Memphis Museums Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 45% 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
THE PINK PALACE FAMILY OF MUSEUMS INSPIRES PEOPLE TO LEARN HOW HISTORY, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND NATURE SHAPE THE MID-SOUTH. THROUGH RICH COLLECTIONS, THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXHIBITIONS, AND ENGAGING PROGRAMS, WE ENCOURAGE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY TO REFLECT (CONTINUED) (CONTINUED) ON THE PAST, UNDERSTAND THE PRESENT, AND INFLUENCE THE FUTURE.
- Income
- $5.2 million
- Spending
- $5.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 45%
- Reserves
- 7.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 95
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $209,635, executive director till 12/12/25
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1545% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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 June 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)
- $1.3 million spent. MEMPHIS MUSEUM EDUCATION PROGRAMS -- GIANT SCREEN THEATER FEATURING HISTORY, NATURAL HISTORY, AND SCIENCE FILMS; LICHTERMAN NATURE CENTER FEATURING INDOOR EXHIBITS AND OUTDOOR HABITATS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS; PINK PALACE EDUCATION SCHOOL AND GENERAL AUDIENCE PROGRAMS; COON CREEK SCIENCE CENTER FOR SCHOOL GROUPS EVACAVATING 73 MILLION Y.O. FOSSILS INCLUDING UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND TEACHER TRAINING IN PARTERSHIP WITH UNIV TN-MARTIN; SHARPE PLANETARIUM FEATURING EDUCATIONAL ASTROMONY-RELATED SHOW FOR THE PUBLIC AND SCHOOL GROUPS; AND HISTORIC PROPERTIES --EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND GUIDED TOURS OF THE 1836 MAGEVNEY HOUSE AND THE 1852 MALLORY-NEELY HOUSE. PROGRAMS INCLUDE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROJECTS; GUIDED TOURS INTERPRETING THE HOMES, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THEM, THE FURNISHINGS, CLOTHING, (CONTINUED) (CONTINUED) FOOD, AND SOCIAL HISTORY AS EXPERIENCED THROUGH THE RESIDENTS OF THE HOUSES. 332,905 PERSONS BENEFITTED.
- $1.2 million spent. PINK PALACE EXHIBITIONS -- PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS ABOUT THE CULTURAL HISTORY AND NATURAL HISTORY OF THE MID-SOUTH. TEMPORARY/TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS ABOUT SCIENCE, HISTORY, AND NATURAL HISTORY. 149,191 PERSONS BENEFITTED.
- $60,060 spent. CURATORIAL SERVICES -- CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF OVER 60,000 ARTIFACTS AND OBJECTS IN SUPPORT OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITIONS. 482,096 PERSONS BENEFITTED.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 October 13, 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 June 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 January 1969.
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 October 21, 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.