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Performance Art Museum

EIN 93-1872828 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PERFORMANCE ART MUSEUM (PAM) IS THE FIRST U.S. INSTITUTION EXCLUSIVELY DEDICATED TO THE PRESENTATION AND PRESERVATION OF LIVE ART. OUR MISSION IS TO FACILITATE THE POWERFUL IMPACT OF LIVE EXPERIENCES THAT CAN PROFOUNDLY TRANSFORM OUR AWARENESS OF THE PRESENT MOMENT. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PAM IS CRUCIAL IN FILLING HISTORICAL VOIDS IN REPRESENTATION AND ARCHIVING THE PERFORMANCE ART GENRE, PROVIDING A DEDICATED SPACE WHERE PERFORMANCE ART CAN BE EXPERIENCED, CELEBRATED, STUDIED, AND PRESERVED WHILE DEFINING THE NEXT GENERATION.

Income
$435,111
Spending
$434,206
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
2
Highest pay
$95,055, director of

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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    6 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 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 (1)
  1. $310,424 spent. 21 & OVER THE 21 & OVER SERIES WAS HELD AT CATCH ONE, A HISTORIC NIGHTCLUB IN LOS ANGELES, WITH NO COST OF ENTRY. FEATURING OVER 21 ARTISTS DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2024INCLUDING NAO BUSTAMANTE, ELLIOT REED, GUILLERMO GMEZ- PEA, PATRICE CULLORS, AND ROCO BOLIVERTHE SERIES HIGHLIGHTED DIVERSE INTERGENERATIONAL WORKS ACROSS DANCE, OPERA, NIGHTLIFE, AND LIVE ART. THE EVENT DREW MORE THAN 1,000 ATTENDEES, INCLUDING CLASSES OF STUDENTS FROM LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, INCLUDING STATE AND LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGES. IT EXPANDED THE MUSEUMS AUDIENCE AND AFFIRMED OUR ROLE AS A VITAL INCUBATOR FOR CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE AND HIGH-QUALITY PRODUCTION SUPPORTING HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED COMMUNITIES. LONG TERM RESIDENCY THE PERFORMANCE ART MUSEUM'S TWO-YEAR ARTIST-CENTERED LONG-TERM RESIDENCY INITIATIVE IS AN INNOVATIVE RESIDENCY PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE HOLISTIC, LONG-TERM SUPPORT FOR PERFORMANCE ARTISTS AT CRITICAL JUNCTURES IN THEIR CAREERS. UNLIKE TRADITIONAL RESIDENCIES THAT FOCUS SOLELY ON PRODUCTION, THIS PROGRAM PRIORITIZES SUSTAINABILITY, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ADAPTIVE INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT, ENSURING ARTISTS HAVE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO DEVELOP THEIR PRACTICE BEYOND PROJECT-BASED FUNDING CYCLES. PERFORMANCE ART REVIEWS THE PERFORMANCE ART MUSEUM HAS DEVELOPED AN ONLINE PUBLISHING PLATFORM TO EXPAND THE VISIBILITY AND CRITICAL ENGAGEMENT OF THIS OFTEN-OVERLOOKED FIELD. SINCE LAUNCHING IN 2024, THE PROGRAM HAS COMMISSIONED 25 WRITERS TO PRODUCE 29 REVIEWS OF PERFORMANCES IN 16 CITIES, SPANNING LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK TO BALI, BUENOS AIRES, AND HONG KONG. THESE REVIEWS CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING VOICES TO ENGAGE WITH GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES AND CONTRIBUTE TO A GROWING BODY OF PERFORMANCE ART WRITING, WHILE ALSO REFLECTING THE FIELDS INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER THROUGH MULTILINGUAL PUBLICATION. TO DATE, THE PLATFORM HAS PRESENTED REVIEWS IN SPANISH, TRADITIONAL CHINESE, AND INDONESIAN, ALONGSIDE ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS, ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY AND STRENGTHENING THE VISIBILITY OF PERFORMANCE ART ON A GLOBAL STAGE. GLOBAL PERFORMANCE PROGRAM THE GLOBAL PERFORMANCE PROGRAM OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MUSEUM COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE IN EDUCATIONAL AND IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES THAT CONNECT PARTICIPANTS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCE ART COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAMS SERVE AS CONDUITS TO ESTABLISHING PROGRAMMATIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH PERFORMANCE VENUES AND ARTISTS. THROUGH THE RESEARCH-BASED EXPEDITION TO SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, THE MUSEUM WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PERFORMING ARTS MARKET IN SEOUL. THE GPP DEEPENS THE UNDERSTANDING OF BOTH CONTEMPORARY AND HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE ART PRACTICES AND OFFERS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND NETWORKS WITHIN THE PERFORMANCE ART WORLD. PERFORMANCE ART COUNCIL THE PERFORMANCE ART COUNCIL IS AN AFFINITY GROUP OF THE PERFORMANCE ART MUSEUM DEDICATED TO PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY OF PERFORMANCE ART THROUGH ADVOCACY, ENGAGEMENT, AND SUPPORT. MEMBERS ACTIVELY EXPERIENCE EDUCATIONAL AND INTERACTIVE PROGRAMS ON PERFORMANCE, AND OTHER INITIATIVES THAT ADVANCE THE FIELD OF PERFORMANCE AND FOSTER COMMUNITY. TOP100 TOP100 MEMBERSHIP IS A FOUNDING CIRCLE OF 100 VISIONARY SUPPORTERS WHO BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PERFORMANCE ART AND THE MISSION OF THE PERFORMANCE ART MUSEUM. AS A TOP100 MEMBER, YOU JOIN AN EXCLUSIVE GROUP WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS DIRECTLY ADVANCE THE VISIBILITY, LEGACY, AND SCHOLARSHIP OF ARTISTS WORKING IN PERFORMANCE. EACH MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES A LIMITED-EDITION PERFORMER CAP DESIGNED BY ARTIST RAFA ESPARZAAN ICONIC COLLECTORS PIECE THAT SYMBOLIZES YOUR ROLE IN PRESERVING AND SHAPING THE FUTURE OF PERFORMANCE ART. BEYOND THIS WEARABLE ARTWORK, TOP100 MEMBERS ARE RECOGNIZED AS PART OF THE MUSEUMS INNER CIRCLE, WITH EARLY ACCESS TO NEWS, PROGRAMS, AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT MARK YOU AS A LIFELONG CHAMPION OF PERFORMANCE. 21 & OVER THE 21 & OVER SERIES WAS HELD AT CATCH ONE, A HISTORIC NIGHTCLUB IN LOS ANGELES, WITH NO COST OF ENTRY. FEATURING OVER 21 ARTISTS DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2024INCLUDING NAO BUSTAMANTE, ELLIOT REED, GUILLERMO GMEZ- PEA, PATRICE CULLORS, AND ROCO BOLIVERTHE SERIES HIGHLIGHTED DIVERSE INTERGENERATIONAL WORKS ACROSS DANCE, OPERA, NIGHTLIFE, AND LIVE ART. THE EVENT DREW MORE THAN 1,000 ATTENDEES, INCLUDING CLASSES OF STUDENTS FROM LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, INCLUDING STATE AND LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGES. IT EXPANDED THE MUSEUMS AUDIENCE AND AFFIRMED OUR ROLE AS A VITAL INCUBATOR FOR CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE AND HIGH-QUALITY PRODUCTION SUPPORTING HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED COMMUNITIES. LONG TERM RESIDENCY THE PERFORMANCE ART MUSEUM'S TWO-YEAR ARTIST-CENTERED LONG-TERM RESIDENCY INITIATIVE IS AN INNOVATIVE RESIDENCY PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE HOLISTIC, LONG-TERM SUPPORT FOR PERFORMANCE ARTISTS AT CRITICAL JUNCTURES IN THEIR CAREERS. UNLIKE TRADITIONAL RESIDENCIES THAT FOCUS SOLELY ON PRODUCTION, THIS PROGRAM PRIORITIZES SUSTAINABILITY, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ADAPTIVE INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT, ENSURING ARTISTS HAVE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO DEVELOP THEIR PRACTICE BEYOND PROJECT-BASED FUNDING CYCLES. PERFORMANCE ART REVIEWS THE PERFORMANCE ART MUSEUM HAS DEVELOPED AN ONLINE PUBLISHING PLATFORM TO EXPAND THE VISIBILITY AND CRITICAL ENGAGEMENT OF THIS OFTEN-OVERLOOKED FIELD. SINCE LAUNCHING IN 2024, THE PROGRAM HAS COMMISSIONED 25 WRITERS TO PRODUCE 29 REVIEWS OF PERFORMANCES IN 16 CITIES, SPANNING LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK TO BALI, BUENOS AIRES, AND HONG KONG. THESE REVIEWS CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING VOICES TO ENGAGE WITH GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES AND CONTRIBUTE TO A GROWING BODY OF PERFORMANCE ART WRITING, WHILE ALSO REFLECTING THE FIELDS INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER THROUGH MULTILINGUAL PUBLICATION. TO DATE, THE PLATFORM HAS PRESENTED REVIEWS IN SPANISH, TRADITIONAL CHINESE, AND INDONESIAN, ALONGSIDE ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS, ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY AND STRENGTHENING THE VISIBILITY OF PERFORMANCE ART ON A GLOBAL STAGE. GLOBAL PERFORMANCE PROGRAM THE GLOBAL PERFORMANCE PROGRAM OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MUSEUM COMMUNITY TO ENGAG

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

  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 November 6, 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 June 2025.

    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 July 2023.

    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 November 4, 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.