Museum of Fine Arts Houston
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON SERVES AS A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE PLACE FOR ALL PEOPLE, CONNECTING THE COMMUNITIES OF HOUSTON WITH DIVERSE HISTORIES OF ART SPANNING 6,000 YEARS AND SIX CONTINENTS. THROUGH OUR PERMANENT COLLECTIONS, SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS, LEARNING AND INTERPRETATION PROGRAMS, PUBLICATIONS, CONSERVATION AND SCHOLARLY RESEARCH, WE STRIVE TO INSPIRE APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE BROADEST SPECTRUM OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT.
- Income
- $255.3 million
- Spending
- $138.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 15.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 83%
- Employees
- 825
- Volunteers
- 942
- Highest pay
- $1.8 million, director
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2580 of 80 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
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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (4)
- $12.3 million spent. EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS: PROVIDES INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMMING, ACCESS TO 2 ON-SITE ART LIBRARIES, PROVIDES RESOURCES AND TRAINING TO ART TEACHERS, AND ENGAGES THE COMMUNITY THROUGH LECTURES, CONCERTS, TOURS AND FESTIVALS. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR FURTHER DETAIL. ESTABLISHED IN 1900 AS A MODEST EDUCATION INITIATIVE TO BRING ART TO HOUSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON (MFAH) REMAINS STEADFAST IN ITS MISSION TO SERVE AS A PLACE FOR ALL PEOPLE THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN THE COLLECTION, EXHIBITION, PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION, AND INTERPRETATION OF ART. TO THAT END, MFAH PUBLIC PROGRAMMING ACTIVELY SEEKS TO CONNECT THE INSTITUTION WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH EXHIBITIONS AND ACTIVITIES HELD ACROSS HOUSTON. EACH YEAR, VISITORS ENGAGE WITH THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION OF NEARLY 80,000 MASTERPIECES FROM AROUND THE WORLD, AND WITH THE ARTISTS AND OBJECTS FEATURED IN SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND PROGRAMS. BY PROVIDING A BROAD RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL AND ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES, THE MUSEUM SEEKS TO CAPTURE THE VIBRANT PATCHWORK OF HOUSTON'S UNIQUE CULTURE AND TO RESPOND TO THE INTERESTS AND NEEDS OF A DIVERSE POPULATION. THUS, THE VISION OF INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY ON WHICH THE MFAH WAS FOUNDED ENDURES ON THROUGH ITS INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS, WHICH ENGAGE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN THE ARTS AND IN CELEBRATION OF THE DIVERSE FORMS OF CREATIVITY THAT INTRIGUE, INSPIRE, AND EXCITE US ALL.
- $83.0 million spent. ACCESSIONS, CURATORIAL AND EXHIBIT PROGRAMS: INCLUDES ACQUISITION OF WORKS OF ART, RESEARCH INTO AND CARE OF THE ART COLLECTION, AND COORDINATION AND PRODUCTION OF ART EXHIBITIONS. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR FURTHER DETAIL. THE MFAH IS THE LARGEST CULTURAL INSTITUTION SOUTH OF CHICAGO, WEST OF WASHINGTON, D.C., AND EAST OF LOS ANGELES, WITH A TOTAL OF 370,000 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE DEDICATED TO THE DISPLAY OF ART. THE MAJORITY OF THE MUSEUM'S PRESENTATIONS TAKE PLACE ON ITS MAIN 14-ACRE WALKABLE SUSAN AND FAYEZ S. SAROFIM CAMPUS, COMPRISING THE CAROLINE WIESS LAW BUILDING, THE AUDREY JONES BECK BUILDING, THE NANCY AND RICH KINDER BUILDING FOR MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART, THE GLASSELL SCHOOL OF ART, AND THE LILLIE AND HUGH ROY CULLEN SCULPTURE GARDEN. WITHIN THESE BUILDINGS, EXHIBITION GALLERIES RESIDE ALONGSIDE THE OLDEST REPERTORY CINEMA IN HOUSTON AND ONE OF THE LARGEST ART LIBRARIES IN THE SOUTHWEST. THE SARAH CAMPBELL BLAFFER FOUNDATION CENTER FOR CONSERVATION HOUSES A STATE OF THE ART CONSERVATION FACILITY. NEARBY ARE TWO REMARKABLE HOUSE MUSEUMS - BAYOU BEND, GIVEN TO THE MUSEUM BY TEXAS PHILANTHROPIST IMA HOGG, AND RIENZI, THE FORMER HOME OF ART PATRONS CARROLL AND HARRIS MASTERSON, III - PROVIDING EXQUISITE SETTINGS FOR VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE THE MUSEUM'S RENOWNED AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN DECORATIVE ARTS COLLECTIONS IN CONTEXT. OVER THE YEARS, THE MFAH HAS BEEN PRIVILEGED TO ACQUIRE OUTSTANDING WORKS OF ART REPRESENTING A WIDE VARIETY OF GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS AND HISTORIC PERIODS. PARTICULAR STRENGTHS LIE IN PRE-COLUMBIAN ART, RENAISSANCE AND BAROQUE PAINTING AND SCULPTURE, 19TH AND 20TH CENTURY ART, AFRICAN-AMERICAN ART, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND LATIN AMERICAN ART. BAYOU BEND HOUSES ONE OF THE FINEST ASSEMBLAGES OF EARLY AMERICAN FURNITURE, SILVER, CERAMICS, AND PAINTINGS OUTSIDE OF NEW ENGLAND; RIENZI SHOWCASES ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COLLECTIONS OF ENGLISH PORCELAIN OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. CHIEF AMONG THE MUSEUM'S CURRENT ACQUISITION, EXHIBITION, AND SCHOLARSHIP PRIORITIES ARE THE ARTS OF THE AMERICAS, THE ISLAMIC WORLD, AND ASIA. THE MFAH ESTABLISHED THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR THE ARTS OF THE AMERICAS, A RESEARCH INSTITUTION DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE WIDESPREAD LAG IN SCHOLARSHIP AND COLLECTION OF LATIN AMERICAN AND LATINO ART. THE MUSEUM HAS ESTABLISHED A DEPARTMENT OF ISLAMIC ART, WHICH IS DEVOTED TO BUILDING A RENOWNED PERMANENT COLLECTION, ORGANIZING INNOVATIVE EXHIBITIONS OF ISLAMIC ART, AND HOSTING STIMULATING EDUCATIONAL AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE MUSEUM IS ALSO DEEPENING ITS COMMITMENT TO ASIAN ART, ACTIVELY SEEKING TO INCREASE ITS RELEVANT HOLDINGS AND PROMOTE CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING. BAYOU BEND COLLECTION AND GARDENS, THE MFAH HOUSE MUSEUM FOR AMERICAN DECORATIVE ARTS, INCLUDES THE LORA JEAN KILROY VISITOR AND EDUCATION CENTER. THE VISITOR CENTER FEATURES AN ORIENTATION GALLERY, A LIBRARY, TWO MEETING ROOMS, PUBLIC TERRACES, AND AMPLE PARKING. DESIGNED BY HOUSTON ARCHITECT LESLIE K. ELKINS, THE BUILDING ACHIEVED A LEED SILVER CERTIFICATION FOR ITS ENVIRONMENTAL EFFICIENCIES. THE NEW AND EXPANDED GLASSELL SCHOOL OF ART IS HOUSED IN A 93,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD. THE MFAH'S WORLD-RENOWNED CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT RESIDES IN THE SARAH CAMPBELL BLAFFER FOUNDATION CENTER FOR CONSERVATION. SITUATED ABOVE THE WEST SIDE OF THE MUSEUM'S VISITOR'S CENTER AND FANNIN PARKING GARAGE, THE STATE OF THE ART FACILITY UNITES THE MUSEUM'S CONSERVATION TEAM UNDER ONE ROOF AND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE MUSEUM. THE NANCY AND RICH KINDER BUILDING, DEVOTED TO THE MUSEUM'S INTERNATIONAL COLLECTIONS OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART, WAS DESIGNED BY STEVEN HOLL ARCHITECTS AS THE THIRD MFAH GALLERY BUILDING ON THE MUSEUM'S SUSAN AND FAYEZ S. SAROFIM CAMPUS. THE BUILDING IS DEDICATED TO PRESENTING WORKS FROM THE MUSEUM'S INTERNATIONAL COLLECTIONS OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART, AND INCLUDES WORKS DRAWN FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF LATIN AMERICAN AND LATINO ART; PHOTOGRAPHY; PRINTS AND DRAWINGS; DECORATIVE ARTS, CRAFT AND DESIGN; AND MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART.
- $6.6 million spent. GLASSELL SCHOOL OF ART: PROVIDES HANDS-ON ART EDUCATION TO PRE-SCHOOL THROUGH ADULT STUDENTS. APPROXIMATELY 7,800 STUDENTS TOOK CLASSES THIS YEAR. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR FURTHER DETAIL. OFFERING ART EDUCATION, STUDIO INSTRUCTION, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, THE MFAH IS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING RESEARCH AND CULTIVATING INNOVATION WITHIN THE ARTS AND RELATED DISCIPLINES.
- $2.0 million spent. MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES
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 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 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 July 1956.
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.