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Palo Alto Museum

EIN 77-0634933 · Palo Alto, CA

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 37% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

THE PALO ALTO MUSEUM WILL BRING TO LIFE A HISTORIC LANDMARK AS A VIBRANT PLACE TO DISCOVER, CONNECT, AND CREATE. SHAPED BY, WITH, AND FOR THE COMMUNITY, THE MUSEUM WILL CELEBRATE OUR PAST, STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY, AND INSPIRE A BRIGHTER FUTURE. THROUGH DYNAMIC EXHIBITS, EVENTS, AND EXPERIENCES FOR ALL AGES, WE WILL HELP TURN IDEAS INTO IMPACTFOR PALO ALTO AND THE WORLD.

Income
$5.9 million
Spending
$466,442
Spent on programs
37%
Reserves
64.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 91%
Employees
1
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$150,075, chief operations officer

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 64.8 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 92% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    37% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 (4)
  1. $90,484 spent. MUSEUM BUILDING RENOVATION AND PROGRAMMATIC INFRASTRUCTURE :DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE PALO ALTO MUSEUM'S PRIMARY PROGRAM ACTIVITY WAS COMPLETION OF A MULTI-YEAR RENOVATION TO PREPARE THE FACILITY FOR OPERATION AS A PUBLIC MUSEUM. PROGRAMMATIC IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDED INSTALLATION AND COORDINATION OF MUSEUM-APPROPRIATE LIGHTING, HVAC, ELECTRICAL, DATA, AND SECURITY SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT FUTURE EXHIBITIONS, COLLECTIONS CARE, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND PUBLIC USE. THESE ACTIVITIES SUPPORT THE MUSEUM'S ABILITY TO OPERATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROFESSIONAL MUSEUM STANDARDS.
  2. $56,614 spent. COLLECTIONS DEVELOPMENT AND DIGITAL CATALOGING:DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE PALO ALTO MUSEUM INITIATED FOUNDATIONAL COLLECTIONS WORK FOCUSED ON ORGANIZATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF MATERIALS RELATED TO PALO ALTO HISTORY. THE MUSEUM BEGAN CATALOGING ITS COLLECTION IN A DIGITAL COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP AND FUTURE ACCESS FOR EXHIBITIONS, RESEARCH, AND EDUCATIONAL USE.
  3. $20,712 spent. EXHIBITION AND EDUCATION PLANNING AND PUBLIC OUTREACH:DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE PALO ALTO MUSEUM ENGAGED IN PRELIMINARY EXPLORATION RELATED TO FUTURE EXHIBITIONS, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT. IN MAY 2025, THE MUSEUM CONDUCTED PUBLIC OUTREACH THROUGH ITS FIRST PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE IN THE RECENTLY RENOVATED BUILDING TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH THE COMMUNITY AND INFORM FUTURE PROGRAMMING.
  4. $5,795 spent. SPACE RENTALS:DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE PALO ALTO MUSEUM ENGAGED IN PRELIMINARY EXPLORATION RELATED TO A PROGRAM FOR RENTING OUT SPACE AT THE MUSEUM TO COMMUNITY GROUPS.

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 February 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.

    California's Attorney General lists its registration as delinquent as of June 30, 2006. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.

    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.