Heard Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE HEARD MUSEUM CONNECTS INDIGENOUS CREATIVITY TO THE WORLD BY PRESENTING THE VOICE AND VISION OF AMERICAN INDIAN ARTISTS.
- Income
- $23.2 million
- Spending
- $14.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 78%
- Employees
- 130
- Volunteers
- 400
- Highest pay
- $423,238, director and ceo
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
Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 118% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2527 of 27 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
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 (1)
- $9.7 million spent. THE HEARD MUSEUM IS THE LARGEST PRIVATE NONPROFIT IN THE WORLD DEDICATED TO AMERICAN INDIAN ART AND CULTURE. SINCE OPENING IN 1929, THE MUSEUM HAS BECOME INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR ORGANIZING ORIGINAL EXHIBITIONS AND SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS THAT SHOWCASE THE DIVERSITY AND BEAUTY OF AMERICAN INDIAN ART AND CULTURE, AND FOR PRODUCING A WIDE ANNUAL ARRAY OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS, FESTIVAL EVENTS, AND EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES THAT PROVIDE ACCESS AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON REACHING YOUTH AND FAMILIES.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OTHE HEARD IS ONE OF ARIZONA'S MOST PROLIFIC ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, SHARING STORIES OF AMERICAN INDIAN PEOPLE FROM A FIRST-PERSON PERSPECTIVE THROUGH EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMS THAT SHOWCASE TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY NATIVE ART. THE MUSEUM STEWARDS A COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 46,000 WORKS OF ART AND MAINTAINS A MAJOR LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CONTAINING MORE THAN 440,000 ADDITIONAL ITEMS. PUBLIC AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS HELP BRING THE COLLECTION AND EXHIBITIONS TO LIGHT, INCLUDING INITIATIVES SUCH AS OUR FREE SCHOOL TOUR PROGRAM HOSTING APPROXIMATELY 7,000 STUDENTS ANNUALLY, AND FIRST FRIDAYS THAT OFFER FREE ACCESS TO APPROXIMATELY 4,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY. THE HEARD ORGANIZES MAJOR PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE ANNUAL INDIAN FAIR & MARKET, ONE OF THE LARGEST NATIVE ART MARKETS IN THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP HOOP DANCE CONTEST. OUR NEARLY 140,000 ANNUAL VISITORS ALSO ENJOY NUMEROUS AMENITIES THAT FURTHER ENGAGEMENT AND LEARNING, SUCH AS AN ACCLAIMED MUSEUM SHOP SUPPORTING THE CAREERS OF AMERICAN INDIAN ARTISTS, AND A MUSEUM CAFE AND COFFEE SHOP OFFERING INDIGENOUS INGREDIENTS WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE MENUS.THE HEARD MUSEUM SETS THE STANDARD FOR COLLABORATING WITH AMERICAN INDIAN ARTISTS AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE VISITORS WITH A DISTINCTIVE PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THE ART OF NATIVE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM THE SOUTHWEST.
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 January 1936.
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.