Claremont Lewis Museum of Art
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION CELEBRATES THE COMMUNITY'S RICH ARTISTIC LEGACY AND PROMOTES THE CULTURAL VITALITY OF THE POMONA VALLEY AND THE LOS ANGELES AREA, THROUGH THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION, ART EXHIBITIONS, EVENTS AND ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $400,251
- Spending
- $564,601
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 10.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 62%
- Employees
- 16
- Volunteers
- 34
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 41% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 48% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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.
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 December 31, 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)
- $271,882 spent. ART EXHIBITIONS: THE CLAREMONT LEWIS MUSEUM OF ART HAS FORGED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF CLAREMONT TO OPERATE IN THE HISTORIC TRAIN DEPOT IN DOWNTOWN CLAREMONT. THE MUSEUM PRESENTS THREE TO FOUR ART EXHIBITIONS FOCUSED ON VISUAL ARTISTS FROM THE 1930'S THROUGH THE PRESENT DAY WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED AND INFLUENCED THE RICH ARTISTIC HERITAGE OF CLAREMONT AND THE SURROUNDING REGION. THE MUSEUM IS OPEN THURSDAY 12:00 TO 4:00, FRIDAY 12:00 TO 7:00, SATURDAY 12:00 TO 4:00 AND SUNDAY 10:00 TO 4:00. THE MUSEUM OFFERS FREE FRIDAYS, FREE FAMILY AND SENIOR DAYS AS WELL AS FREE ADMISSION ON ARTWALK EVENINGS, ENABLING ACCESS TO THE MUSEUM FREE TO THE PUBLIC 90% OF THE TIME.
- $72,363 spent. ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS: ARTSTART EDUCATION PROJECT: PROJECT ARTSTART TRAINS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MENTORED BY COLLEGE STUDENTS TO PROVIDE EXHIBIT-BASED ART LESSONS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. BY BRINGING HIGH-QUALITY, ART APPRECIATION CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES TO THE CLAREMONT SCHOOL SYSTEM, WE INSPIRE, PROMOTE THE UNDERSTANDING OF ART AND HIGHLIGHT CLAREMONT'S RICH ARTISTIC HISTORY. FAMILY ART: THE FAMILY ART PROGRAM, PRESENTS CREATIVE ART ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AT CITY FESTIVALS. LOCAL ART EDUCATORS AND VOLUNTEERS PLAN, PREPARE AND GUIDE YOUNG VISITORS IN HANDS-ON ART PROJECTS.
- $44,198 spent. EVENTS: THE MUSEUM HOSTS ONGOING EVENTS TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AND ENRICH THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE ANNUAL PADUA HILLS FESTIVARTS, BRINGING ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY OF THE ART MADE BY LOCAL ARTISTS AND ARTISTS GALLERY TALKS, ARTIST STUDIO VISITS, COMMUNITY ART WORKSHOPS AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 November 2004.
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.