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Chicago National Brewseum

EIN 47-3081387 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BEER CULTURE CENTER HIGHLIGHTS THE DYNAMIC CULTURE AND INNOVATIVE HISTORY OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST VIBRANT INDUSTRIES. BY USING STORIES OF THE PAST AND TALES OF THE PRESENT, THE BEER CULTURE CENTER TAKES A DEEPER LOOK INTO ONE OF THE OLDEST BEVERAGES AND ITS POWER TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND ITS IMPORTANCE AS AN ONGOING CULTURAL FORCE.

Income
$109,465
Spending
$83,386
Reserves
16.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Highest pay
$65,000, executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% 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)
  1. $18,072 spent. THE BEER CULTURE CENTER IS A REGISTERED 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT CULTURAL ORGANIZATION. OUR HOME WILL BE A MULTI-STORY FACILITY WHERE VISITORS WILL TAKE IN ENGAGING, INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS PROFILING STORIES OF BEER HISTORY AND CULTURE AROUND THE WORLD.
  2. $8,467 spent. A MUSEUM CELEBRATING BEER WITHOUT SERVING UP THE LIBATION WOULD SEEM. . . WELL, DRY. THE BEER CULTURE CENTER WILL SERVE UP CRAFTS FROM THE BEST LOCAL, REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES INCLUDING UNIQUE BREWS CONCOCTED BY OUR OWN RESIDENT BREWERS IN OUR VERY OWN NANOBREWERY. CAN YOU EXPECT TO SEE INNOVATIVE COLLABORATIVE BREWS ROOTED IN HISTORY AND CULTURE? ABSOLUTELY!
  3. $5,961 spent. THE WORLD'S BEER HISTORY, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY HAS IMPACTED A MYRIAD OF OTHER INDUSTRIES AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES. THE BEER CULTURE CENTER WILL CELEBRATE THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP AND INFLUENCE BEER ENJOYS AROUND THE WORLD, HIGHLIGHTING CHICAGO AS A WORLD-CLASS CITY AND WORLD-CLASS DESTINATION ROOTED IN THE STORY OF BEER. TEMPORARY EXHIBITION SPACES WILL FEATURE BEER'S ROLE IN OTHER INDUSTRIES AS WELL AS THE BEER HISTORY AND CULTURE OF OTHER WORLD CITIES.
  4. THE BEER CULTURE CENTER WILL BE MORE THAN JUST A PLACE TO ENJOY, CELEBRATE AND LEARN ABOUT BEER. PUBLIC PROGRAMS WILL TAKE PLACE IN COLLABORATION WITH VARIOUS EXHIBITIONS AND CULTURAL PARTNERS. CLASSROOMS WILL OFFER DIFFERENT KIND OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE FACILITY WILL INVITE SPECIAL PRIVATE EVENTS TO GATHER IN THE ROOFTOP BEER GARDEN AND OTHER INDOOR SPACES.

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

  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 August 2016.

    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.