Smith Museum of Art and Information
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SMITH MUSEUM OF ART AND INFORMATION HAS A DESIRE TO OPEN A NEW MUSEUM IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO TO INSTALL AND DISPLAY STAINED GLASS WINDOWS AND OTHER ITEMS OF STAINED GLASS ART, GLASS PAPERWEIGHT COLLECTIONS, IN ADDITION TO OTHER ARTWORK TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IT WILL BE DEDICATED TO EXHIBITING THE ARTWORK AND EXPLAINING THE ARTWORK'S INFORMATIONAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL INTERACTION WITH WORLD HISTORY, INCLUDING YEARS 1200 A.D. TO THE PRESENT DAY. EXPLAIN CURRENT TECHNOLOGIES, RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ART AND ARTIFICIAL TECHNOLOGY, AND THE ROLES INFORMATION PLAYS AS CHANGE AGENTS IN A CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY. WILL EMPHASIZE INFORMATION ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION. EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH WILL BE KEY AS PLANS TO OPERATE PROGRAMS FOR CHICAGO AND REGIONAL SCHOOL GROUPS.
- Income
- $265,400
- Spending
- $226,803
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 55% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 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)
- $218,039 spent. MUSEUM OF ARTWORK - PURCHASING AND STORAGE OF COLLECTIONS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 May 2023.
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.