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Virginia Living Museum Inc

EIN 54-6055922 · Newport News, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MUSEUM CONNECTS PEOPLE TO NATURE BY DELIVERING EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, PROGRAMS, EXHIBITS, EVENTS AND DEMONSTRATIONS. STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ENGAGE LEARNERS OF ALL AGES ON A 23 ACRE CAMPUS SETTING. INDOOR AND OUTDOOR LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE AQUARIUMS, NATURE PRESERVE, NATIVE ANIMAL HABITATS, GARDENS, OBSERVATORY, PLANETARIUM, AND BOTH FORMAL AND INFORMAL CLASSROOMS.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$6.2 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
13 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
120
Volunteers
815
Highest pay
$153,721, 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

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

    18 of 18 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. $2.3 million spent. WE CONNECT PEOPLE TO NATURE THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, IN CLASSROOMS, ON THE MUSEUM FLOOR, OUTSIDE, OR OFFSITE AND VIRTUALLY. LEARNING IS MULTIGENERATIONAL THROUGH INDIVIDUAL ENCOUNTERS, SMALL GROUP OR LARGE AUDIENCES. PROGRAMS INCORPORATE NATURAL SCIENCE BASED EDUCATION IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND LIFE SCIENCES. SEASONAL EXHIBITS, SIGNAGE, ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS, PRESENTATIONS, TOURS, DISCOVERY CARTS AND INTERACTIVE DEMONSTRATIONS EDUCATE IN FUN AND ENGAGING WAYS. OVER 950 ANNUAL PROGRAMS ARE DELIVERED BY PROFESSIONAL MUSEUM EDUCATORS AND OVER 815 MUSEUM TRAINED VOLUNTEERS. OVER 35,000 STUDENTS WERE EDUCATED THROUGH SOL CORRELATED INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS.
  2. $2.3 million spent. THE MUSEUM IS ONE OF 14 INSTITUTIONS IN THE U.S. THAT ARE ACCREDITED BY BOTH THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (AZA) AND THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS (AAM). OVER 230 SPECIES TO INCLUDE 8 ENDANGERED AND OVER 1,000 ANIMALS ARE CARED FOR WITH THE HIGHEST STANDARDS. ANIMAL CARE PROVIDES HUSBANDRY, VETERINARY CARE, NUTRITION, ENRICHMENT, WELFARE AND TRAINING TO EACH ANIMAL 365 DAYS. OVER 15 FIELD CONSERVATION PROGRAMS TO INCLUDE FEDERAL SPECIES SURVIVAL PLANS HELP PROVIDE EDUCATION THROUGH CONSERVATION ACTION. NATIVE PLANT PROPAGATION AND THEMED NATIVE GARDENS SUPPORT LEARNING THROUGHOUT THE 23 ACRE CAMPUS WHILE SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPTING PRACTICES ARE EXHIBITED THROUGH DROUGHT TOLERANT SPECIES, HOST OR FOOD PLANTS FOR NATIVE WILDLIFE, AND ECOLOGICALLY BENEFICIAL SPECIES. LIVING GREEN HOUSE AND ROOF, MONARCH WAY STATION, BUTTERFLY GARDENS AND HAVEN ARE A FEW EXAMPLES.
  3. $933,844 spent. THE MUSEUM PROVIDES FUN EDUCATION THROUGH ACTIVE DISCOVERY CENTERS SUCH AS TIDAL POOL, WILD & WELL, CONSERVATION COMMAND CENTER AND MANY LIVING EXHIBITS INDOORS AND OUTSIDE ON AN ELEVATED BOARDWALK TRAIL, DINOSAUR DISCOVERY CENTER AND THROUGH BIOFACTS OR NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS. THE MUSEUM STORE PROVIDES RELATED MISSION BASED EDUCATIONAL ITEMS THAT SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. THE MUSTEUM HAS ELIMINATED ALL POSSIBLE SINGLE USE PLASTIC FROM OPERATIONS TO PROVIDE CONSERVATION BASED EDUCATIONAL GUEST EXPERIENCE. MEMBERSHIPS, GROUP EVENTS PROVIDE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES YEAR ROUND.

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 1965.

    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.

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.