Tucson Desert Art Museum Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
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 PRESERVATION, ACQUISITION, AND EXHIBITION OF HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY SOUTHWESTERN ART SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND THE HERITAGE OF THE DESERT SOUTHWEST AND ITS SURROUNDING AREAS. THE MUSEUM WILL EDUCATE THROUGH DISPLAYS, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND GROUP TOURS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
- Income
- $158,916
- Spending
- $158,192
- Reserves
- -31.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 50%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 17 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 288% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (4)
- $10,353 spent. SIMILAR TO OTHER YEARS, THE MUSEUM OPENED TWO NEW EXHIBITIONS TO THE PUBLIC CURATED BY OUR STAFF AND SHOWING ARTIFACTS FROM OUR OWN COLLECTIONS AND FROM THE ARIZONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS WITH LARGER COLLECTIONS. WE OPENED "GOLD FEVER: GLORY AND GREED IN THE WESTERN EXPANSION YEARS" WHICH FEATURED ART, ARTIFACTS AND HISTORY FROM THE GOLD RUSH YEARS. WE ALSO OPENED "COLORS TO DYE FOR: THE MYSTERIOUS WORLD OF NAVAJO DYE-MAKING" WHICH FOCUSES ON PLANT DYE SOURCES AND THEIR USE TO CREATE THE BEAUTIFUL COLORS OF NAVAJO TEXTILES.
- $12,314 spent. THE MUSEUM'S GALLERY AND MUSEUM STORE HAS CONTINUED TO HELP LOCAL ARTISANS SELL THEIR PRODUCTS TO BOTH LOCALS AND THE VISITOR MARKET, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING THE PROGRAMMING AND UPKEEP OF THE MUSEUM. THE GALLERY AND MUSEUM STORE PRIMARILY SELL CONSIGNED WORKS FROM LOCAL SOUTHWESTERN ARTISTS, WHICH ARE PACKAGED ALONG WITH BIOGRAPHIES OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WE ALSO HOST SEVERAL WORKSHOPS SPECIFICALLY IN THE GALLERY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR OUR GUESTS TO ENCOURAGE LEARNING AND PRESERVATION OF OUR GREAT SOUTHWESTERN ART AND CULTURE. IN 2024 THIS INCLUDED A GOLD JEWELRY MAKING WORKSHOP, SEVERAL ARTIST TALKS, AND SEVERAL POTTERY DEMONSTRATIONS FROM A MATA ORTIZ ARTISAN.
- $116,160 spent. SPECIAL PUBLIC EVENTS INCLUDED A "FUN WITH GOLD" GOLD JEWELRY MAKING WORKSHOP AND A SPECIAL "HIP HISTORIAN" TALK WITH AN ARIZONA HUMANITIES SCHOLAR ABOUT THE LEGENDS AND LORE OF THE GOLD RUSH AND GHOST TOWNS IN ARIZONA. THIS EXHIBITION HAD NUMEROUS SPONSORS INCLUDING ARIZONA HUMANITIES, LONG REALTY CARES, AND THE CASCADE FOUNDATION.
- WE HOSTED SEVERAL LOCAL TUCSON GROUPS FOR ART SHOWS OF THEIR SOUTHWESTERN ART INCLUDING A MINIATURES ART SHOW FROM THE TUCSON BARRIO PAINTERS AND A GROUP OF LOCAL TUCSON ANIMAL ARTISTS IN AN ANIMAL THEMED SHOW. WE ALSO HOSTED TWO SOUTHWESTERN POTTERY SHOWS FOR LOCAL ARTISANS AND A LOCAL PLAY ABOUT THE LIFE OF MARY COLTER. ALL WERE WELL ATTENDED AND SERVED THE MUSEUM'S MISSION TO EDUCATE AND PRESERVE THE ARTS, CULTURE AND HISTORY OF THE DESERT SOUTHWEST AND ITS SURROUNDING AREAS.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
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.