Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Bryan Educational Institute

EIN 76-0470234 · Galveston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak23 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE BRYAN MUSEUM IS TO BRING THE HISTORY OF TEXAS AND THE AMERICAN WEST TO LIFE. THROUGH ITS WORLD-CLASS COLLECTIONS, EXHIBITIONS, AND EDUCATIONAL HISTORY AND LITERACY PROGRAMS, STUDENTS OF ALL AGES GET A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THE (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O ) STORIES OF YESTERDAY AND WRITE THE STORIES OF TOMORROW.

Income
$390,218
Spending
$406,000
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
-248 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
36
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$136,130, executive 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

Weak: 23 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 119% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 94% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $276,364 spent. THE BRYAN MUSEUM HOUSES ITS ONE-OF-A-KIND COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 70,000 ARTIFACTS, ART, MAPS, BOOKS, AND ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS IN THE HISTORIC FORMER GALVESTON ORPHANS HOME. HISTORY AND LITERACY FOCUSED INITIATIVES INCLUDE FREE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, ADULT LECTURES, EXHIBITIONS, SUMMER CAMPS FOR KIDS, SPECIAL TOURS, AND SCHOOL TOURS FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS THAT COMPLEMENT FOURTH AND SEVENTH GRADE TEXAS HISTORY CURRICULUMS. THE MUSEUM'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WELCOMED ALMOST 6,000 STUDENTS. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION TRAVELS MULTIPLE EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS TO SCHOOL AND MUSEUM PARTNERS, HOSTS ANNUAL TEXAS HISTORY-BASED LITERACY AND PUBLISHING COMPETITIONS, SUPPLIES A CURRICULUM AND ONLINE RESOURCES TO EDUCATORS, PROVIDES HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES, AND IS OFFICIALLY HOME (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) TO THE LARGEST PUBLISHED BOOK IN THE WORLD BY KIDS CALLED I AM TEXAS, BREAKING A GUINNESS WORLD.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 September 2023.

    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.