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Museum of Idaho Inc

EIN 82-0363177 · Idaho Falls, ID

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceWeak42 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MUSEUM OF IDAHO SEEKS TO INSPIRE WONDER AND DISCOVERY ABOUT IDAHO AND OUR WORLD THROUGH SCIENCE AND THE HUMANITIES. MOI IS FULLY DEPENDENT ON DONATIONS, GRANTS TICKET SALES, AND STORE REVENUE TO FUND THIS MISSION, KEY TO WHICH IS ENSURING ITS EDUCATION OFFERINGS ARE AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND POPULATIONS IN EAST IDAHO AND BEYOND.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 37%
Employees
24

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

Fair: 58 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Weak: 42 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 (4)
  1. $452,249 spent. THE MUSEUM SERVED 80-100 THOUSAND VISITORS DURING THE YEAR THROUGH ITS EXHIBITIONS, INCLUDING ITS INTERACTIVE IDAHO EXHIBIT AND WORLD CLASS TRAVELING EXHIBITS, WHICH FREQUENTLY MAKE IDAHO FALLS THE NATIONS SMALLEST CITY TO OFFER SUCH EXPERIENCES, AND OPEN A WORLD FOR RESIDENTS OF THIS SOMETIMES ISOLATED REGION. MOI HAS UNDERTAKEN SIGNIFICANT MEASURES TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY INFORMAL EDUCATION OPPURTUNITIES AT LITTLE TO NO COST FOR RESIDENTS. GENERAL ADMISSION IS ALREADY LOW COMPARED TO THE MAJORITY OF MUSEUM THAT HOST MAJOR TRAVELING EXHIBITS AND ADMISSSION IS HIGHLY DISCOUNTED FURTHER FOR A NUMBER OF GROUPS. IDAHOANS RECEIVE 2 OFF ADMISSION, AND HOUSEHOLDS COVERED BY IDAHO'S SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISSTANCE PROGRAM RECEIVE ADMISSION ANYTIME FOR ONLY 1 PER PERSON. FURTHERMORE, MOI OFFERS FREE MEMBERSHIPS FOR STUDENTS AT A LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND HALF-PRICE MEMBERSHIPS FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. MOI OFFERS A DEEPLY DISCOUNTED ADMISSION RATE FOR SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS AND SUBSIDIZES BUSING FOR STUDENTS COMING FROM RURAL AND UNDERSERVED AREAS. THE MUSEUM SERVED 80-100 THOUSAND VISITORS DURING THE YEAR THROUGH ITS EXHIBITIONS, INCLUDING ITS INTERACTIVE IDAHO EXHIBIT AND WORLD CLASS TRAVELING EXHIBITS, WHICH FREQUENTLY MAKE IDAHO FALLS THE NATIONS SMALLEST CITY TO OFFER SUCH EXPERIENCES, AND OPEN A WORLD FOR RESIDENTS OF THIS SOMETIMES ISOLATED REGION. MOI HAS UNDERTAKEN SIGNIFICANT MEASURES TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY INFORMAL EDUCATION OPPURTUNITIES AT LITTLE TO NO COST FOR RESIDENTS. GENERAL ADMISSION IS ALREADY LOW COMPARED TO THE MAJORITY OF MUSEUM THAT HOST MAJOR TRAVELING EXHIBITS AND ADMISSSION IS HIGHLY DISCOUNTED FURTHER FOR A NUMBER OF GROUPS. IDAHOANS RECEIVE 2 OFF ADMISSION, AND HOUSEHOLDS COVERED BY IDAHO'S SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISSTANCE PROGRAM RECEIVE ADMISSION ANYTIME FOR ONLY 1 PER PERSON. FURTHERMORE, MOI OFFERS FREE MEMBERSHIPS FOR STUDENTS AT A LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND HALF-PRICE MEMBERSHIPS FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. MOI OFFERS A DEEPLY DISCOUNTED ADMISSION RATE FOR SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS AND SUBSIDIZES BUSING FOR STUDENTS COMING FROM RURAL AND UNDERSERVED AREAS.
  2. $184,088 spent. THE MUSEUM OFFERS A STEADY STREAM OF HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS LED BY DYNAMIC AND EXPERIENCED EDUCATORS, AND INCLUDING DATE NIGHTS, WALKING TOURS, LECTURES AND HANDS ON ACTIVITIES, TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PER YEAR. THE VAST MAJORITY OF MOI PROGRAMMING IS OFFERED AT NO OR LOW COST TO PARTICIPANTS. MONTHLY PROGRAMS LITTLE LEARNERS AND DISCOVERY DAY, AS WELL AS ANNUAL EVENTS SUCH AS STEM DAY AT THE MUSEUM ARE OFFERED AT NO COST. SCHOLARSHIPS ALLOW DOZENS OF STUDENTS FROM UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS TO ATTEND SUMMER DAY CAMPS AND NIGHTS AT THE MUSUEM, A SEMI-ANNUAL SLEEPOVER EVENT FOR GRADES 3-6, FOR ONLY 5-10 PER STUDENT. FOR ADULTS, THE TWICE MONTHLY MUSEUM CLUB LECTURE SERIES IS OFFERED AT 5 EACH FOR PUBLIC AND AT NO COST FOR MOI MEMBERS. THE MUSEUM ALSO OFFERS-SHARP DISCOUNTS TO ITS EDUCATOR SUMMER CAMPS FOR TEACHERS WHO WORK IN TITLE I SCHOOLS. MOI OFFERS SPECIAL SPANISH LANGUAGE DAYS WITH DISCOUNTED ADMISSION AND IS CURRENTLY TRANSLATINGITS EXHIBIT MATERIAL INTO SPANISH AND WORKING WITH LOCAL SPANISH LANGUAGE GROUPS TO DETERMINE THE PREFERRED METHOD OF DELIVERY. THE MUSEUM OF IDAHO WORKS WITH LOCAL FAMILIES AND AGENCES AND HAS DESIGNED NUMEROUS PROGRAMS TAILORED TO LEARNERS WITH DIFFERING PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL AND SENSORY NEEDS. THE MUSEUM ALSO ORGANIZES PUBLIC TOURS AND CONSERVATION OF A NEARBY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE AND IS DEVELOPING A CULTURAL TRAVEL PROGRAM. THE MUSEUM OFFERS A STEADY STREAM OF HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS LED BY DYNAMIC AND EXPERIENCED EDUCATORS, AND INCLUDING DATE NIGHTS, WALKING TOURS, LECTURES AND HANDS ON ACTIVITIES, TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PER YEAR. THE VAST MAJORITY OF MOI PROGRAMMING IS OFFERED AT NO OR LOW COST TO PARTICIPANTS. MONTHLY PROGRAMS LITTLE LEARNERS AND DISCOVERY DAY, AS WELL AS ANNUAL EVENTS SUCH AS STEM DAY AT THE MUSEUM ARE OFFERED AT NO COST. SCHOLARSHIPS ALLOW DOZENS OF STUDENTS FROM UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS TO ATTEND SUMMER DAY CAMPS AND NIGHTS AT THE MUSUEM, A SEMI-ANNUAL SLEEPOVER EVENT FOR GRADES 3-6, FOR ONLY 5-10 PER STUDENT. FOR ADULTS, THE TWICE MONTHLY MUSEUM CLUB LECTURE SERIES IS OFFERED AT 5 EACH FOR PUBLIC AND AT NO COST FOR MOI MEMBERS. THE MUSEUM ALSO OFFERS-SHARP DISCOUNTS TO ITS EDUCATOR SUMMER CAMPS FOR TEACHERS WHO WORK IN TITLE I SCHOOLS. MOI OFFERS SPECIAL SPANISH LANGUAGE DAYS WITH DISCOUNTED ADMISSION AND IS CURRENTLY TRANSLATINGITS EXHIBIT MATERIAL INTO SPANISH AND WORKING WITH LOCAL SPANISH LANGUAGE GROUPS TO DETERMINE THE PREFERRED METHOD OF DELIVERY. THE MUSEUM OF IDAHO WORKS WITH LOCAL FAMILIES AND AGENCES AND HAS DESIGNED NUMEROUS PROGRAMS TAILORED TO LEARNERS WITH DIFFERING PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL AND SENSORY NEEDS. THE MUSEUM ALSO ORGANIZES PUBLIC TOURS AND CONSERVATION OF A NEARBY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE AND IS DEVELOPING A CULTURAL TRAVEL PROGRAM.
  3. $8,988 spent. MUSEUM STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS CARE FOR MORE THAN 100,000 DOCUMENTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, OBJECTS AND SPECIMEN RELEVANT TO IDAHO'S HERITAGE, AND MAKE THOSE ITEMS AND STORIES AVAILABLE TO RESEARCHERS. THE MUSEUM ALSO CARES FOR A SIGNIFICANT NEARBY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE AND THE 80,000+ ARTIFACTS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF IT, AND FACILITIES ACADEMIC RESEARCH ON THE COLLECTION.
  4. $1.7 million spent. NOT AVAILABLE

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 April 1981.

    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.