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Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust Inc

EIN 47-1711491 · Miami, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PRESERVING VIZCAYA'S CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES TO ENGAGE PEOPLE IN CONNECTING WITH THE PAST, UNDERSTANDING THE PRESENT AND SHAPING THE FUTURE.

Income
$45.2 million
Spending
$25.5 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
127
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$521,329, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 44% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 93% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 September 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 (4)
  1. $2.6 million spent. LEARNING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, PROGRAMS & INTERPRETATION DEPARTMENTS ACCESS INITIATIVES SUPPORTED BROAD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING COMPLIMENTARY AND REDUCED-PRICE TICKETS FOR VETERANS, MILITARY FAMILIES, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, SENIORS, SNAP EBT CARDHOLDERS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. THESE EFFORTS REINFORCED VIZCAYA'S COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, INCLUSION, AND PUBLIC SERVICE WHILE MAINTAINING STRONG OVERALL VISITATION. VIZCAYA WELCOMED 394,477 VISITORS, INCLUDING 26,627 COMPLIMENTARY DAYTIME ADMISSIONS IN 2024 AND 396,076 VISITORS INCLUDING 25,917 COMPLIMENTARY DAYTIME ADMISSIONS DURING FY24-25.
  2. $8.3 million spent. FACILITIES MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL PROJECTS:THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT OVERSEES THE MAINTENANCE OF THE CAMPUS AND ADVANCED NUMEROUS CAPITAL PROJECTS LAST YEAR, INCLUDING RENOVATION OF TWO HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN THE VIZCAYA VILLAGE. CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS WERE DEVELOPED FOR ADDITIONAL VILLAGE PROJECTS AND UPGRADES TO THE MAIN HOUSE AND GARDENS.
  3. $4.1 million spent. ART AND LIVING COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT:THE ART & ARTIFACT STEWARDSHIP AND HORTICULTURE & SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENTS OVERSEE RESEARCH, CARE, CONSERVATION, EXHIBITION AND INTERPRETATION OF VIZCAYA'S ART AND LIVING COLLECTIONS, INCLUDING THE HISTORIC INTERIORS AND GARDENS. EFFORTS INCLUDED REFRESHED HISTORICAL DISPLAYS, A CONTEMPORARY ARTS PROGRAM EXHIBITION HONORING PAUL CHALFIN, AND INTERPRETIVE INSTALLATIONS AT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S HOUSE. SIGNIFICANT CONSERVATION WORK SUPPORTED LONG-TERM SAFEGUARDING OF GARDENS, MURALS, DECORATIVE INTERIORS, AND THE HISTORIC LIBRARY.VIZCAYA ACHIEVED MAJOR HORTICULTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY MILESTONES, INCLUDING RENOVATIONS TO THE COURTYARD AND EXPANSION OF NATIVE AND ENDANGERED PLANT COLLECTIONS. IMPROVEMENTS TO GREENHOUSE INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORTED PLANT CARE AND PROGRAMMING. SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES ADVANCED THROUGH INCREASED COMPOSTING, WATER-EFFICIENT IRRIGATION, ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT TRANSITIONS, AND ENHANCED RECYCLING EFFORTS.
  4. $5.7 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS:VIZCAYA'S SAFETY & SECURITY DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTED SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND SECURITY UPGRADES INCLUDING EXPANDED CAMERA COVERAGE, NEW ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS, AND SPOT AI REAL TIME MONITORING; THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED HYPERLOCAL OUTREACH STRATEGIES. GEOFENCING DIGITAL ADVERTISING, SIGN SPINNERS, AND TARGETED POSTCARD MAILERS FOCUSED ON COCONUT GROVE AND NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS. THESE EFFORTS GENERATED HIGH DAILY IMPRESSIONS AND STRENGTHENED AWARENESS AMONG LOCAL AUDIENCES. LAUNCHED A NEW TELEVISION AD, BILLBOARD AND INFLUENCER RELATIONSHIPS TO BOOST VISITATION; TECHNOLOGY & DIGITAL INITIATIVES COMPLETED A COMPREHENSIVE LIDAR SCAN OF THE MAIN HOUSE AND FULLY DEPLOYED THE HARVESTER DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH NEARLY 25,000 ASSETS. EXPANDED PUBLIC WI-FI ACCESS IMPROVED CONNECTIVITY ACROSS THE VILLAGE, GARDENS, AND MAIN HOUSE; THE FACILITY RENTALS DEPARTMENT WELCOMED 66 EVENING EVENTS.; FUNDRAISING AND ADVANCEMENT RAISED MORE THAN $3.7 MILLION THROUGH GRANTS, MEMBERSHIPS, APPEALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. DONOR ENGAGEMENT WAS STRENGTHENED THROUGH EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES, WHILE THE GILDED EDGE EXPANDED OUTREACH TO YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND FUTURE SUPPORTERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 September 2025.

    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 October 2014.

    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.

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