Mca Denver
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART DENVER IS AN INNOVATIVE FORUM FOR CONTEMPORARY ART THAT INSPIRES AND CHALLENGES ALL AUDIENCES, CREATING UNDERSTANDING AND DIALOGUE ABOUT ART OF OUR TIME.
- Income
- $4.7 million
- Spending
- $5.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- -7.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 65%
- Employees
- 89
- Volunteers
- 22
- Highest pay
- $255,000, executive di
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
Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (2)
- $2.5 million spent. MCA DENVER'S PRIMARY FOCUS IS THE DISPLAY OF ART EXHIBITIONS BY KEY FIGURES IN REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ART. THE MUSEUM HAS SIX DISTINCT, ROTATING GALLERIES THAT ENCOURAGE A DIRECT EXCHANGE BETWEEN ARTISTS AND THEIR AUDIENCES. MCA DENVER'S EXHIBITIONS CREATE RICH, CROSS- DISCIPLINARY DISCOURSE THROUGH THE PRESENTATION OF PAINTING, SCULPTURE, PHOTOGRAPHY, MIXED MEDIA, VIDEO/FILM, AND PERFORMANCE.
- $1.8 million spent. MCA DENVER FOCUSES ON PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE AUDIENCES THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE ART AND INTELLECTUAL THOUGHT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RICHNESS OF EVERYDAY LIFE. THE MIXED TASTE LECTURE SERIES MINES THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND CAPITALIZES ON THE DIVERSE AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE REGION WHILE ENCOURAGING AUDIENCES TO REFLECT ON HOW THE TOPICS PRESENTED RELATE TO THEIR LIVES. THE CONVERSION SERIES CONNECTS THE COMMUNITY WITH INNOVATIVE ARTISTS, PROMOTING CONTEMPORARY DISCOURSE BY BRINGING INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ARTISTS TO THE FOREFRONT OF PUBLIC EXPERIENCE. THE TEEN COUNCIL PROVIDES TEENS THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH LENDING ARTISTS IN A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT, CREATING WORK AND GAINING UNPARALLELED INSIGHT ABOUT ART.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1997.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.