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Los Gatos Museum Association

EIN 94-1619601 · Los Gatos, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceWeak25 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ENGAGING COMMUNITY AT THE INTERSECTION OF ART, HISTORY AND EDUCATION THROUGH INNOVATIVE, LOCALLY CONNECTED AND GLOBALLY RELEVANT EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS AND EXPERIENCES.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$700,614
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
14
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$97,100, 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

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 39% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 114% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Weak: 25 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    0 of 0 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (2)
  1. $439,287 spent. INSTALLATION AND HOSTING OF ROTATING ART MUSEUM EXHIBITION, HISTORY EXHIBITION, INCLUDING AN ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL JURIED EXHIBITION, ARTNOW. THE MUSEUM PROVIDES AN ARRAY OF INNOVATIVE EDUCATION EXPERIENCES IN ART AND HISTORY THROUGH ARTIST TALK, WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, PUBLIC TOURS, AND COMMUNITY DAYS. EXHIBITIONS ARE GLOBALLY CONNECTED AND LOCALLY CONNECTED AND INCLUDE THE WORK OF ARTISTS BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, WITH A STRONG EMPHASIS ON ARTISTS FROM THE SOUTH BAY AND GREATER SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. THE MUSEUM HOUSES AND STEWARDS A PERMANENT ART AND HITORY COLLECTION FOCUSING ON THE HISTROY OF LOS GATOS AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
  2. $25,137 spent. PROVIDING EDUCATION THROUGH VARIETY OF YOUTH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING THE MUSEUM EXPLORER PROGRAM WHICH ALLOWS CHILDREN TO EXAMINE, EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTAND LOCAL HISTORY AND ARTWORK ON AN INTIMATE LEVEL. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE CURRICULUM STANDARDS TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION ON THE ELEMENTS OF ART INCLUDING STYLE, MEDIA AND PROCESS. IT MEETS CURRICULUM STANDARDS IN LANGUAGE ARTS, SOCIAL STUDIES, AND ART. THE PROGRAM SERVES OVER 1,000 EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS AGES K-12, IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE PROVIDED TO TITLE 1 SCHOOLS. IN THE SUMMER, THE MUSEUM PARTNERS WITH LOS GATOS SARATOGA RECREATION TO HOST THE ASPIRING ARTIST FOOTBRIDGE MURAL CAMP, TEACHING STUDENTS ABOUT HISTORY AND ART TO CREATE A MURAL CAPTURING "LIFE IN LOS GATOS" WHICH IS DISPLAYED ON A WALKING BRIDGE IN TOWN. THE MUSEUM HOSTS A VARIETY OF OTHER YOUTH PROGRAMS THAT EXPLORE TOPICS RELATING TO ART AND HISTORY.

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 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 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 November 1989.

    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.