Contemporary Jewish Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 96 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSEUM (THE CJM) MAKES THE DIVERSITY OF THE JEWISH EXPERIENCE RELEVANT FOR A TWENTY-FIRST-CENTURY AUDIENCE THROUGH INNOVATIVE EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMS THAT EDUCATE, CHALLENGE, AND INSPIRE.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $6.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 64%
- Reserves
- -22.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 50%
- Employees
- 83
- Volunteers
- 19
- Highest pay
- $339,905, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 43% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 130% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1564% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 96 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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)
- $4.5 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE O.ACTIVITY 1:CJM AUDIENCESIN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE CJM ACCOMPLISHED ITS MISSION TO EXPLORE AND FOSTER APPRECIATION OF THE DIVERSITY OF JEWISH EXPERIENCE THROUGH ITS EXHIBITIONS, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND THE STRATEGIC DISTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL MEDIA.KEY FISCAL YEAR 2025 METRICS INCLUDE:8,264 ON-SITE VISITORS400,581 ONLINE VISITORSEXHIBITIONSFISCAL YEAR 2025 EXHIBITIONS AND ARTIST PROGRAMS COVERED A WIDE RANGE OF ART AND ARTISTS.NICKI GREEN: FIRMAMENT. (SEPTEMBER 5, 2024-DECEMBER 15, 2024) TRANSDISCIPLINARY ARTIST NICKI GREEN'S FIRST MUSEUM SOLO EXHIBITION DELVED INTO QUESTIONS OF IDENTITY, TRANSFORMATION, AND REINVENTION OF JEWISH TRADITIONS THROUGH NEW AND EXISTING ARTWORKS IN CERAMIC, INSTALLATION, AND FIBER. ARTWORKS FEATURED MOTIFS THAT INVOKED FERMENTATION, MYCELIUM, AND REINVENTED RITUAL AS METAPHORS FOR REGENERATION, TRANSFORMATION, AND RESILIENCE - CONCEPTS THAT HAVE INFORMED JEWISH THINKING AND PRACTICE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. LOOTED. (SEPTEMBER 5, 2024-DECEMBER 15, 2024). THIS MULTIMEDIA INSTALLATION REFLECTED ON THE HISTORY OF POLISH-OWNED PAINTINGS STOLEN DURING THE NAZI OCCUPATION IN WORLD WAR II. INITIATED BY POLISH ARTIST DOROTA MYTYCH AND CREATED WITH PAINTING COLLABORATORS TRACY GRUBBS (SAN FRANCISCO), JESSICA HOUSTON (CANADA), AND MARCIA TEUSINK (UK), THE INSTALLATION FEATURED THE FOUR ARTISTS JOINTLY RECREATING A TOTAL OF FIFTY-NINE LOOTED ARTWORKS BASED ON DOCUMENTATION FROM THE POLISH GOVERNMENT CATALOGUE OF WARTIME LOSSES. CALIFORNIA JEWISH OPEN. (JUNE 6, 2024-DECEMBER 15, 2024). THE MUSEUM'S FIRST MAJOR OPEN CALL EXHIBITION INVITED JEWISH-IDENTIFYING ARTISTS IN CALIFORNIA TO SUBMIT ARTWORKS IN RESPONSE TO A CENTRAL QUESTION: HOW ARE ARTISTS LOOKING TO THE MANY ASPECTS OF JEWISH CULTURE, IDENTITY, AND COMMUNITY TO FOSTER, REIMAGINE, HOLD, OR DISCOVER CONNECTION? THE RESULTING EXHIBITION BROUGHT TOGETHER THE WORK OF FORTY-SEVEN ARTISTS REFLECTING ON THEIR CONNECTION TO JUDAISM, THE WORLD, AND THEIR OWN PERSONAL HISTORIES. LEAH ROSENBERG: WHEN ONE SEES A RAINBOW. (JUNE 6, 2024-DECEMBER 15, 2024). BAY AREA ARTIST LEAH ROSENBERG TRANSFORMED THE CJM'S YUD GALLERY THROUGH LIGHT AND COLOR, CREATING A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR VISITORS TO REFLECT, REST, AND WONDER. INSPIRED BY THE JEWISH TRADITION OF RECITING A BLESSING UPON SEEING A RAINBOW, VISITORS WERE INVITED TO CREATE THEIR OWN RESPONSES TO THE COLORS ON VIEW IN THE GALLERY. L'CHAIM: CELEBRATING OUR BUILDING AT 15. (FEBRUARY 16, 2023- DECEMBER 15, 2024). THE CJM'S CELEBRATED BUILDING, DESIGNED BY WORLD-RENOWNED ARCHITECT DANIEL LIBESKIND, HAS SERVED AS AN ARTISTIC, COMMUNITY, AND CULTURAL GENERATOR SINCE ITS OPENING IN 2008. THIS EXHIBITION DELVES INTO THE DEEP JEWISH SYMBOLISM IMBUED IN THE BUILDING'S ARCHITECTURAL FORMS, ALLOWING VISITORS TO UNLOCK THEIR MEANING. INSPIRED BY THE HEBREW PHRASE L'CHAIM, THE ARCHITECTURE EMBODIES THE VALUES, TRADITIONS, AND IDEAS THAT THE MUSEUM EXPLORES WITHIN ITS WALLS.RETROBLAKESBERG: THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED. (AUGUST 31, 2023-JULY 28, 2024). THE EXHIBITION INVITED VISITORS TO EXPLORE SOME OF THE MOST NOTABLE MOMENTS IN SAN FRANCISCO'S ROCK AND ROLL HISTORY THROUGH THE LENS OF SAN FRANCISCO-BASED PHOTOGRAPHER JAY BLAKESBERG. THE SHOW FEATURED 215 ELECTRIFYING IMAGES OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD, JONI MITCHELL, TRACY CHAPMAN, SOUNDGARDEN, CARLOS SANTANA, AND MANY MORE.ANNIE ALBAGLI: WE BECOME [VESSELS]. (MARCH 23, 2023-JULY 28, 2024). SAN FRANCISCO ARTIST ANNIE ALBAGLI'S VIDEO AND SCULPTURE DREW ON JEWISH RITUAL, HER EGYPTIAN JEWISH ANCESTRY, AND THE GEOLOGY OF THE MARIN HEADLANDS, CONVEYING THE ELEMENTAL FORCES OF FAITH AND NATURE.PROGRAM AND EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTSTHE CJM IS AMONG THE BAY AREA'S MOST IMPORTANT ARTS AND JEWISH EDUCATION RESOURCES FOR K-12 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. ALL TOURS AND ACCOMPANYING ARTMAKING WORKSHOPS ARE FREE. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, K-12 SCHOOL PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED BOTH ONLINE AND IN PERSON. INTERACTIVE TOURS OF EXHIBITIONS AND THE CJM'S BUILDING LED BY PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS ARE THE CENTERPIECE OF THE PROGRAM. ONLINE CURRICULUM RESOURCES ENHANCE TEACHERS' ABILITY TO INCORPORATE TOUR CONTENT IN THE CLASSROOM. IN-PERSON AND ONLINE ART MAKING WORKSHOPS DEEPEN STUDENTS' LEARNING AND FOSTER CREATIVITY.ACCESS PROGRAMSTHE CJM OFFERS A WIDE ARRAY OF ACCESS PROGRAMS FREE OF CHARGE TO FULFILL A COMMUNITY NEED FOR HIGH-QUALITY, INDIVIDUALIZED OPPORTUNITIES FOR SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE CJM CONTINUED THIS LONGSTANDING DEDICATION TO ACCESSIBILITY, WITH AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF PROGRAMMING FOR VISITORS WITH INTELLECTUAL, PHYSICAL, OR SOCIAL BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION. THESE ACTIVITIES WERE OFFERED ONLINE AND IN PERSON.TEEN PROGRAMSTHE CENTERPIECE OF THE CJM'S TEEN PROGRAMS IS THE TEEN ART CONNECT (TAC) INTERNSHIP, A YEAR-LONG, PAID INTERNSHIP AT THE CJM THAT PROVIDES HANDS-ON WORK EXPERIENCE, APPRENTICESHIPS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, AND SKILL-BUILDING ARTS ACTIVITIES. TEN TAC INTERNS PLANNED AND PRODUCED A SERIES OF EVENTS FOR THEIR PEERS ABOUT JEWISH CULTURE AND ART. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED TEEN-LED ARCHITECTURE TOURS, ARTIST WORKSHOPS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, ART-MAKING ACTIVITIES, AND THE TEEN-CURATED EXHIBITION WHAT WE HOLD: A YOUTH AUDIO PROJECT. EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEENS TO EXPLORE CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS OF JEWISH IDENTITY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2003.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.