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Joslyn Art Museum

EIN 47-0384577 · Omaha, NE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE JOSLYN BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO EXPLORE ART ACROSS TIME AND CULTURES.

Income
$23.8 million
Spending
$18.5 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
-2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
162
Volunteers
114
Highest pay
$579,272, executive director & ceo

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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 20% 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

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 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 (4)
  1. $3.9 million spent. LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT: THE MISSION OF THE JOSLYN'S LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT IS TO EQUIP THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITH SKILLS TO ENJOY, UNDERSTAND, APPRECIATE, AND ENGAGE WITH ART OF VARIOUS TIME PERIODS AND CULTURES. TO THIS END, THE MUSEUM PROVIDES INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMMING IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS TAILORED TO DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES, INTERESTS, AND NEEDS. THE JOSLYN OFFERS PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH, FAMILY, AND ADULT AUDIENCES AND PK-16 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. THROUGH GUIDED TOURS, LECTURES, GALLERY TALKS, OUTREACH PROGRAMS, STUDIO CLASSES AND CAMPS, PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS, THE JOSLYN STRIVES TO PROVIDE QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION EXPERIENCES FOR ITS DIVERSE CONSTITUENCIES.
  2. $2.8 million spent. PRESENTATION: ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2024, THE MUSEUM REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC FOLLOWING A TWO-YEAR CLOSURE FOR EXPANSION AND RENOVATION. A NEW ENTRY ATRIUM WELCOMES VISITORS AND 16,000 SF OF GALLERY SPACE HOUSES THE PHILLIP G. SCHRAGER COLLECTION AND OTHER CONTEMPORARY ART. GALLERIES IN THE EXISTING BUILDINGS WERE REINSTALLED WITH NEW INTERPRETATIONS, INCLUDING A GROUND-BREAKING REIMAGINING OF THE AMERICAN GALLERIES. ACROSS THE MUSEUM, OVER 100 WORKS NEW TO THE COLLECTION WERE ON VIEW. OVER 90,000 VISITORS CAME IN JUST A FEW MONTHS, ENJOYING ART, THE REJUEVENATED GARDENS, AND NEW AMENITIES.
  3. $2.2 million spent. PRESERVATION: INCLUDING OVER 12,000 OBJECTS, THE PERMANENT COLLECTION REPRESENTS 5,000 YEARS OF HUMAN CREATIVITY AND THE WORD'S DIVERSE CULTURES. A COMPLETE REINSTALLATION OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTION WAS UNDERTAKEN OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS IN ANTICIPATION OF THE SEPTEMBER 2024 REOPENING OF THE MUSEUM. WITH THIS REVITALIZED DISPLAY, WE SHOWCASE THE MUSEUM'S RENOWNED COLLECTIONS, ASSERT THE RELEVANCE OF ART AND HISTORICAL OBJECTS TO CONTEMPORARY ISSUES, DIVERSIFY THE IDENTITIES AND EXPERIENCES REPRESENTED IN THE GALLERIES, AND FOSTER CONNECTIONS AMONG ARTWORKS ACROSS COLLECTION AREAS, INCLUDING ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN ART, EUROPEAN ART, AMERICAN ART, NATIVE AMERICAN ART, 20TH CENTURY ART, CONTEMPORARY ART, AND ASIAN ART.
  4. $2.2 million spent. SIGNIFICANT ITEMS IN OTHER PROGRAM REVENUE INCLUDE THE HITCHCOCK MUSEUM SHOP NET SALES REVENUE AND EXHIBITION RENTAL FEES.

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 1951.

    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.