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Universal Hip Hop Museum

EIN 46-5278190 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE HIP HOP MUSEUM PRESERVES THE PAST, CELEBRATES THE PRESENT, AND LEADS THE GLOBAL FUTURE OF HIP HOP, INSPIRING, EDUCATING, AND EMPOWERING ALL.

Income
$7.0 million
Spending
$4.8 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
14
Volunteers
28
Highest pay
$200,000, 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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 190% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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, 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)
  1. $2.4 million spent. THE HIP HOP MUSEUM AND JPMORGAN CHASE:A MULTI-YEAR PROGRAM WITH JPMORGAN CHASE WHICH EXPANDS ACCESS TO FINANCIAL HEALTH EDUCATION IN COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE. THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE "READY FOR BUSINESS" TOUR IN CITIES LIKE CHICAGO AND ATLANTA, THE PARTNERSHIP DELIVERS WORKSHOPS ON BUDGETING, INVESTING, CREDIT BUILDING, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, ALIGNING HIP HOP CULTURE WITH ECONOMIC VIABILITY. CHASE ALSO SERVES AS THE MUSEUM'S FOUNDING FINANCIAL EDUCATION PARTNER, SUPPORTING ONGOING FINANCIAL MASTERY PROGRAMMING AT THE MUSEUM'S BRONX HEADQUARTERS.
  2. $792,516 spent. MY CAMERA IS MY WEAPON:THE HIP HOP MUSEUM'S MY CAMERA IS MY WEAPON PROGRAM USES PHOTOGRAPHY AND STORYTELLING AS TOOLS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE, PROVIDING YOUTH WITH CREATIVE OUTLETS THAT PROMOTE PEACE, UNDERSTANDING, AND SELF-EXPRESSION. INSPIRED BY GORDON PARKS' "A CHOICE OF WEAPONS," THE PROGRAM EMPOWERS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO USE CAMERAS AS INSTRUMENTS OF TRANSFORMATION, DOCUMENTING THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ENVISIONING A FUTURE SHAPED BY CREATIVITY RATHER THAN CONFLICT. THROUGH MENTORSHIP, PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES, AND HANDS-ON TRAINING, PARTICIPANTS LEARN VISUAL STORYTELLING, GAIN CONFIDENCE IN THEIR VOICES, AND DEVELOP SKILLS THAT FOSTER LASTING PERSONAL AND ARTISTIC GROWTH.
  3. $792,516 spent. HIP HOP HISTORY SCHOLARS PROGRAM/HIP HOP 50 & BEYOND:THE HIP HOP HISTORY SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND HIP HOP 50 & BEYOND INITIATIVE DOCUMENT AND PRESERVE THE STORIES OF HIP HOP'S EVOLUTION, ENSURING THAT THE CULTURE'S ORAL HISTORIES AND ARTIFACTS ARE ARCHIVED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THROUGH INTERNSHIPS FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS, THE PROGRAM ADVANCES THE HIP HOP MUSEUM'S RESEARCH AND ARCHIVING CAPABILITIES WHILE PROVIDING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN CULTURAL PRESERVATION. PARTICIPATNS CATALOG EVENT FLYERS, RECORDINGS, ARTWORK, PHOTOGRAPHS, PUBLICATIONS, AND OTHER MATERIALS THAT CAPTURE THE EVOLUTION OF HIP HOP AND ITS GLOBAL IMPACT.
  4. GRANTMAKING

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 November 6, 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 2015.

    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 November 4, 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.