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The Museum of Language Arts Incorporated

EIN 46-4894732 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PLANET WORD IS A MUSEUM THAT INSPIRES AND RENEWS A LOVE OF WORDS, LANGUAGE, AND READING THROUGH UNIQUE, IMMERSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES. IT PROVIDES A SPACE TO EXPLORE WORDS AND LANGUAGE THAT IS GROUNDED IN A SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF LANGUAGE ARTS AND SCIENCE.

Income
$6.2 million
Spending
$7.1 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
46
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$299,318, 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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 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 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 32 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 (1)
  1. $6.3 million spent. ON OCTOBER 22, 2020, THE MUSEUM OFFICIALLY OPENED ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC. THE MUSEUM SERVES MORE THAN 150,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY ON-SITE IN THE NEWLY PRESERVED AND REHABILITATED FRANKLIN SCHOOL, A 50,000-SQUARE-FOOT, 5-STORY NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK. THE MUSEUM CURRENTLY FEATURES 10 IMMERSIVE, INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT GALLERIES THAT ENGAGE VISITORS IN EXPERIENCING WORDS AND LANGUAGE FROM A WIDE RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES - FROM THE SCIENCE OF HOW LANGUAGE SKILLS DEVELOP EARLY IN LIFE TO HOW WORDS ARE USED CREATIVELY AND PERSUASIVELY IN MUSIC, POETRY, HUMOR, ADVERTISING, ORATORY, AND LITERATURE. IN ADDITION, THE MUSEUM PROVIDES DYNAMIC AND ROBUST ONGOING ARTS, CULTURE, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMING IN ITS AUDITORIUM AND CLASSROOM SPACES, AS WELL AS ONLINE, FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS, FAMILIES, STUDENTS, AND TEACHERS. OTHER FEATURES OF THE MUSEUM INCLUDE A GIFT SHOP, OFFICE SPACE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE MUSEUM, A RESTAURANT OPERATED BY A THIRD PARTY, AND AN INTERACTIVE GAME GALLERY THAT OPENED IN MARCH 2022 FEATURING WORD PUZZLES, MYSTERIES, AND RIDDLES TO SOLVE THROUGHOUT THE ROOM.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 2014.

    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.

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