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The Colorado Museum of Natural History

EIN 84-0518447 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Be a catalyst! Ignite our community's passion for nature and science.

Income
$57.2 million
Spending
$62.2 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 31%
Employees
503
Volunteers
905
Highest pay
$498,170, president & ceo

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: 60 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% 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

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

    27 of 27 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 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 (3)
  1. $27.8 million spent. Exhibits and Experiences: To advance its mission of igniting our community's passion for nature and science, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science presents a dynamic menu of permanent and temporary exhibits (Mysteries of the Ice Ages, Orcas, The Power of Poison, Animals of the Rainforest, Wild Color), films in the newly renovated Infinity theater, offsite science play areas and awe-inspiring shows in its digital Planetarium. In 2024, the Museum debuted a pop-up exhibit and giant screen film featuring an exciting T-Rex discovery with DMNS scientists and opened a new outdoor Nature Play space in the nearby City Park. In total, the Museum served 2.1 million adults, families, and students, including 777K offsite in the community and virtually.
  2. $11.1 million spent. Educational Programs & Community Engagement: In 2024, we offered a wide variety of programs for ECE-12th grade students and teachers, families, young adults and seniors. We collaborated with SCFD organizations, schools, scientists, libraries, community-based leaders and other organizations to connect more people with nature & science, share learning and resources, and create meaningful experiences. Field trips to the Museum for school groups, organized youth groups and home school collaboratives are always free. In addition to free days that created financial access to the Museum throughout the year, we implemented multiple themed free days to welcome groups that have been underrepresented in science including: Girls and Science, Dia del Nino, Juneteenth, and Out! At the Museum. Through all of these efforts, we served 318,594 people through educational and community programs at the Museum, in the community and schools, and virtually.
  3. $8.1 million spent. Science Division: In 2024, the Science Division, comprising over 60 staff, managed and provided access to the Museum's vast collection of 4.3 million objects and specimens. Museum scientists made significant, world-class discoveries through their work in the field, laboratory, and with existing collections, expanding knowledge of the Earth, its inhabitants, and beyond. Beyond their contributions to peer-reviewed articles, books, book chapters, and popular articles, the staff actively delivered scientific outreach. This included courses, events, collection tours, lectures, and field trips, which saw engagement with 36,700 members of the public. The Division's commitment to education was also evident in their supervision of interns and mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as hosting high school students. A crucial asset to the Science Division was its robust volunteer program, with 321 volunteers dedicating over 62,600 hours to support its mission.

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 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 September 1939.

    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.