Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

California Association of Museums

EIN 94-2705764 · Alpine, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$628,448
Spending
$612,246
Spent on programs
52%
Reserves
8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
5
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$98,637, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    52% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (3)
  1. $319,649 spent. CAM FOSTERS A COLLABORATIVE, INTERCONNECTED NETWORK OF MUSEUM PROFESSIONALS; BRINGS NEW IDEAS INTO THE CONVERSATION TO CHALLENGE ASSUMPTIONS AND THINKING; AND, PROVIDES RESOURCES, INFORMATION, AND PROGRAMS THAT HELP PROFESSIONALS MAKE MUSEUMS MORE ROBUST, MORE RELEVANT, AND MORE SUSTAINABLE IN SERVICE TO CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES. TO FULFILL THIS ROLE, CAM HOSTS AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE TO BRING MUSEUM PROFESSIONALS TOGETHER FOR AN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, PERSPECTIVES, AND RESOURCES.
  2. CAM HAS AN ACTIVE ADVOCACY PROGRAM THAT MONITORS LEGISLATION, KEEPS MEMBERS AND CONSTITUENTS INFORMED AND INVOLVED, AND FOSTERS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT FUNDING SOURCES FOR MUSEUMS. CAM COMMUNICATES WITH LEGISLATORS REGARDING THE IMPACT OF MUSEUMS ON CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES AND THEIR INTERESTS. CAM TAKES POSITIONS ON SPECIFIC BILLS OF INTEREST TO THE MUSEUM COMMUNITY, SUCH AS FUNDING FOR ARTS AND CULTURE, AND WAS A SUPPORTER OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS 2021 VIRTUAL MUSEUMS ADVOCACY DAY. FURTHERMORE, ELECTRONIC LEGISLATIVE UPDATES HIGHLIGHT IMPORTANT MATTERS AFFECTING STATE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS KEY ISSUES OF CONCERN FOR MUSEUMS.
  3. IN ADDITION TO THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND REGIONAL WORKSHOPS (SEE LINE 4B) AND ITS ADVOCACY PROGRAM (SEE LINE 4C), CAM SUPPORTS THE SUCCESS OF CALIFORNIA MUSEUMS THROUGH THESE KEY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES:ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS: CAM ENEWS AND CAM UPDATES, BIWEEKLY NEWSLETTERS, HAVE OVER 5,000 SUBSCRIBERS AND ARE THE INDUSTRYS BEST SOURCES FOR RELEVANT INFORMATION. SPECIAL INITIATIVES: INNOVATIVE EFFORTS SEEK TO MEET THE NEEDS OF AND PROVIDE LEADERSHIP FOR THE MUSEUM FIELD. A STRATEGIC ACTION COMMITTEE LEVERAGES FORESIGHT RESEARCH TO DETERMINE PRIORITIES TO PUSH THE CALIFORNIA MUSEUM FIELD FORWARD AND WORKS TO ACTIVATE THOSE PRIORITIES. THE COMMITTEE INFLUENCES THE ASSOCIATION'S WORK IN THE AREAS OF MUSEUM RELEVANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY, EMERGING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, FORESIGHT RESEARCH, AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND INCLUSION. SPECIAL INTEREST LICENSE PLATE: A MAJOR INITIATIVE OF THE ASSOCIATION WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW, OFFICIAL CALIFORNIA SPECIAL INTEREST LICENSE PLATE WITH THE IMAGE OF SNOOPY. THE LICENSE PLATE IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES. A NEW GRANT PROGRAM IS BEING ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT CALIFORNIA MUSEUMS FROM THE PROCEEDS OF THE PLATE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 February 1981.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: California Apt Association (Sacramento, CA), EIN 95-2829075. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.