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Friends of the Bass Museum Inc

EIN 59-2017511 · Miami Beach, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BASS, MIAMI BEACH'S CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM, CREATES CONNECTIONS BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ART AND THE MUSEUM'S DIVERSE AUDIENCES. THE BASS SHARES THE POWER OF CONTEMPORARY ART THROUGH EXPERIENCES THAT EXCITE, CHALLENGE AND EDUCATE.

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$6.0 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
8.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
45
Volunteers
54
Highest pay
$142,094, deputy director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    34 of 34 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 September 30, 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. $1.1 million spent. THE BASS SEEKS TO EXPAND THE INTERPRETATION OF CONTEMPORARY ART BY INCORPORATING DISCIPLINES OF CONTEMPORARY CULTURE, SUCH AS DESIGN, FASHION AND ARCHITECTURE, INTO THE EXHIBITION PROGRAM. THE EXHIBITION PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES A WIDE RANGE OF MEDIA AND ARTISTIC POINTS OF VIEW THAT BRING NEW THOUGHT TO THE DIVERSE CULTURAL CONTEXT OF MIAMI BEACH. (Expenses $ 2,482,973 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 1,169,892) OTHER PROGRAM SERVCE EXPENSES
  2. $379,527 spent. DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN AGES 4-12, ART CAMPS AT THE BASS ARE LED BY PROFESSIONAL MUSEUM EDUCATORS, TEACHING ARTISTS AND CERTIFIED M-DPS ART TEACHERS. DURING CAMP SESSIONS, CAMPERS MAKE A ONE-OF-A-KIND STEAM INSPIRED PROJECTS AND LEARN THROUGH FUN, HANDS-ON ART ACTIVITIES IN SCULPTURE, PAINTING, DESIGN AND MORE. ART CAMPS RUN DURING MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOL SPRING, SUMMER AND WINTER BREAKS.
  3. $305,471 spent. THE STEAM PLUS PROGRAM IS A CITY AND COUNTY-WIDE EFFORT TO ENRICH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN MIAMI BEACH BY ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH THE SUBJECTS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART AND MATH. (Expenses $ 2,482,973 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 1,169,892) OTHER PROGRAM SERVCE EXPENSES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 2025.

    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 October 1980.

    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.