Denver Art Museum Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE DESCRIPTION FOR PART I, LINE 1 ON SCHEDULE O.
- Income
- $87.0 million
- Spending
- $79.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 551
- Volunteers
- 240
- Highest pay
- $1.1 million, director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 107% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2541 of 41 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (5)
- $43.0 million spent. EXHIBITIONS AND COLLECTIONS: EACH YEAR, THE DENVER ART MUSEUM (DAM) PRESENTS TEMPORARY AND TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS OF ART FROM AROUND THE WORLD. AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS IN 2025 WERE DAWOUD BEY: STREET PORTRAITS, THE LIFE AND ART OF TOKIO UEYAMA, LUNAR PHASES: KOREAN MOON JARS, KENT MONKMAN: HISTORY IS PAINTED BY THE VICTORS, AND CHARLES SANDISON: CHAMBER. SHOWN IN THE TEXTILE ART GALLERY IN THE MARTIN BUILDING, CONFLUENCE OF NATURE: NANCY HEMENWAY BARTON FEATURES TWELVE TEXTILE WALL SCULPTURES AND FIVE WORKS ON PAPER BY AMERICAN ARTIST NANCY HEMENWAY BARTON, EACH AN EXPLORATION OF THE STUNNING LOCATIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD THAT INFORMED AND INSPIRED HER ARTISTIC PROCESS. AT THE KIRKLAND, VANITY & VICE: AMERICAN ART DECO INVITES VISITORS TO INDULGE IN THE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR OF THE DYNAMIC DESIGNS THAT CAME OUT OF THE REBELLIOUS YEARS OF 1920-1933. THE EXHIBITION FEATURES NEARLY 200 OBJECTS MADE IN AMERICA THAT EXEMPLIFY THE PERIOD, ALL FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION. A MAJOR HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR, WILD THINGS: THE ART OF MAURICE SENDAK PRESENTED MORE THAN 450 ARTWORKS CREATED BY MAURICE SENDAK. ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE ARTISTS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, SENDAK IS BEST KNOWN FOR PICTURE BOOKS, ESPECIALLY THE AWARD-WINNING TITLES WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, IN THE NIGHT KITCHEN, OUTSIDE OVER THERE, AND NUTSHELL LIBRARY. HE ALSO DESIGNED THEATER SETS AND COLLABORATED ON FILMS. THROUGH UNIQUE EXAMPLES OF SENDAKS TIMELESS ART, SUCH AS THE FINAL ARTWORKS FOR WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, VISITORS EXPERIENCED HIS EXTRAORDINARY SKILL AND HIS DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROCESS OF CREATING PICTURE BOOKS AND DESIGNS FOR THE STAGE, TELEVISION, AND FILM PRODUCTIONS. MORE THAN 177,000 VISITORS ATTENDED THE EXHIBITION. EXHIBITIONS AND COLLECTIONS: EACH YEAR, THE DENVER ART MUSEUM (DAM) PRESENTS TEMPORARY AND TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS OF ART FROM AROUND THE WORLD. AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS IN 2025 WERE DAWOUD BEY: STREET PORTRAITS, THE LIFE AND ART OF TOKIO UEYAMA, LUNAR PHASES: KOREAN MOON JARS, KENT MONKMAN: HISTORY IS PAINTED BY THE VICTORS, AND CHARLES SANDISON: CHAMBER. SHOWN IN THE TEXTILE ART GALLERY IN THE MARTIN BUILDING, CONFLUENCE OF NATURE: NANCY HEMENWAY BARTON FEATURES TWELVE TEXTILE WALL SCULPTURES AND FIVE WORKS ON PAPER BY AMERICAN ARTIST NANCY HEMENWAY BARTON, EACH AN EXPLORATION OF THE STUNNING LOCATIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD THAT INFORMED AND INSPIRED HER ARTISTIC PROCESS. AT THE KIRKLAND, VANITY & VICE: AMERICAN ART DECO INVITES VISITORS TO INDULGE IN THE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR OF THE DYNAMIC DESIGNS THAT CAME OUT OF THE REBELLIOUS YEARS OF 1920-1933. THE EXHIBITION FEATURES NEARLY 200 OBJECTS MADE IN AMERICA THAT EXEMPLIFY THE PERIOD, ALL FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION. A MAJOR HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR, WILD THINGS: THE ART OF MAURICE SENDAK PRESENTED MORE THAN 450 ARTWORKS CREATED BY MAURICE SENDAK. ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE ARTISTS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, SENDAK IS BEST KNOWN FOR PICTURE BOOKS, ESPECIALLY THE AWARD-WINNING TITLES WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, IN THE NIGHT KITCHEN, OUTSIDE OVER THERE, AND NUTSHELL LIBRARY. HE ALSO DESIGNED THEATER SETS AND COLLABORATED ON FILMS. THROUGH UNIQUE EXAMPLES OF SENDAKS TIMELESS ART, SUCH AS THE FINAL ARTWORKS FOR WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, VISITORS EXPERIENCED HIS EXTRAORDINARY SKILL AND HIS DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROCESS OF CREATING PICTURE BOOKS AND DESIGNS FOR THE STAGE, TELEVISION, AND FILM PRODUCTIONS. MORE THAN 177,000 VISITORS ATTENDED THE EXHIBITION.
- $16.5 million spent. PREMISES & BUILDINGS: THESE COSTS INCLUDE ALL EXPENDITURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE MUSEUM'S FACILITIES. EXHIBITION AND PERMANENT GALLERIES DISPLAYED A VARIETY OF ARTWORK FOR THE PUBLIC'S ENJOYMENT WHILE THE MUSEUM'S PUBLIC SPACES ENABLE MUSEUM STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS TO CONDUCT FREQUENT LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDING TOURS, PUBLIC TALKS, INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS, ART-MAKING ACTIVITIES, AND MORE. THE PREMISES AND BUILDINGS PROVIDE AMPLE SPACE FOR MISSION-DRIVEN PROGRAMMING AIMED AT ENRICHING THE LIVES OF THIS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, AND FOR WHICH THE MUSEUM HAS BEEN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED.
- $2.6 million spent. LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS: AT THE DENVER ART MUSEUM (DAM), WE COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITIES TO CREATE ART AND CREATIVITY EXPERIENCES THAT FOSTER WELL-BEING, BELONGING, AND EMPATHY FOR ALL, WHILE ADVANCING INNOVATIVE PRACTICES IN THE FIELD. WE DO THIS TO FULFILL OUR VISION OF MAKING A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLES LIVES BY CELEBRATING CREATIVITY AND INSPIRING GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND CONNECTION WITH THE WORLD. THE DAMS LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT (L&E) DEPARTMENT DEVELOPS PROGRAMS WITH TWO OVERARCHING GOALS: (1) INCREASING ACCESS TO THE MUSEUMS COLLECTIONS AND (2) CULTIVATING A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS, ABILITIES, AND PERSPECTIVES. WE COLLABORATE WITH AUDIENCES AND STAKEHOLDERS USING HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN PRINCIPLES, ENSURING THAT NOTHING ABOUT A GROUP OCCURS WITHOUT THEIR ENGAGEMENT AND BUY-IN. WE ARE COMMITTED TO GROWING AS LEADERS IN CREATIVITY, EXPERIMENTATION, AND INNOVATION, AND TO FOSTERING A CULTURE OF OPENNESS BY SHARING OUR PROCESSES, CHALLENGES, AND SUCCESSES WITH THE FIELD. THROUGH ITS PROGRAMS, THE MUSEUM STRIVES TO NURTURE A SENSE OF WELL-BEING IN VISITORS AT THE MUSEUM AND RECIPIENTS OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS. WE AIM TO SUPPORT PERSONAL GROWTH, PRIDE, SELF-WORTH, AND CONNECTEDNESS THROUGH EXPERIENCES WITH ART AND CREATIVITY, CONTRIBUTING TO INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH AND HAPPINESS. WE SEEK TO CULTIVATE A SENSE OF BELONGING BY OFFERING EXPERIENCES THAT BUILD CONNECTIONS, CONFIDENCE, AND OWNERSHIP, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY INCLUDE AND WELCOME PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, AND ABILITIES. ULTIMATELY, WE HOPE THESE EXPERIENCES WILL BUILD AND SUSTAIN EMPATHY, IMPROVING OUR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND AND SHARE THE FEELINGS OF OTHERS, AND FOSTERING INTERCONNECTEDNESS WITHIN AND ACROSS COMMUNITIES. L&E PROGRAMS CAN BE SUMMARIZED UNDER THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: YOUTH AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS LIFELONG LEARNING AND ACCESSIBILITY IN-GALLERY INTERPRETATION CREATIVE AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS THE DAM VALUES ITS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGES SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS LEADERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES THROUGH STANDING ADVISORY COMMITTEES (E.G., YOUTH ADVISORY GROUPS, CREATIVE AGING FORUM, ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, LATINO AUDIENCE ALLIANCE, AND OTHERS). AD HOC COMMITTEES SUPPORT IN-GALLERY INTERPRETATION AND PROGRAMS TO HELP CREATE EXPERIENCES THAT REPRESENT ARTISTS, CURATORS, SCHOLARS, NON-ART EXPERTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND MORE. THE L&E DEPARTMENT IS ALSO A LEADER IN THE FIELD OF MUSEUM EDUCATION, REGULARLY HOSTING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM COLLEAGUES, PRESENTING AT NATIONAL CONFERENCES, AND SHARING LEARNINGS AND BEST PRACTICES WITH THE MUSEUM FIELD. ALL MUSEUM-PRODUCED REPORTS ARE ACCESSIBLE ON THE MUSEUMS WEBSITE UNDER RESEARCH & REPORTS. LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS: AT THE DENVER ART MUSEUM (DAM), WE COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITIES TO CREATE ART AND CREATIVITY EXPERIENCES THAT FOSTER WELL-BEING, BELONGING, AND EMPATHY FOR ALL, WHILE ADVANCING INNOVATIVE PRACTICES IN THE FIELD. WE DO THIS TO FULFILL OUR VISION OF MAKING A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLES LIVES BY CELEBRATING CREATIVITY AND INSPIRING GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND CONNECTION WITH THE WORLD. THE DAMS LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT (L&E) DEPARTMENT DEVELOPS PROGRAMS WITH TWO OVERARCHING GOALS: (1) INCREASING ACCESS TO THE MUSEUMS COLLECTIONS AND (2) CULTIVATING A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS, ABILITIES, AND PERSPECTIVES. WE COLLABORATE WITH AUDIENCES AND STAKEHOLDERS USING HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN PRINCIPLES, ENSURING THAT NOTHING ABOUT A GROUP OCCURS WITHOUT THEIR ENGAGEMENT AND BUY-IN. WE ARE COMMITTED TO GROWING AS LEADERS IN CREATIVITY, EXPERIMENTATION, AND INNOVATION, AND TO FOSTERING A CULTURE OF OPENNESS BY SHARING OUR PROCESSES, CHALLENGES, AND SUCCESSES WITH THE FIELD. THROUGH ITS PROGRAMS, THE MUSEUM STRIVES TO NURTURE A SENSE OF WELL-BEING IN VISITORS AT THE MUSEUM AND RECIPIENTS OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS. WE AIM TO SUPPORT PERSONAL GROWTH, PRIDE, SELF-WORTH, AND CONNECTEDNESS THROUGH EXPERIENCES WITH ART AND CREATIVITY, CONTRIBUTING TO INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH AND HAPPINESS. WE SEEK TO CULTIVATE A SENSE OF BELONGING BY OFFERING EXPERIENCES THAT BUILD CONNECTIONS, CONFIDENCE, AND OWNERSHIP, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY INCLUDE AND WELCOME PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, AND ABILITIES. ULTIMATELY, WE HOPE THESE EXPERIENCES WILL BUILD AND SUSTAIN EMPATHY, IMPROVING OUR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND AND SHARE THE FEELINGS OF OTHERS, AND FOSTERING INTERCONNECTEDNESS WITHIN AND ACROSS COMMUNITIES. L&E PROGRAMS CAN BE SUMMARIZED UNDER THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: YOUTH AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS LIFELONG LEARNING AND ACCESSIBILITY IN-GALLERY INTERPRETATION CREATIVE AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS THE DAM VALUES ITS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGES SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS LEADERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES THROUGH STANDING ADVISORY COMMITTEES (E.G., YOUTH ADVISORY GROUPS, CREATIVE AGING FORUM, ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, LATINO AUDIENCE ALLIANCE, AND OTHERS). AD HOC COMMITTEES SUPPORT IN-GALLERY INTERPRETATION AND PROGRAMS TO HELP CREATE EXPERIENCES THAT REPRESENT ARTISTS, CURATORS, SCHOLARS, NON-ART EXPERTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND MORE. THE L&E DEPARTMENT IS ALSO A LEADER IN THE FIELD OF MUSEUM EDUCATION, REGULARLY HOSTING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM COLLEAGUES, PRESENTING AT NATIONAL CONFERENCES, AND SHARING LEARNINGS AND BEST PRACTICES WITH THE MUSEUM FIELD. ALL MUSEUM-PRODUCED REPORTS ARE ACCESSIBLE ON THE MUSEUMS WEBSITE UNDER RESEARCH & REPORTS.
- $4.5 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDED IN THIS CAPTION ARE THE ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE GIFT SHOP, RESTAURANT, AND OTHER FACILITIES DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE VISITOR'S OVERALL MUSEUM EXPERIENCE.
- OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDED IN THIS CAPTION ARE THE ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE GIFT SHOP, RESTAURANT, AND OTHER FACILITIES DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE VISITOR'S OVERALL MUSEUM EXPERIENCE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1935.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.