Henry Francis Du Pont Winterthur Museum Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Winterthur builds upon the vision of Henry Francis du Pont to inspire and educate through its collections, estate, and academic programs by engaging diverse audiences in the study, preservation, and interpretation of American material culture, art, design, and history.
- Income
- $63.5 million
- Spending
- $30.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 88%
- Employees
- 368
- Volunteers
- 225
- Highest pay
- $337,933, charles f. montgomery dire
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
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 51% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 40 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2534 of 34 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 (3)
- $20.9 million spent. Public Visitation and Exhibitions:Winterthur welcomed more than 130,000 visitors to the museum, estate, and gardens, Major exhibitions and large-scale public events, including Transformations: Contemporary Artists at Winterthur and the annual Artisan Market highlighted both the historic collection and the work of contemporary artists. Attendance growth was supported by a robust calendar of exhibitions, family programs, and community events, as well as strong participation in free and subsidized offerings.In September 2024, Winterthur hosted its annual Discover Winterthur event, during which admission was waived and visitors were invited to experience a wide range of programs across the property. Fifteen community partners participated by hosting informational tables, nearly 1,300 individuals attended.Winterthur also emphasized contemporary artistic practice through Transformations: Contemporary Artists at Winterthur, an exhibition featuring artists inspired by the museum's collection and gardens. In addition, the annual Artisan Market in July 2024 showcased 110 working artists, awarded grants to three artists, and attracted more than 6,500 visitors, reflecting continued year-over-year growth and strong public interest.Seasonal family programming further extended Winterthur's reach. During July and August 2024, Terrific Tuesdays offered significantly discounted admission for families with children, paired with hands-on activities across the estate. These same activities were also delivered free of charge to low-income childcare centers through outreach visits, ensuring that children unable to travel to Winterthur could still benefit from our educational resources.
- $2.7 million spent. Education and School Programs:Winterthur continued to expand its educational reach through free school programs, including onsite field trips, virtual offerings, and in-classroom experiences. Nearly 17,000 students participated in Winterthur programs during the fiscal year, making education one of the organization's largest programmatic investments. These programs included free admission and transportation support, as well as complimentary return passes for students and their families, increasing access for diverse audiences.Educational programming remained a cornerstone of Winterthur's mission. Nearly 17,000 students participated in programs during the fiscal year, an increase from just over 14,000 the prior year. School program participants represent Winterthur's most diverse audience. Each student received a complimentary pass to return with family and friends; approximately 400 passes were redeemed, accounting for an estimated 1,600 additional free visitors.
- Community Engagement and Access Initiatives:Winterthur advanced its commitment to community access through free and discounted admission days and partnerships with regional nonprofit organizations. Programs such as Discover Winterthur and Terrific Tuesdays offered waived or reduced admission costs, expanded outreach to new and infrequent visitors, and provided opportunities for community partners to engage directly with the public. These initiatives involved both direct program expenses and allocations supporting partner participation.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1953.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.