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Museum of the Great Plains Authority

EIN 73-1542696 · Lawton, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MUSEUM OF THE GREAT PLAINS COLLECTS, PRESERVES, INTERPRETS, AND EXHIBITS HISTORICAL MATERIAL RELEVANT TO THE GREAT PLAINS OF NORTH AMERICA, FOSTERING RESEARCH INTO THE REGION IN ORDER TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF ITS HISTORY AND TO MAKE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO SCHOLARS AND THE PUBLIC.

Income
$988,973
Spending
$927,317
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
5.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 58%
Employees
26
Volunteers
27
Highest pay
$65,000, executive di

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 (1)
  1. $810,020 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ALLOW THE MUSEUM TO TARGET SPECIFIC AUDIENCES, ENGAGING THEM THROUGH A VARIETY OF TEACHING METHODS. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IS INNOVATIVE IN PRESENTATION, EXPERIENTIAL IN NATURE AND ACCOMODATING TO DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES AND ABILITIES. THESE OBJECTIVES ARE ACCOMPLISHED IN A VARIETY OF STIMULATING FORMATS FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS. THE MUSEUM ENHANCES ITS PROGRAMS WITH THE KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WHERE VISITORS AND RESEARCHERS LEARN AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE. THESE EXPERIENCES INCLUDE LIVING HISTORY COLLECTIONS, INTERDISCIPLINARY HANDS-ON EXHIBITIONS, SPEAKER FORUMS, AND OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES TO LAWTON AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. EXHIBITIONS: A SOLID INTERPRETIVE PLAN FOR EXHIBIT DEVELOPMENT GUIDES THE MUSEUM TO UTILIZE ITS COLLECTIONS MORE EFFECTIVELY, PRODUCING A UNIFIED AND POWERFUL THEMATIC STORY OF THE GREAT PLAINS WHICH IDENTIFIES EVENTS THAT REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF ITS LAND AND PEOPLE. MGP'S INTERPRETIVE PLAN GOVERNS THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENGAGING EXHIBITS THAT WILL APPEAL TO ALL AUDIENCES. THE MUSEUM EMPHASIZES THE ETHNIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF THE SURROUNDING REGION. THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION POLICY AND MANAGEMENT REQUIRES ONGOING EVALUATION OF THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION, ITS CONDITION, SECURITY AND APPROPRIATENESS TO ITS MISSION. A DETERMINATION OF THE CONDITION OR RELEVANCE TO THE MUSEUM'S PRIMARY MISSION IS MADE IN THE COLLECTING AND THE ONGOING EVALUATION OF THE COLLECTION. THE MUSEUM IS ALSO RECEPTIVE TO ADDING NEW COLLECTIONS MATERIALS. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO FUTURE STORAGE CAPACITY AND THE NEED FOR DE-ACCESSIONING AND/OR STORAGE EXPANSION. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ALLOW THE MUSEUM TO TARGET SPECIFIC AUDIENCES, ENGAGING THEM THROUGH A VARIETY OF TEACHING METHODS. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IS INNOVATIVE IN PRESENTATION, EXPERIENTIAL IN NATURE AND ACCOMODATING TO DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES AND ABILITIES. THESE OBJECTIVES ARE ACCOMPLISHED IN A VARIETY OF STIMULATING FORMATS FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS. THE MUSEUM ENHANCES ITS PROGRAMS WITH THE KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WHERE VISITORS AND RESEARCHERS LEARN AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE. THESE EXPERIENCES INCLUDE LIVING HISTORY COLLECTIONS, INTERDISCIPLINARY HANDS-ON EXHIBITIONS, SPEAKER FORUMS, AND OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES TO LAWTON AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. EXHIBITIONS: A SOLID INTERPRETIVE PLAN FOR EXHIBIT DEVELOPMENT GUIDES THE MUSEUM TO UTILIZE ITS COLLECTIONS MORE EFFECTIVELY, PRODUCING A UNIFIED AND POWERFUL THEMATIC STORY OF THE GREAT PLAINS WHICH IDENTIFIES EVENTS THAT REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF ITS LAND AND PEOPLE. MGP'S INTERPRETIVE PLAN GOVERNS THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENGAGING EXHIBITS THAT WILL APPEAL TO ALL AUDIENCES. THE MUSEUM EMPHASIZES THE ETHNIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF THE SURROUNDING REGION. THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION POLICY AND MANAGEMENT REQUIRES ONGOING EVALUATION OF THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION, ITS CONDITION, SECURITY AND APPROPRIATENESS TO ITS MISSION. A DETERMINATION OF THE CONDITION OR RELEVANCE TO THE MUSEUM'S PRIMARY MISSION IS MADE IN THE COLLECTING AND THE ONGOING EVALUATION OF THE COLLECTION. THE MUSEUM IS ALSO RECEPTIVE TO ADDING NEW COLLECTIONS MATERIALS. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO FUTURE STORAGE CAPACITY AND THE NEED FOR DE-ACCESSIONING AND/OR STORAGE EXPANSION.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.