Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art at Florida Southern College Inc

EIN 59-1226011 · Lakeland, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 44% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

AS AN ARTS LEADER IN FLORIDA, THE ASHLEY GIBSON BARNETT MUSEUM OF ART AT FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE INC (THE AGB) EDUCATES AND INSPIRES THE COMMUNITY THROUGH CREATIVE AND DIVERSE EXHIBITIONS AND THE ACQUISITION AND CARE OF A PERMANENT COLLECTION; CULTURAL ALLIANCES AND COMPELLING EVENTS AND PROGRAMS.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
44%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
33
Volunteers
160
Highest pay
$538,004, vice chair (thru 07/2024)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 48% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    44% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, 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

    10 of 12 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 May 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 (2)
  1. $619,216 spent. THE PRIMARY PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE A FACILITY FOR PUBLIC AND ACADEMIC APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS AND ART HISTORY AND TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND THROUGH CULTURAL AND VISUAL ARTS PROGRAMMING. THE AGB IS PROUD TO BE ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS AND TO PARTNER WITH THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION AS A SMITHSONIAN AFFILIATE MUSEUM AND WITH FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE AS ITS COLLEGE MUSEUM. AS AN ACADEMIC COMMUNITY MUSEUM, WE PROUDLY SERVE AND STRIVE TO ENGAGE LEARNERS OF ALL AGES. OUR COLLECTION FEATURING NEARLY 3,000 WORKS OF ART AND YEAR-ROUND EXHIBITION AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING BRING VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE AND HAVE ESTABLISHED THE AGB AS A RESPECTED AND WELL-KNOWN RESOURCE AND SITE FOR EXCEPTIONAL ARTS EXPERIENCES.
  2. $238,410 spent. THROUGH OUR ROBUST EDUCATION PROGRAMMING WE STRIVE TO BRING PEOPLE AND ART TOGETHER WITH UNIQUE PROGRAMS THAT RANGE FROM VISUAL ARTS CLASSES AND ART LABORATORIES TO HANDS-ON TRAININGS WITH ARTISTS AND ART APPRECIATION LECTURES. WITH GRANT AND SPONSOR SUPPORT, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES AND INCOME BRACKETS AT LITTLE OR NO COST TO THEM. ON-SITE PROGRAMMING INCLUDES DOCENT-LED TOURS AND VISITS TO THE AGB FOR ALL 4TH-GRADE STUDENTS IN POLK COUNTY SCHOOLS; ART CLASSES FOR ALL AGES AND SKILL LEVELS; FALL, SPRING, AND SUMMER ART CAMPS FOR CHILDREN AGES 7 AND UP (SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE); POLK COUNTY STUDENT ART EXHIBITIONS AND AWARD RECEPTIONS FOR EXHIBITING STUDENTS OF ALL GRADE LEVELS; (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, PERFORMANCES, AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS RELATED TO OUR EXHIBITIONS; AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT FOR FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE STUDENTS ACROSS DISCIPLINES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 May 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 February 1968.

    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.