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Chinese American Museum Foundation

EIN 82-1782141 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CHINESE AMERICAN MUSEUM FOUNDATION (THE MUSEUM) IS DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTION, PRESERVATION, RESEARCH, AND EXHIBITION OF CHINESE AMERICAN HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL MATERIALS REFLECTING THE BREADTH AND DEPTH OF THE EXPERIENCES OF CHINESE AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES.

Income
$850,591
Spending
$843,399
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
4
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$39,911, executive director (thru february)

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: 41 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    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. $552,560 spent. THE MUSEUM'S PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIVE STORY DESTINATION IN DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON, DC THAT FEATURES PERMANENT AND SPECIAL EXHIBITS AND EVENTS. THE MUSEUM SERVES TO POSITIVELY IMPACT PEOPLE FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS, ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ABROAD THROUGH CURATED EXHIBITS, ONLINE EXPERIENCES, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. THE MUSEUM IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOUR DAYS A WEEK, AND ADMISSION IS FREE. THERE MUSEUM HAS 300-800 VISITORS PER MONTH.THE FOLLOWING EVENTS TOOK PLACE AT THE MUSEUM DURING 2024:-BOOK LAUNCH PRESENTATION: CORKY LEE'S ASIAN AMERICA, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2024.-MEET THE DESIGNER: HANGYU GONG - QIPAO CULTURE, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024.-FIRST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH, DUPONT CIRCLE'S MUSEUMS, GALLERIES, AND CULTURAL EXHIBITS OPEN THEIR DOORS TO THE PUBLIC AFTER HOURS. CAMDC HOSTEDTHE EVENT ON FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024.-CONVERSATION WITH FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA, CHRISTOPHER TIN ABOUT TURANDOT AT CAMDC, APRIL 2024.-REMEMBRANCE OF THE SHANGRAO MILITARY & CIVILIAN RESCUE OF THE DOLITTLE RAIDERS DURING WWII, MAY 2024.-LONGHUA TEMPLE CHINESE VEGETARIAN FOOD EXHIBITION AT THE RONALD REAGAN BUILDING AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTER (REAGAN) ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2024.-UNDER THE BODHI TREE: ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE LONGHUA TEMPLE FEATURES SCULPTURES AND IMAGES ILLUSTRATING BUDDHISM, ITS CULTURAL PRACTICES AND BUDDHIST ART IN MODERN SOCIETY. MARCH 2024 TO DECEMBER 2024.

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 2017.

    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.