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Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian

EIN 85-0102311 · Santa Fe, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO RESPECT AND SUPPORT THE TRADITIONS AND CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLES, AND TO PRESENT EXHIBITIONS AND OTHER PUBLIC PROGRAMS RELATING TO THEM; TO COLLECT AND DOCUMENT CONTEMPORARY EXPRESSIONS OF THE NAVAJO PEOPLE ESPECIALLY, BUT ALSO THE RIO GRANDE PUEBLO PEOPLE AND OTHER NATIVE AMERICANS OF NEW MEXICO; TO MAINTAIN COLLECTIONS OF ARTIFACTS, BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND OTHER METARIALS RELATING TO THE HISTORY, CULTURE, AND ARTS OF THE NAVAJO PEOPLE ESPECIALLY, BUT ALSO THE RIO GRANDE PUEBLO PEOPLE AND OTHER NATIVE AMERICANS OF NEW MEXICO, AND TO MAKE SAID RESOURCES ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR STUDY; AND TO PUBLISH BOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS CONCERNING THE FOREGOING AND MATTERS RELATED THERETO.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
14
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$215,927, executive director

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

    14 of 14 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 (2)
  1. $1.3 million spent. OPERATION/MAINTENANCE OF WHEELWRIGHT MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN, WHICH PROMOTES PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING/APPRECIATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE BY PROCURING/INTERPRETING ACTIVITIES THROUGH COLLECTIONS/ACQUISITIONS AND EXHIBITS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE MUSUEM IS ABLE TO PROVIDE EXHIBITS BY CURATORIAL/EXHIBIT REVENUE, WHICH IS PROVIDED BY ADMISSIONS, DONATION BOX, AND GIFTS RESTRICTED FOR EXHIBITS AND ACQUISITIONS.
  2. MUSEUM SHOP ADDS TO THE EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE OF THE MUSUEM BY MAKING AMERICAN INDIAN WORKS FAMILIAR TO A BROAD SEGMENT OF THE PUBLIC, ENHANCING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING/APPRECIATION.

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 October 1943.

    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.