Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Museum of Western Colorado

EIN 84-0588068 · Grand Jct, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MUSEUM OF WESTERN COLORADO IS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION THAT COLLECTS, PRESERVES, AND INTERPRETS ARTIFACTS, SPECIMENS, AND INFORMATION CONCERNING THE CULTURAL AND NATURAL HISTORY OF WESTERN COLORADO AND THE CONTIGUOUS AREA. WE ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PUBLIC WE SERVE THROUGH RESEARCH, PROGRAMS, AND EXHIBITS TO PROMOTE AWARENESS, UNDERSTANDING, APPRECIATION AND PRESERVATION OF THE PAST AND PRESENT.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
15.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 35%
Employees
37
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$58,469, executive di

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    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 (3)
  1. $682,704 spent. EXHIBITS - EXHIBITS AND EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MUSEUM OF THE WEST, CROSS ORCHARD AND DINOSAUR JOURNEY. ALL EXHIBITS ARE OF A HISTORICAL NATURE AND COMPLIMENT THE MUSEUM'S GOAL OF PROMOTING AND PRESERVING THE HISTORY OF WESTERN COLORADO FROM PREHISTORIC TIMES TO PRESENT.
  2. $310,079 spent. CURATORIAL - THE SELECTION, STUDY AND PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS. THIS COVERS THE STUDY AND PROMOTION OF THE HISTORY OF WESTERN COLORADO FROM PREHISTORIC TIMES TO PRESENT. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE DESIGN AND DIRECTION OF THE MUSEUM AND ITS EXHIBITS.
  3. $213,212 spent. EDUCATIONAL - THESE PROGRAMS PROMOTE THE EDUCATION ASPECTS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR CORE PROGRAMS AT MUSEUM OF THE WEST, CROSS ORCHARD AND DINOSAUR JOURNEY. THE GOAL OF THESE PROGRAMS IS TO EDUCATE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ON THE HISTORY OF WESTERN COLORADO FROM PREHISTORIC TIMES TO PRESENT. THE MUSEUM'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS COMPLIMENT OUR CURATORIAL AND EXHIBIT PROGRAMS.

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 January 1966.

    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.