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Buffalo Bill Memorial Association

EIN 83-0180403 · Cody, WY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Connecting people to the American West.

Income
$13.2 million
Spending
$14.0 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
9.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 39%
Employees
227
Volunteers
168
Highest pay
$295,319, ceo/executive director

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

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 59% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    39 of 39 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 (3)
  1. $7.5 million spent. CURATORIAL, LIBRARY, COLLECTIONS AND CONSERVATION:The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is an accredited museum through the American Alliance of Museums with over 150,000 square feet of exhibit space representing five disciplines - art, life and times of William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, firearms, natural history of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Plains Indians cultures and histories.The Center houses more than 104,000 collection objects, 7,800 linear feet of archival collections, 36,000 books, and more than a million historic photographs across its five museums and research library. The curatorial and museum services staffs serve as a resource to other organizations and audiences as a whole.
  2. $1.9 million spent. EDUCATION:The Center's educational offerings incorporate innovative, engaging, and thought-provoking methods of understanding art, cultural, and natural history subjects. On-site and virtual K-12 programs address national education standards, include STEM curricula, and promote inquiry-based learning. Virtual field trip programs have brought the museum and western themed content to more than 250,000 students around the globe. The Center's expertise in providing K-12 resources on-line and teacher professional development has been recognized through numerous partnerships with the state of Wyoming's Department of Education and higher education institutionsThe Center has expansive adult and family educational programs for the casual day visitor and the local community. This includes guided tours, raptor experience programs, children and adult workshops and field experiences, lectures, evening programs, and other activities. The Center partners with numerous community organizations to bring cultural events to Cody. The strategic plan addresses the Center's key role with the Cody community through providing educational opportunities within the region, as well as providing three annual free open house community days.
  3. $1.5 million spent. RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP:The Center prides itself on the production of original scholarship by staff and through partners. The Center's staff works independently and with outside scholars to connect audiences with groundbreaking knowledge about the American West. Research outputs include online and in print popular and scholarly publications covering a range of topics. The popular publication "Points West" magazine is produced four times a year and features articles on topics about the American West of past and present and newsworthy items pertaining to the Center.Continued on Schedule OCurrent Center research focuses include the intersection of popular culture and Western art; historical and contemporary firearms and publication of twice yearly ARMAX journal; Pinyon Jay ecology in Northern Wyoming; Absaroka Bat Census of the Absaroka Mountains; Pollinator Census in Park County; Phenology of the Paul Stock Trail; and perceptions of the American West through Pop art.The Center fosters external research through internship and fellowship programs and collaborative projects with research organizations and universities. The Center has an ongoing partnership with UC Berkeley to examine animal migrations in the Greater Yellowstone region, the Absaroka Fence Initiative, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Bureau of Land Management, UC Davis, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Northwest College.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1939.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.