Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART SAN DIEGO INVITES ALL AUDIENCES TO EXPERIENCE OUR WORLD, OUR REGION, AND OURSELVES THROUGH THE PRISM OF CONTEMPORARY ART.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $13.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- -11.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 116
- Volunteers
- 29
- Highest pay
- $455,582, david c. copley director 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: 28 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 695% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 89% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2529 of 29 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (3)
- $5.3 million spent. MCASD'S EXPANDED, STATE-OF-THE-ART LA JOLLA FACILITY FEATURES 40,000 SQUARE FEET OF GALLERY SPACE FOR EXHIBITIONS OF THE HISTORICAL HOLDINGS AND SPECIAL, TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS, WHICH ARE DEVELOPED WITH ORIGINAL RESEARCH TO PROVIDE INSIGHTFUL ANALYSIS OF ISSUES THAT IMPACT OUR REGION AND OUR WORLD. EXHIBITIONS PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR PUBLICATIONS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, LECTURES, COMMUNITY EVENTS, TOURS AND OTHER SUPPORTING PROGRAMS.
- $2.4 million spent. THE STEWARDSHIP OF MCASD'S COLLECTION IS A KEY COMPONENT OF ITS MISSION. IN FISCAL 2025, MCASD INCREASED ITS HOLDINGS WITH 103 WORKS OF ART THROUGH DONATION, PURCHASE, AND PURCHASE WITH DONATED FUNDS. THE FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR CARE OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTION INCLUDE EXPENSES FOR INSURANCE, PRESERVATION, AND CONSERVATION. MCASD SHARED ITS COLLECTION THROUGH THE LOAN OF 11 ARTWORKS TO 11 EXHIBITIONS AT OTHER MUSEUMS NATIONALLY.
- $744,551 spent. MCASD'S INTERGENERATIONAL ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS SERVES AUDIENCES WITH ENRICHING MATERIAL DEVELOPED FROM BOTH THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION AND TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS. MCASD'S SIGNATURE EXTENDED SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP (ESP) CONNECTS MUSEUM EDUCATORS WITH COHORTS OF STUDENTS FOR GALLERY TOURS, LEARNING WORKSHOPS AND ULTIMATELY CREATIVE SHOWCASES THAT CONNECT DIRECTLY BACK TO SCHOOL CURRICULUM. YOUTH AUDIENCES ARE ALSO SERVED THROUGH THE TEEN ARTS COLLECTIVE AND MONTHLY FAMILY PLAY DAYS. MCASD RECEIVED FUNDING TO SUPPORT A CREATIVE AGING INITIATIVE CALLED REFLECTIONS WHICH ALLOWED OLDER ADULTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LEARNING AND COMMUNITY BUILDING AT THE MUSEUM. IN ADDITION, MCASD EDUCATORS LEAD SPECIALIZED TOURS, THEMATIC WORKSHOPS, AND FACILITATE LECTURE STYLE DISCUSSIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
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 January 1943.
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.