J B Speed Art Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AT THE SPEED ART MUSEUM, WE INVITE EVERYONE TO CELEBRATE ART FOREVER. WHETHER YOU'RE AN ART AFICIONADO OR DON'T KNOW A DALI FROM A DEGAS, YOU CAN FIND FRESH INSPIRATION AND MEANING AT THE SPEED ART MUSUEM. WITH MODERN ARCHITECTURE, EXPANDED PROGRAMMING, INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, AND INVITING OUTDOOR SPACES, THE SPEED OFFERS COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE TO CREATE THEIR OWN CONNECTIONS AND EXPERIENCE ART AT THEIR OWN SPEED. AT THE SPEED WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE THE MUSEUM A SAFE AND WELCOMING PLACE FOR EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPEED'S COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND INCLUSION.
- Income
- $24.2 million
- Spending
- $16.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 49.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 49%
- Employees
- 155
- Volunteers
- 144
- Highest pay
- $315,740, executive director (to 08/25)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 49.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 42% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2535 of 35 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 September 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)
- $6.4 million spent. CURATORIAL INITIATIVES INCLUDE ROTATING EXHIBITIONS, CARE FOR THE PERMANENT COLLECTION, AND SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS. THE CURATORIAL STAFF STEWARDS A COLLECTION OF 13,000 OBJECTS SPANNING 6,000 YEARS OF HUMAN HISTORY FROM ANCIENT TO CONTEMPORARY ARTWORKS. CURATORS PRODUCE AMBITIOUS EXHIBITIONS, BRINGING ARTWORK FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO THE LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY AND PROGRAM EVENTS TO ENHANCE EXHIBITION CONTENT.
- $4.1 million spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOSTER DYNAMIC, MULTI-SENSORIAL EXPERIENCES FOR VISITORS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO GROW UP WITH OUTREACH PROGRAMS ENGAGE UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS AND OFTEN PARTNER WITH BOTH ARTS AND NON-ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH ALL LEVELS OF THE COMMUNITY.
- $1.6 million spent. GUARDIANSHIP AND MAINTENANCE OF THE MUSEUM AND ITS ART COLLECTION. THE SPEED ART MUSEUM UTILIZES SECURITY PERSONNEL AND TECHNOLOGY TO SECURE THE COLLECTION AS WELL AS THE MUSEUM STAFF AND VISITORS. STATE-OF-THE-ART TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY CONTROL SYSTEMS PROTECT THE COLLECTION FROM ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1935.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.