San Diego Museum of Man
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF MAN, DBA MUSEUM OF US, SITS ON THE UNCEDED ANCESTRAL HOMELANDS OF THE KUMEYAAY NATION, IN SAN DIEGOS BALBOA PARK. THE MUSEUM OF US EXTENDS ITS RESPECT AND GRATITUDE TO THE KUMEYAAY PEOPLES WHO HAVE LIVED HERE FOR MILLENNIA. THE MUSEUM WAS FOUNDED IN 1915, AS PART OF THE CITYS PANAMA-CALIFORNIA EXPOSITION. ON AUGUST 2, 2020, THE MUSEUM ANNOUNCED ITS CHANGE OF NAME TO THE MUSEUM OF US. THIS NAME IS A REGISTERED DOING BUSINESS AS. AT ITS FOUNDING, THE MUSEUM WAS THE EPITOME OF AN EARLY 20TH CENTURY INSTITUTION OF ITS KIND; A PLACE DEFINED BY ITS ETHNOGRAPHIC COLLECTIONS AND THEIR TRADITIONAL WESTERN EUROPEAN ACADEMIC DISPLAY. IN JANUARY 2012, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADOPTED A THREE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT IDENTIFIED A NEW MISSION: INSPIRING HUMAN CONNECTIONS BY EXPLORING THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. THE INSTITUTIONAL GOAL FOR THE MUSEUM IS TO BE SAN DIEGOS DYNAMIC PLACE TO GO TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER, REFLECT ON OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD, AND BUILD A BETTER COMMUNITY. WE ARE
- Income
- $3.3 million
- Spending
- $3.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 20.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 43%
- Employees
- 37
- Volunteers
- 24
- Highest pay
- $268,467, 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
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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 2524 of 24 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)
- $2.6 million spent. THE MUSEUMS ON-SITE EXHIBITS AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS OCCUR AT OUR HISTORIC VENUE IN BALBOA PARK. WE ARE OPEN EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK; CLOSING ON CHRISTMAS, THANKSGIVING, AND FOR STAFF TRAININGS. OVER 100K VISITORS ARE WELCOMED ANNUALLY, INCLUDING GROUP SCHOOL VISITATIONS. EXHIBITS INCLUDE HOSTILE TERRAIN 94, POSTSECRET, LIVING WITH ANIMALS, BEEROLOGY, CANNIBALS: MYTH & REALITY, MAYA PEOPLES: HEART OF SKY, HEART OF EARTH, KUMEYAAY: NATIVE CALIFORNIANS/IIPAI-TIPAI, ANCIENT EGYPT, RACE: ARE WE SO DIFFERENT, HAPA.ME: 25 YEARS OF THE HAPA PROJECT, RACE: POWER, RESISTANCE & CHANGE, AND CALIFORNIA TOWER TOURS. THESE EXHIBITS, AND COMPLEMENTARY PUBLIC PROGRAMMING, ENCOURAGE VISITORS TO CHALLENGE THEIR ASSUMPTIONS AND WORLD VIEWS. WE STEWARD 75,000+ ETHNOGRAPHIC MATERIALS, 300,000+ ARCHAEOLOGICAL CULTURAL RESOURCES, AND 51,000+ PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES. WE ALSO PARTNER WITH NATIVE AMERICANS /INDIGENOUS PEOPLES GLOBALLY TO FACILITATE THE REPATRIATION OF ANCESTORS, SACRED OBJECTS, AND OTHER MATERIALS.THE MUSEUM IS COMMITTED TO REMOVING ACCESS BARRIERS SO THAT OUR PROGRAMS CAN BE ENJOYED BY ALL. OVER 4,800 STUDENTS (ADULT AND YOUTH), THEIR TEACHERS, AND CHAPERONES VISITED THE MUSEUM IN FY25 FOR BOTH GUIDED AND SELF-GUIDED EXPERIENCES. OF THAT TOTAL, 3,615 VISITED ON SCHOLARSHIP AND VIA OUR FREE EDUCATOR PROGRAMS. OUR LONG STANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH PRICE PHILANTHROPIES CONTINUED WITH THE MUSEUM WELCOMING 430 STUDENTS FROM CITY HEIGHTS SCHOOLS AS PART OF THE SCHOOL IN THE PARK PROGRAM. ALMOST 250 OF THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS ALSO JOINED US FOR THE THIRD GRADE OPEN HOUSE. OTHER ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDED:FREE ENTRY ON US FOR ANYONE EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL NEED.DISCOVER & GO WEEK-LONG PASSES TO THOSE WITH A SAN DIEGO PUBLIC LIBRARY CARD.FREE COMMUNITY DAYS, SUCH AS THE DECEMBER NIGHTS AND MONTHLY FREE TUESDAYS.IN FY25, WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR LEAD ACCESS PARTNER THE US BANK FOUNDATION AND OTHER GENEROUS FUNDERS, THE MUSEUM OF US PROVIDED FREE ON-SITE ACCESS TO APPROXIMATELY 31,000 INDIVIDUALS. IN TOTAL, WE WELCOMED OVER 115,000 VISITORS THROUGH OUR DOORS. ALMOST 2,000 PARTICIPATED IN OUR FREE VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING WHICH IS HOSTED ON THE GOOGLE ARTS & CULTURE APP.THE MUSEUM HOLDS ACCREDITATION BY THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS AND IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. CHARITY NAVIGATOR RATES THE MUSEUM AT FOUR OUT OF FOUR STARS, AND HAS DONE SO FOR NINE CONSECUTIVE YEARS. IN MARCH 2024, FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES ANNOUNCED THAT THE MUSEUM WAS A FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL MEDAL FOR MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES, THE NATIONS HIGHEST HONOR FOR MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES WHO HAVE SHOWN EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.
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 October 1958.
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.