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Baltimore Museum of Industry

EIN 52-1205675 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO COLLECT, PRESERVE, AND INTERPRET THE INDUSTRIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL HERITAGE OF THE BALTIMORE REGION FOR THE PUBLIC BY PRESENTING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS THAT EXPLORE THE STORIES OF MARYLAND'S INDUSTRIES AND THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED AND WORKED IN THEM.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
-1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 35%
Employees
59
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$144,999, 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: 39 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 74% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 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 25

    21 of 21 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 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)
  1. $1.3 million spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING: BMI SERVED 24,455 STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND CHAPERONES IN FY25. THIS IS A NOTABLE INCREASE OF 5,000 OVER FY24, ESPECIALLY GIVEN MANY SCHOOLS' DIFFICULTY IN BOOKING BUSES. OF THE TOTAL NUMBER, 3,148 WERE TITLE I STUDENTS FOR WHICH THE BMI PROVIDED AN 80% SUBSIDY IN ADMISSION. THE BMI ALSO SERVED 1,438 YOUNG ENGINEERS IN FY25 THROUGH ITS MARYLAND ENGINEERING CHALLENGES PROGRAM HELD ON THE BMI CAMPUS. LASTLY, TO MAINTAIN EXCELLENCE IN ITS 14 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ENSURE THEY MEET MARYLAND COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS STANDARDS, THE BMI HELD WORKSHOPS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS FOR ITS MUSEUM EDUCATORS.
  2. $752,912 spent. EXHIBITIONS & COLLECTIONS: THE CURATORIAL AFFAIRS TEAM CONTINUES TO PROMOTE STORIES OF BALTIMORE'S INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE THROUGH NEW EXHIBITS, PRESERVATION AND DISSEMINATION OF COLLECTIONS AND ARCHIVED ITEMS. IN FY25, THE MUSEUM GREW THE COLLECTION OF ARTIFACTS, DOCUMENTS, AND PHOTOGRAPHS THROUGH FORMAL ACCESSION OF DONATIONS, INCLUDING THE BGE ARCHIVE AND THE A. AUBREY BODINE COLLECTION, BOTH OF WHICH REPRESENT HISTORIC AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE CITY OF BALTIMORE AND SURROUNDING REGIONS.
  3. $5,019 spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMMING: THROUGH ITS PUBLIC PROGRAMMING AND CAMPUS ACTIVATION IN FY25, THE BMI CONTINUES TO FIND WAYS TO CREATE A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE MONTHLY NETWORKING SERIES, INDUSTRY SOCIAL CLUB, FEATURED ROTATING PANELS OF EXPERTS IN A VARIETY OF INDUSTRIES THAT POWER BALTIMORE AND FUEL CONNECTION. LABOR + INNOVATION SOUGHT TO EXPLORE THE INTERSECTION OF ART AND INDUSTRY. THE SEASONAL FARMERS MARKET IS AN IMPORTANT GATHERING SPACE FOR NEIGHBORS AND A POINT OF CONNECTION FOR LOCAL ARTISANS AND GROWERS. IN ADDITION TO THOSE WHO TOOK PART IN OUR PUBLIC OFFERINGS, OVER 80,000 GUESTS TO THE MUSEUM ENJOYED OUR EDUCATIONAL AND IMMERSIVE EXHIBITS THAT GRANT A PEEK INTO THE RICH INDUSTRIAL HISTORY OF BALTIMORE.

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

  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 November 6, 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 June 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 May 1981.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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