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New Orleans Museum of Art

EIN 72-6000331 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART IS TO INSPIRE THE LOVE OF ART; TO COLLECT, PRESERVE, EXHIBIT AND PRESENT EXCELLENCE IN THE VISUAL ARTS; TO EDUCATE, CHALLENGE AND ENGAGE A DIVERSE PUBLIC.

Income
$10.0 million
Spending
$13.1 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
19.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
102
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$552,845, the montine mcdaniel freeman director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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

    42 of 42 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 December 31, 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. $5.1 million spent. COLLECTION DEPARTMENT SERVICES & ACQUISITIONS:THE HEART OF NOMA IS ITS FINE ART COLLECTION. THE MUSEUM EMPLOYS A PROFESSIONAL CURATORIAL STAFF WHOSE FUNCTION IS TO CARE FOR ITS COLLECTIONS; CARRY OUT RESEARCH ON THE OBJECTS IN THE COLLECTION; ORGANIZE SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS ON PARTICULAR SUBJECTS OR THEMES TO PRESENT NUMEROUS AND DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISITORS TO ENGAGE WITH WORKS OF ART; WRITE SCHOLARLY INTERPRETATIVE ARTICLES, CATALOGUES AND BOOKS ON ART SUBJECTS; RECOMMEND AND OVERSEE NEEDED RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION TREATMENT ON OBJECTS IN THE COLLECTION; CULTIVATE AND ADVISE PRIVATE ART COLLECTORS AND ENCOURAGE DONATIONS; SEEK OUT AND RECOMMEND OBJECTS FOR ACQUISITION OR DEACCESSION BY THE MUSEUM.THE MUSEUM HAS DEVELOPED AN ACCESSION POLICY FOR ACQUIRING WORKS OF ART EITHER THROUGH PURCHASE OR BY GIFT WITH A GOAL OF CONTINUING TO AUGMENT ITS HOLDINGS IN THE AREAS OF ITS STRENGTHS RATHER THAN INAUGURATING NEW AREAS.THE MUSEUM HAS FOCUSED ITS COLLECTING ACTIVITIES IN SEVERAL SPECIALIZED AREAS; BY FOCUSING ON CONTINUING TO UPGRADE IN THESE SELECTED AREAS, THE MUSEUM HAS BEEN ABLE TO ASSEMBLE AN IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF BOTH QUALITY AND DEPTH.WHILE ART PURCHASES ARE ESSENTIALLY LIMITED TO THE DESIGNATED AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION, THE BOARD AND STAFF ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO CONSIDER NEW AREAS OF COLLECTING AS OPPORTUNITIES ARISE, PARTICULARLY THROUGH DONATIONS. THE OVERRIDING CRITERION FOR PURCHASE OR ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS IS THE QUALITY OF INDIVIDUAL WORKS OF ART.THE EIGHT AREAS OF COLLECTION SPECIALIZATION ARE: EUROPEAN ART FROM THE 16TH THROUGH 21ST CENTURIES (PARTICULARLY THE WORKS OF THE FRENCH SCHOOL); THE ARTS OF THE AMERICAS (PRE-COLUMBIAN, LATIN AMERICAN, AND AMERICAN PAINTING AND SCULPTURE); AFRICAN AND OCEANIC ART; ASIAN ART (PARTICULARLY CHINESE AND JAPANESE OF THE EDO PERIOD 1615-1867); PHOTOGRAPHY; DECORATIVE ARTS; GRAPHICS AND SCULPTURE.THE DIRECTOR OF THE MUSEUM, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CURATORIAL STAFF, RECOMMENDS ALL PURCHASES AND GIFTS TO THE ACCESSIONS COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THEIR APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL. THE FULL BOARD THEN APPROVES THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ACCESSIONS COMMITTEE.
  2. $1.1 million spent. EXHIBITION SERVICES:THE MUSEUM'S EXHIBITION PROGRAM IS TWO-FOLD: INSTALLATION OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTION AND PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS. SELECTIONS FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION ARE INSTALLED BY THE CURATORIAL STAFF IN THE GALLERIES IN AN ARRANGEMENT WHICH WILL PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISITORS TO ENGAGE WITH THE WORKS OF ART. A MEANINGFUL PROGRESSION OF PERIODS AND CULTURES WILL AID THE MUSEUM VISITOR IN HIS/HER APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE ARTWORKS. WHEN AVAILABLE, WORKS ON LOAN FROM OTHER SOURCES CAN EFFECTIVELY AUGMENT THE INSTALLATIONS AND FILL IN GAPS IN THE COLLECTION.TO COMPLEMENT THE PERMANENT COLLECTION INSTALLATIONS, THE CURATORIAL STAFF DESIGNS A PROGRAM OF SPECIAL TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS OF VARIOUS SIZES PRESENTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THESE EXHIBITIONS ORIGINATED BY THE STAFF OR BROUGHT IN FROM OTHER NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL SOURCES OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF SUBJECTS, THEMES, STYLISTIC MODES, CULTURES, AND ARTISTS.
  3. $981,709 spent. EDUCATION AND LEARNING DIVISION:THE MUSEUM'S LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT (L&E) OVERSEES BOTH ONSITE AND OFFSITE INFORMAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS AIMED AT PROMOTING LIFELONG LEARNING, WITH A FOCUS ON INITIATIVES LIKE MINI MASTERS, WHICH INCLUDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS AND CURRICULUM-BASED INITIATIVES FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS, AND ART THRIVES, DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUALS AGED 65 AND ABOVE. TRAINED VOLUNTEER DOCENTS ASSIST NOMA STAFF IN CONDUCTING GUIDED GROUP AND SCHOOL TOURS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AS WELL AS TOURS OF THE MUSEUM AND THE BESTHOFF SCULPTURE GARDEN. THEY ALSO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, WHICH ENCOMPASS LECTURES, SYMPOSIUMS, FILMS, CONCERTS, AND THEMED COMMUNITY FESTIVALS.THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PROVIDED SERVICES FOR APPROXIMATELY 6,050 PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 2024.

    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 January 1963.

    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.