED APPROXIMATELY 162,678 ADMISSIONS TO THE MUSEUM AND ITS SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS.IN THE DIANE DISNEY MILLER SPECIAL EXHIBITION HALL, THE MUSEUM'S ORIGINAL EXHIBITION, "DISNEY CATS AND DOGS" CLOSED IN JUNE 2024. "PAWSIBILITIES UNLEASHED: A PET PORTRAIT EXHIBITION" WAS FOLLOWED BY THE "THE ART OF DISNEYLAND ATTRACTION POSTERS", AND "DIRECTING AT DISNEY" IN THE MAIN MUSEUM'S LOWER AND THEATER LOBBIES.2020-2021 SPECIAL EXHIBITION, "THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS AND WORLD WAR II", TRAVELLED TO THE PEARL HARBOR MUSEUM AVIATION MUSEUM IN HONOLULU IN 2024.THE MUSEUM ALSO OFFERS SPECIAL EVENTS AND GROUP TOURS. IN 2024, 2,426 GUESTS ATTENDED SPECIAL EVENTS AND 2,072 ATTENDED SPECIAL GROUP TOURS.THE MUSEUM STORE OFFERS A UNIQUE BLEND OF MERCHANDISE AND PUBLICATIONS RELATED TO THE MUSEUM AND ITS EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS. THE MUSEUM IS OPEN 10 TO 5:30PM DAILY THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY, THANKSGIVING DAY, CHRISTMAS DAY, AND NEW YEAR'S DAY. THE MUSEUM IS OPEN FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL EXPERIENCES AND EVENTS ON WEDNESDAYS. SUMMER CAMPS OCCUR MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAYS DURING SUMMER WEEKS.
  2. $1.5 million spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO AMPLIFY THE MUSEUM'S MISSION. THEY EARN NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATH) CURRICULUM AND FOR PROMOTING CREATIVITY AND HANDS-ON SKILL BUILDING. IN 2024, 4,710 SCHOOL CHILDREN AND 2,310 CHAPERONES TOURED THE MUSEUM AND PARTICIPATED IN CORRELATED STUDIO EXPERIENCES. OUR EDUCATORS ALSO TAUGHT STUDENTS VIRTUALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND LED VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS TO THE MUSEUM, HOSTING 1,451 STUDENTS AND 50 CHAPERONES IN ONLINE VISITS BY THE END OF 2024. EDUCATORS TAUGHT 6,732 CHILDREN OFFSITE AT PARTNER SCHOOLS OVER THE COURSE OF THE 2023-2024 AND 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR. THIS INCLUDED TEACHING OUR ANIMATION CERTIFICATE PROGRAM, LOCAL RESIDENTS OF EAST PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA AT THE EPACENTER ART FACILITY, AND STUDENTS IN OUR DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE FROM NEW HAMPTON SCHOOL. EDUCATORS ALSO PROVIDED IN-HOUSE ART CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS FOR ALL AGES, AND SUMMER CLASSES FOR YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 8 AND 20. IN ADDITION, 1,670 STUDENTS/GUESTS, 5 YEARS AND UP, ATTENDED STUDIO CLASSES RELATED TO ART AND ANIMATION AND PARTICIPATED IN SUMMER CLASSES, STUDIO SERIES, POP UP STUDIOS, AFTER SCHOOL ANIMATION, ANIMATION INTENSIVES, DRAWING WORKSHOPS, OPEN STUDIO SESSIONS, INDUSTRY PATHS SESSIONS, AND ANIMATION LABS. AN ADDITIONAL 504 STUDENTS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN VIRTUAL CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS.
  3. $331,515 spent. THE MUSEUM PRESENTS FILM SCREENINGS AND LIVE PUBLIC PROGRAMS, INCLUDING TALKS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, STORYTIMES, COMMUNITY DAYS, AND WORKSHOPS, TO ENGAGE AND SERVE DIVERSE AUDIENCES WITH ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT AND AMPLIFY THE MUSEUM'S MISSION. ATTENDANCE AT VIRTUAL SPECIAL EVENTS TOPPED 4,512 PARTICIPANTS. PUBLIC PROGRAMS WERE ATTENDED BY 1,493 VISITORS IN 2024. PUBLIC PROGRAMS INCLUDE FILMS AND LECTURES ASSOCIATED WITH WALT DISNEY, ANIMATION, IMAGINEERING, AND RELATED TOPICS.

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 September 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.