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Telfair Museum of Art Inc

EIN 58-0610074 · Savannah, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ACHIEVE OUR MISSION OF OFFERING COMPELLING EXPRESSIONS OF VISUAL CULTURE, WE CONCENTRATE ON FOUR AREAS: 1) COLLECTIONS - ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARKS AND FOCUSED ART COLLECTIONS THAT REFLECT A HISTORY OF EMBRACING CONTEMPORARY VISUAL CULTURE; 2) EDUCATION - PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN THAT SERVE AS CATALYSTS FOR CREATIVITY AND LEARNING; 3) EXHIBITIONS - PRESENTATIONS OF REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE THAT PROVIDE ACCESS TO ART OF DIVERSE ERAS AND CULTURES; & 4) COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - PARTNERSHIPS AND INITIATIVES THAT STRENGTHEN TIES TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES AND ENCOURAGE ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT IN COMMUNITY LIFE.

Income
$9.8 million
Spending
$9.2 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
15.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 45%
Employees
92
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$192,820, cfo/coo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 31 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $2.8 million spent. EXHIBITIONS - IN 2024, TELFAIR MUSEUMS PRESENTED 29 EXHIBITIONS, 26 OF WHICH WERE ORGANIZED BY TELFAIR STAFF. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE FRANK STEWART'S NEXUS, THE FIRST MUSEUM EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHER FRANK STEWART'S WORK; A MEASURE OF TIME: ANILA QUAYYUM AGHA, A PRESENTATION OF SCULPTURES AND MIXED MEDIA WORKS ON PAPER WITH A CROSS-CULTURAL REACH AND GLOBAL SCOPE; AND NORMAN ROCKWELL & PEERS: ILLUSTRATING CHILDHOOD, A CHRONICLE OF SOCIETAL TRANSFORMATIONS AND CHALLENGES THROUGH THE LENS OF ILLUSTRATION FOR MASS-PRODUCED PUBLICATIONS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS - 7,135 PRE-K THROUGH COLLEGE STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN IN-PERSON FIELD TRIPS TO TELFAIR MUSEUMS IN 2024. THESE INCLUDED THE MUSEUM'S IN-PERSON TOURS OF THE EXHIBITION NORMAN ROCKWELL & PEERS: ILLUSTRATING CHILDHOOD FOR 3,800 4TH GRADE STUDENTS OF SAVANNAH-CHATHAM COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND AN ADDITIONAL PROGRAM FOR 600 PRE-K STUDENTS FROM LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HEAD START. 3,900 INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES PARTICIPATED IN OUTREACH VIA 188 CLASSES FOR SENIORS AT LOCAL SENIOR CENTER, YOUTH AT COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND INDIVIDUALS AT HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES PARTNER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. 800 PARTICIPANTS PARTICIPATED IN 61 ADULT AND 22 YOUTH STUDIO ART CLASSES AND SUMMER CAMPS. 13 FREE LECTURES ORGANIZED BY THE MUSEUM WERE ATTENDED BY OVER 800 PEOPLE. 6 FREE FAMILY DAYS OFFERED ON SATURDAYS OR SUNDAYS WERE ATTENDED BY A TOTAL OF 6,839 VISITORS OF ALL AGES IN 2024. 7 EDUCATION EXHIBITIONS WERE HELD IN THE MUSEUM'S COMMUNITY GALLERY, INCLUDING AN ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF WORK BY VETERANS AND PARTICIPANTS FROM LOCAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. THE LATTER EXHIBITION ALSO INCLUDED ART PRODUCED IN OUTREACH WORKSHOPS FOR INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. DROP-IN STUDIO ART-MAKING ACTIVITIES OFFERED EACH SATURDAY WERE ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 2,300 PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES.
  3. $2.6 million spent. COLLECTIONS - CURRENTLY, THE TELFAIR HOLDS OVER 7,000 WORKS OF ART, INCLUDING PAINTINGS, WORKS ON PAPER, SCULPTURE, FURNITURE, DECORATIVE ARTS AND TWO HISTORIC HOMES. THESE WORKS ARE PRIMARILY FROM EUROPE AND AMERICA, RANGING IN DATE FROM THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY THROUGH THE PRESENT. IN 2024, TELFAIR ACQUIRED 14 WORKS FOR THE COLLECTION. THESE ACQUISITIONS INCLUDE PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES, WORKS ON PAPER, PHOTOGRAPHS, MIXED MEDIA, AND DECORATIVE ART OBJECTS. THESE WORKS HAVE HELPED TO AUGMENT AND DIVERSIFY TELFAIR MUSEUMS' PERMANENT COLLECTION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1973.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.