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Louisiana Museum Foundation

EIN 72-0954712 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY, GRANTS, PROGRAMMING, AND MARKETING SUPPORT FOR THE CHRONICALLY UNDERFUNDED STATE-OWNED AND OPERATED LOUISIANA STATE MUSEUM (LSM) SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE CABILDO, PRESBYTERE, NEW ORLEANS JAZZ MUSEUM AT THE OLD U.S. MINT, SIX OTHER MUSEUM PROPERTIES, AND SIX MAJOR COLLECTIONS OF NEARLY 500,000 ARTIFACTS, PRIMARILY FOR THE SYSTEM'S THREE CORE SERVICE AREAS: EXHIBITIONS, COLLECTIONS, AND EDUCATION / PUBLIC OUTREACH. IN PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS OF THE LSM SYSTEM, THE LMF SEEKS, ACCEPTS, AND PROVIDES MANAGMENT, FINANCIAL, GRANTS, CONTRACTS, AND OTHER PROGRAM SUPPORT SERVICES. LMF ALSO PROVIDES EXHIBITION CONCEPTS AND GUEST CURATORS AND PRODUCES EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAMMING IN CONNECTION WITH THE MUSUEMS AND COLLECTIONS.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
9.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
3
Highest pay
$108,150, executive dir.

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: 63 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 46% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    36 of 36 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 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. $1.5 million spent. EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC OUTREACH SUPPORT: FUNDING AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE LMF HELPED MAKE POSSIBLE THE FOLLOWING EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAMING: FOR THE CABILDO: THE LMF CONTINUES A CREATIVE AGING SERIES FEATURING SENIOR ADULT BEADING AND DRUMMING WORKSHOPS. FOR THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ MUSEUM AT THE OLD U.S. MINT: (1) THROUGH GRANTS AND COMMUNITY DONATIONS, THE LMF SUPPORTED ALMOST ALL OF THE MUSEUM'S MUSICAL AND PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING THE MUSEUM'S BALCONY AND COURTYARD CONCERTS, ANNUAL JAZZ IMPROVISATIONS, GALA, AND NOLA RIVERFEST. (2) THE LMF HELPED ADMINISTER FUNDING SUPPORT FOR THE JAZZ INTERNATIONAL FUND, WHICH FUNDED THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ MUSEUM'S MISSION TO PARIS AS PART OF THEIR JAZZ INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE PROMOTING NEW ORLEANS CULTURE INTERNATIONALLY THROUGH A BROAD RANGE OF GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS AND CULTURAL EXCHANGES. (3) THE LMF HELPED ADMINISTER FUNDING SUPPORT FOR THE MEXICAN CONSULATE PROGRAM, WHICH FUNDED THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ MUSEUM PROGRAM CELEBRATION AND DISCOVERY OF THE HISTORY OF THE MEXICAN CONSULATE AND ITS PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF NEW ORLEANS.
  2. $846,307 spent. EXHIBITIONS SUPPORT: FUNDING AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE LMF HELPED MAKE POSSIBLE THE FOLLOWING MAJOR EXHIBITIONS: AT THE CABILDO (JACKSON SQUARE, NEW ORLEANS): (1) RODRIGUE: BEFORE THE BLUE DOG : THIS EXHIBITION EXPLORED THE EARLY CAREER AND ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF LOUISIANA ARTIST George Rodrigue PRIOR TO THE INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS OF HIS ICONIC BLUE DOG SERIES. PRESENTED AT THE CABILDO, THE EXHIBITION FEATURED MORE THAN FIFTY PAINTINGS ALONGSIDE LOUISIANA STATE MUSEUM ARTIFACTS RELATED TO CAJUN CULTURE, EXAMINING RODRIGUES DEPICTIONS OF LOUISIANA LANDSCAPES, COMMUNITIES, MUSIC, FOODWAYS, AND THE CAJUN REVIVAL MOVEMENT. THE EXHIBITION WAS PRESENTED WITH SUPPORT FROM THE Louisiana Museum Foundation AND WAS ON VIEW FROM NOVEMBER 23, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 28, 2025. (2) LAFAYETTE EXHIBITION : THE Louisiana Museum Foundation SUPPORTED AN EXHIBITION FOCUSED ON THE HISTORY AND CULTURAL IMPACT OF LAFAYETTE AND SOUTH LOUISIANA, EXPLORING THE REGIONS ARTISTIC, MUSICAL, AND COMMUNITY TRADITIONS THROUGH OBJECTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND INTERPRETIVE MATERIALS.
  3. $57,199 spent. COLLECTIONS SUPPORT: FUNDING AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE LMF HELPED MAKE POSSIBLE THE FOLLOWING COLLECTIONS PROJECTS: FOR GENERAL COLLECTIONS: THE LMF CONTINUES TO FACILITATE THE LOUISIANA STATE MUSEUM DE-ACCESSIONING PROJECT.

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

  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 June 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 February 1983.

    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.