Houston Maritime Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HOUSTON MARITIME MUSEUM'S MISSION IS: TO NAVIGATE HOUSTON'S ORIGIN AND MARITIME CONNECTION TO THE WORLD THROUGH EXHIBIT, EDUCATION AND AND EXPERIENCE.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $666,358
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- -30.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $83,877, exec dir (thru 7/2024)
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: 47 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 77% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 165% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $521,892 spent. HOUSTON MARITIME MUSEUM, DBA AS HOUSTON MARITIME CENTER, WAS FOUNDED BY JAMES "JIM" L. MANZOLILLO WHOSE INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES AND EXTENSIVE PERSONAL COLLECTION OF MARITIME ARTIFACTS AND SHIP MODELS SET ANCHOR TO HIS DREAM. AS A WORLD WAR II MERCHANT MARINE VETERAN, NAVAL ARCHITECT, MECHANICAL ENGINEER, SHIP BUILDER, AND LECTURER FOR CUNARD CRUISE LINES, JIM'S VISION WAS REALIZED WHEN THE HOUSTON MARITIME MUSEUM OPENED IN MAY 2000. OVER TWO DECADES THE COLLECTION HAS GROWN EXTENSIVELY TO COVER THE WORLD OF MARITIME HISTORY AND CULTURE FROM THE EARLY PHOENICIANS TO WORLD WAR II TO THE MODERN ENERGY INDUSTRY. MUSEUM HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A LARGE AERIAL MAP AND INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT OF THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL DETAILING ITS MANY FACILITIES AND LANDMARKS, THE TEXAS NAVY THEATER WITH SEATING FOR 15 PERSONS, AN EXHIBIT ON THE HISTORY OF BUFFALO BAYOU AND COMMANDING MODELS OF SHIPS THAT TRAVERSE THE WORLD MOVING MILLIONS OF TONS OF GOODS IN AND OUT OF THE PORT OF HOUSTON ANNUALLY.
- THROUGHOUT THE YEAR HOUSTON MARITIME CENTER OFFERS A SERIES OF LECTURES ON THREE DISTINCT MARITIME-RELATED TOPICS: HISTORY, INDUSTRY AND ENVIRONMENTAL. SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, INDUSTRY VETERANS, AND FOR SOME PRESENTATIONS JOINT PANELISTS DELVE INTO THESE MATTERS EXPLORING LOCAL, REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL AREAS OF INTEREST. STARTED IN 2004, OUR HISTORY LECTURE SERIES IS THE MUSEUM'S LONGEST-RUNNING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. PAST LECTURE TOPICS INCLUDE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE EXXON VALDEZ, THE HISTORY OF BROWN SHIPBUILDING, OFFSHORE WIND, THE JONES ACT, SEA MONSTERS ON RENAISSANCE MAPS, OYSTER CONSERVATION, AND TEXAS SHIPWRECKS AMONG MANY OTHERS. FOR 2024, LECTURE TOPICS INCLUDED UNDERWATER PIPELINE SAFETY, HURRICANE PREDICTIONS AND PREPAREDNESS, NUCLEAR POWER IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY, AND THE HISTORY OF THE BATTLESHIP USS TEXAS. A SPECIAL PRESENTATION, "FINDING THE VIRGO," AT THE HOBBY CENTER, FEATURED THE STORY OF LAUREN VUONG AND HER FAMILY'S RESCUE BY A LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS TANKER SHIP AS THEY FLED VIETNAM.
- HOUSTON MARITIME CENTER HOSTS SEVERAL MAJOR ANNUAL EVENTS THAT CONNECT INDUSTRY AND THE COMMUNITY. EACH EVENT RANGES IN SIZE FROM 40 TO 250+ ATTENDEES/PARTICIPANTS INCLUDING MONTHLY FAMILY DAYS, PRESENTATIONS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, NETWORKING, AND MUSEUM TOURS. EACH YEAR WE SERVE TO CREATE AWARENESS, ENGAGE, AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW SIGNIFICANT THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL AND MARITIME INDUSTRY ARE TO HOUSTON'S EVOLUTION AND HOW BOTH HAVE FOSTERED GROWTH, OPPORTUNITY, AND PROSPERITY FOR THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS AND BEYOND.
- HOUSTON MARITIME CENTER & MUSEUM CONDUCTS GUIDED TOURS FOR STUDENT GROUPS RANGING IN AGE FROM PRIMARY SCHOOL THROUGH UNIVERSITY FROM HOUSTON AND ALL ITS SURROUNDING METRO AREAS. THESE STUDENTS COME FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND INCLUDE A LARGE CONSTITUENCY OF HOME SCHOOL GROUPS THROUGHOUT TEXAS. BOTH GUIDED TOURS AND GENERAL ADMISSIONS FROM THE PUBLIC AT LARGE ENGAGE HMCM VISITORS OF ALL AGES FROM SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, MARITIME PROFESSIONALS AND RETIREES, ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VETERANS, TO TOURISTS AND THOSE PASSIONATE ABOUT ALL THINGS MARITIME FROM AROUND THE WORLD. MANY TOURS INCLUDE STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS) /STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS AND MATHEMATICS) PRINCIPLES. SPECIAL TOURS ARE ALSO OFFERED FOR A MYRIAD OF TOPICS INCLUDING THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL AND HOUSTON'S PLACE IN THE GLOBAL MARITIME WORLD, THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN MARITIME DEVELOPMENT, MARITIME NAVIGATION, NATHANIEL BOWDITCH, CAREERS IN THE MARITIME SECTOR, AND LIFE ABOARD SHIPS. HMCM ALSO HOSTS FREE MONTHLY FAMILY DAY EVENTS ENGAGING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND FAMILIES IN MARITIME-THEMED CRAFTS, EXPERIENCES, AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. GUIDED TOURS, OFFERED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, ARE EXPERTLY LED BY OUR DOCENT TEAM WHO WORK/WORKED AS NAVAL ARCHITECTS, SHIP CAPTAINS, ENGINEERS, AND MERCHANT MARINES; MANY HAVE ALSO SERVED IN THE U.S. MILITARY. THESE RICH EXPERIENCES OFFER ALL VISITORS THE ABILITY TO LEARN NOT ONLY ABOUT HISTORY, MIGRATION, SHIPS, NAVIGATION, COMMUNICATION, AND MORE, BUT TO HEAR FROM FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCES AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THE MARITIME INDUSTRY AND ITS IMPACT. HMCM ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, VOLUNTEER AND MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, MONTHLY NETWORKING EVENTS, AND INVITATIONS TO SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS.
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
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 October 13, 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 December 2024.
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 2000.
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 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.