National Building Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM INSPIRES CURIOSITY ABOUT THE WORLD WE DESIGN AND BUILD.
- Income
- $11.7 million
- Spending
- $8.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 4.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 116
- Volunteers
- 52
- Highest pay
- $352,439, president & 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 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2540 of 41 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 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)
- $3.3 million spent. EXHIBITIONS:IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM PRESENTED EIGHT EXHIBITIONS THAT EXAMINED AND INTERPRETED THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.HOUSE AND HOME IS A LONG-TERM EXHIBITION PRESENTATION THAT TAKES VISITORS ON A TOUR OF HOUSES BOTH FAMILIAR AND SURPRISING, THROUGH PAST AND PRESENT, CHALLENGING OUR IDEAS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE AT HOME IN AMERICA.BRICK CITY CELEBRATES ICONIC ARCHITECTURE FROM CITIES AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH CAREFULLY RECREATED CONSTRUCTIONS MADE FROM LEGO BRICKS BY U.K.-BASED ARTIST WARREN ELSMORE. VISITORS WILL TAKE A WORLD TOUR DISCOVERING NEW DESTINATIONS ACROSS ALL SEVEN CONTINENTS THAT INCLUDE: LIVELY STREETSCAPES FROM CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA; MARDI GRAS CELEBRATIONS IN NEW ORLEANS; INTRICATE TEMPLES FROM INDIA TO MEXICO; AND IMAGINATIVE CASTLES FROM MEDIEVAL JAPAN TO MODERN LAS VEGAS.MINI MEMORIES PRESENTS SELECTIONS FROM A ONE-OF-A-KIND COLLECTION OF SOUVENIR BUILDINGS, ON DISPLAY TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME. GENEROUSLY DONATED TO THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM BY ARCHITECTS DAVID WEINGARTEN AND LUCIA HOWARD, ALONG WITH MARGARET MAJUA IN 2019, THE COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 3,000 MINIATURE MEMENTOS, THE MOST EXTENSIVE OF ITS TYPE, REPRESENTS A LIFETIME OF CAREFUL CURATION.BUILDING STORIES IS THE FIRST NATIONAL EXHIBITION TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT'S ROLE AS AN IMPORTANT, AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED, CHARACTER IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE. BY ACTIVATING THESE STORIES AND THEIR BUILT WORLDS, AND THE EARLY FOUNDATIONS FOR HOW WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND OUR SURROUNDINGS, BUILDING STORIES ALLOWS VISITORS TO INVESTIGATE THE ROLE THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT PLAYS IN OUR OWN LIVES AND COMMUNITIESAND HOW WE CAN BE AGENTS OF CHANGE FOR ITS MORE SUSTAINABLE, EQUITABLE FUTURE.FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA PRESENTS BOTH REALIZED AND UNREALIZED PROJECTS FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT DESIGNED FOR THE REGION FROM THE 1930S THROUGH THE 1950S. THE EXHIBITION EXAMINES HOW HIS VISION OF THE FUTURE MIGHT HAVE IMPACTED URBAN, SUBURBAN, AND RURAL LANDSCAPES.CAPITAL BRUTALISM EXPLORES THE HISTORY, CURRENT STATE, AND FUTURE OF SEVEN POLARIZING BUILDINGS AND THE WMATA METRO SYSTEM IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THE EXHIBITION USES ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS, DRAWINGS, CONSTRUCTION PHOTOGRAPHS, ARCHITECTURAL MODELS, AND CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHS TO PROVIDE CONTEXT AND SHED LIGHT ON THE BUILDINGS' STORIES.VISIBLE VAULT: OPEN COLLECTIONS STORAGE SHOWCASES A BROAD RANGE OF ARTIFACTS FROM THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION, HIGHLIGHTING AMERICA'S ARCHITECTURAL AND DESIGN HERITAGE. THE EXHIBITION PROVIDES VISITORS WITH A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL OBJECTS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC DUE TO THEIR SIZE, SCOPE, AND MATERIAL. THIS EXHIBITION IS A TESTAMENT TO THE MUSEUM'S COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING AND SHARING THE FASCINATING NARRATIVES OF THE WORLD WE DESIGN AND BUILD.A SOUTH FORTY: CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH AIMS TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT VITALITY OF CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH, THROUGH BOTH ILLUSTRATED PROFILES OF BUILDINGS AND PRACTICES AND STATEMENTS OF PRINCIPLES AND OBSERVATIONS BY THOSE IN PRACTICE IN THE REGION.COMING TOGETHER: REIMAGINING AMERICA'S DOWNTOWNS EXPLORES THE LESSONS LEARNED AND OPPORTUNITIES EMBRACED IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. AFTER A PERIOD OF ADAPTING AND RESHAPING, CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE COMING TO TERMS WITH LASTING CHANGES IN WORK, HOUSING, MOBILITY, ENTERTAINMENT, AND RECREATION.
- $1.3 million spent. SCHOOL PROGRAMMING:WE OFFERED 558 FORMAL PROGRAMS FOR A TOTAL OF 11673 STUDENTS. WE ALSO LAUNCHED HOMESCHOOL DAYS IN FY25 WITH 141 ATTENDEES FOR TWO DATES. WE ALSO HAD A SPECIALTY WORKSHOP WITH 156 HIGH SCHOOL DCPS STUDENTS. OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH (SUMMER CAMP):THE MUSEUM DID NOT OFFER ANY OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH (TEENS) PROGRAMS IN FY25.OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH (SUMMER CAMP):WE RAN THE NBM SUMMER CAMP FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR IN FY25 AND INCREASED THE NUMBER OF SESSIONS OFFERED AND FOR A LARGER RANGE OF AGES (204 ATTENDEES) COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: FAMILIES, EARLY LEARNERS, & ALL AGES PROGRAMMING:WE HOSTED TWO FREE COMMUNITY FESTIVAL, THE BIG BUILD FESTIVAL (4,077 ATTENDEES) AND THE BIG DRAW FESTIVAL (3,082). WE HOSTED THE ANNUAL GINGERBREAD WORKSHOP (268 ATTENDEES). WE INCREASED OUR GIRL SCOUT PROGRAMMING (240 ATTENDEES). WE CONTINUED MONTHLY FREE STEAM SATURDAY (666 ATTENDEES) AND CONTINUED WEEKLY FREE STORYTIME (2,197 ATTENDEES). WE HOSTED CHILD WORKSHOPS AROUND THE SUMMER INSTALLATION PARKOUR (76 ATTENDEES). WE LAUNCHED THREE NEW DROP IN SERIES, JUST DROP IN (276 ATTENDEES), WINTER DROP INS (1,392 ATTENDEES), AND CANSTRUCTION DROP INS (530 ATTENDEES). WE LAUNCHED A NEW FAMILY WORKSHOP SERIES, SCHOOL'S OUT (78 ATTENDEES). WE LAUNCHED A NEW FREE COMMUNITY PROGRAM SERIES, BUILDING READERS CLUB DAYS (693 ATTENDEES). WE LAUNCHED A NEW PROGRAM SERIES MEET A PROFESSIONAL (80 ATTENDEES). THE MUSEUM ALSO PARTICIPATED IN 6 OFFSITE OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN FY25, REACHING 1,815 PEOPLE.ADULTS:THE MUSEUM PRESENTED 32 IN PERSON PROGRAMS AND 5 VIRTUAL PROGRAMS FOR ADULT AUDIENCES, SERVING A TOTAL OF 6,086 ATTENDEES. THE MUSEUM'S HIGH-PROFILE LECTURE SERIES SPOTLIGHT ON DESIGN FEATURED JEANNE GANG, TATIANA BILBAO, JENNIFER BONNER, AND RICK JOY. AS PART OF THE SERIES, THE INAUGURAL EDWARD A. FEINER LECTURE FOR PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE WAS GIVEN BY NADER TEHRANI. IN NOVEMBER, THE MUSEUM'S VINCENT SCULLY PRIZE WAS PRESENTED TO WALTER HOOD AT AN IN-PERSON PROGRAM. THE ANNUAL DARWINA L. NEAL CULTURAL LANDSCAPES LECTURE FEATURED A BOOK TALK BY THOMAS WOLTZ, ON THE LAND IS FULL. THE APGAR PROGRAM WAS ON DANISH DESIGN IN AMERICA. WE HOSTED OUR WINTER GREAT MOVIES IN THE GREAT HALL SERIES FOR THE SECOND YEAR, SHOWING THREE MOVIES. WE OFFERED A NEW SERIES OF HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS CALLED MAKERS' WORKSHOPS INCLUDING WOODWORKING, MOSAICS, AND DRAWING PROGRAMS; WE HOSTED ONE OFF-SITE HARD HAT TOUR OF THE RESERVOIR DISTRICT, AND THREE BUILDING TOURS INCLUDING THE BRUTALISM WALKING TOUR, VIRGINIA TECH INNOVATION CAMPUS, AND THE ARLO HOTEL ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECT. WE OFFERED A MASTERCLASS ON ECOLOGICAL GARDENING. WE ALSO HOSTED STORYSLAM EVENTS, BOOK TALKS, AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS. WE HOSTED TWO MAJOR LATE-NIGHT EVENTS, ONE IN THE FALL AND ONE IN THE SUMMER, AND AN OPENING RECEPTION FOR THE COMING TOGETHER EXHIBITION. THE MUSEUM HOSTED A NEW VIRTUAL SERIES CALLED FUTURE FRIDAYS.
- $835,205 spent. MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS:TELLS THE STORY OF THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM - EXHIBITIONS, PROGRAMS, COLLECTIONS, ACTIVITIES, THE MUSEUM SHOP, AND MORE - THROUGH WEBSITE AND ONLINE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ADVERTISING, PRINT COLLATERAL AND DIGITAL MARKETING, EMAIL MARKETING, PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
- $1.8 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE GREAT HALL, MUSEUM SHOP, AND COLLECTIONS.
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
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 September 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 February 1976.
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.
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