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Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums

EIN 94-3045948 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CORPORATION OF THE FINE ARTS MUSEUMS (COFAM) IS A NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION FORMED IN 1987 RESPONSIBLE TO OPERATE THE DE YOUNG MUSEUM AND THE LEGION OF HONOR AND TO RAISE AND MAINTAIN FUNDS FOR THE MUSEUMS' SUPPORT. COFAM CONDUCTS THIS WORK ON BEHALF OF THE FINE ARTS MUSEUM OF SAN FRANCISCO (FAMSF), WHICH IS A CHARITABLE TRUST DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO (CITY). THE CITY OWNS THE LAND AND BUILDINGS IN WHICH THE MUSEUMS OPERATE, AND MOST OF THE COLLECTIONS, AND PROVIDES PARTIAL OPERATING SUPPORT THROUGH AN ANNUAL APPROPRIATION FOR THEIR CARE AND MAINTENANCE. COFAM ACCOMPLISHES THE MISSION OF FAMSF THROUGH EXHIBITION OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTIONS, SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS, SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, CARE AND RESEARCH OF THE COLLECTIONS, AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS.

Income
$53.3 million
Spending
$57.5 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
397
Volunteers
375
Highest pay
$1.2 million, director of museums and ceo

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

Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 61% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    46 of 46 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (4)
  1. $24.0 million spent. EXHIBITIONS - COFAM PRESENTED 20 EXHIBITIONS IN THE DE YOUNG AND LEGION OF HONOR DURING FYE JUNE 30, 2025. THE WIDE RANGE OF EXHIBITIONS REFLECTS THE ENCYCLOPEDIC NATURE OF THE MUSEUMS AND INCLUDED: TAMARA DE LEMPICKA, ISAAC JULIEN, PAUL MCCARTNEY PHOTOGRAPHS, MARY CASSATT AT WORK, AND WAYNE THIEBAUD. THE MUSEUMS WELCOMED 1,165,000 GUESTS IN FISCAL 2025, A DECREASE OF 3% OVER THE PRIOR YEAR.
  2. $12.9 million spent. COLLECTIONS RESEARCH, CARE AND CONSERVATION - COFAM'S STAFF INCLUDE CURATORS, REGISTRARS AND CONSERVATORS WHO HANDLE, RESEARCH AND CARE FOR THE CITY'S SIGNIFICANT PERMANENT COLLECTIONS HOUSED AND EXHIBITED AT THE DE YOUNG AND LEGION OF HONOR, AS WELL AS WORKS BORROWED FROM OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS FOR SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS. CARE AND RESEARCH EXTEND TO A ROBUST PROGRAM OF NEW ACQUISITIONS.
  3. $7.0 million spent. EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS - COFAM OFFERS AN EXTENSIVE ARRAY OF EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS, INCLUDING FREE SATURDAYS, FREE SCHOOL GROUP VISITS AND PROGRAMMING, AND FAMILY PROGRAMS. WE PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS, ADVISORS AND ARTISTS TO CREATE HIGH QUALITY AND RELEVANT PROGRAMS. WE ALSO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL TRAINING, CLASSROOM MATERIALS AND CURRICULA, AND SUPPORT TO ART PROFESSIONALS, STUDENTS, RESEARCHERS, AND TEACHERS. COFAM CONTINUES TO INNOVATE ITS EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS TO ASSURE EVERYONE FEELS WELCOME AND COMFORTABLE AT THE MUSEUMS, AND ABLE TO ACCESS AND DIGEST INFORMATION IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. THE MUSEUMS OFFER FREE ACCESS TO SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS SEVERAL TIMES EACH YEAR ON ACCESS MONDAYS RESERVED FOR VISITORS WITH DISABILITIES. THESE PROGRAMS SERVE OVER 200,000 VISITORS EACH YEAR.
  4. $2.0 million spent. SUPPORT FINE ARTS MUSEUMS FOUNDATION. TRANSFER TO FINE ARTS MUSEUMS FOUNDATION.

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 September 1987.

    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.