Monterey Museum of Art
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 45% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MONTEREY MUSEUM OF ART CULTIVATES CURIOSITY IN THE VISUAL ARTS AND ENGAGES COMMUNITY WITH THE DIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ART - PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.
- Income
- $2.4 million
- Spending
- $3.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 45%
- Reserves
- 4.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 75%
- Employees
- 31
- Volunteers
- 32
- Highest pay
- $212,700, executive director
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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 46% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1545% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 48 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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 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)
- $1.6 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1959, THE MONTEREY MUSEUM OF ART (MMA) COLLECTS, PRESERVES, EXHIBITS, AND ENGAGES VISITORS WITH A DIVERSE COLLECTION OF CALIFORNIA ART IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE CULTURAL, CREATIVE AND CIVIC LIFE OF MONTEREY COUNTY. SERVING MORE THAN 26,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY, MMA IS ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS AND ORGANIZES 3 SEASONS OF EXHIBITIONS ANNUALLY FEATURING HISTORIC, MODERN, AND CONTEMPORARY CALIFORNIA ARTISTS OF VARIED EXPERIENCES AND DISCIPLINES. MMA CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN AND DEEPEN ITS PERMANENT COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 8,000 WORKS THAT REPRESENT CALIFORNIA'S ARTIST POPULATION AND THEIR VARIED PRACTICES. IN ADDITION, THE MUSEUM COMMISSIONS LOCAL ARTISTS, ENGAGES GUESTS CURATORS AND PUBLISHES EXHIBITION CATALOGUES. THANKS TO INDIVIDUAL AND GRANT FUNDING THE MUSEUM PROVIDES FREE ADMISSION AND ARTS EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS TO MORE THAN 12,000 CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND ADULTS AT THE MUSEUM AND IN LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY. KEY PROGRAMS INCLUDE MMA'S SCHOOL VISITS PROGRAM ALIGNED TO STATE AND NATIONAL LEARNING STANDARDS TO SUPPORT CLASSROOM LEARNING; FREE FAMILY FUN DAYS AND FIRST FRIDAYS, WHICH OFFER INFORMAL ARTS LEARNING TO FAMILIES AND YOUNG ADULTS; TWO MAJOR PARTICIPATORY ARTS FESTIVALS MMA'S BLOCK PARTY AND ITS WINTER FESTIVAL, ILUMINADO THAT ATTRACT THOUSANDS OF FIRST-TIME VISITORS TO THE MUSEUM AND PROMOTE MANY LOCAL ARTISTS AND ARTS NON-PROFITS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR MMA OFFERS DOCENT TOURS, ARTIST TALKS AND WORKSHOPS, AS WELL AS DOZENS OF CULTURAL AND SOCIAL EVENTS.
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
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 June 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 May 1963.
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.