Autry Museum of the American West
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE AUTRY BRINGS TOGETHER THE STORIES OF ALL PEOPLES OF THE AMERICAN WEST, CONNECTING THE PAST WITH THE PRESENT TO INSPIRE OUR SHARED FUTURE. THE AUTRY CREATES PROVOCATIVE, ENGAGING, AND COMPELLING MUSEUM EXPERIENCES THAT INCREASE PEOPLE'S UNDERSTANDING (CONTINUED IN SCH O)OF EACH OTHER AND AMERICA, HELP THE COMMUNITY ASK AND ANSWER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES OF SOCIETY, AND PROMOTE SOLUTIONS BENEFICIAL TO THE GREATER GOOD.
- Income
- $12.0 million
- Spending
- $21.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 3.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 84%
- Employees
- 176
- Volunteers
- 108
- Highest pay
- $348,237, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 81% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 62% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2536 of 36 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $14.9 million spent. THE AUTRY MUSEUM'S GALLERIES AND ONLINE PLATFORMS TELL DIVERSE AND COMPLICATED STORIES OF THE AMERICAN WEST. TEMPORARY ONSITE EXHIBITIONS THAT OPENED IN 2024 INCLUDED THE ANNUAL MASTERS OF THE AMERICAN WEST ART EXHIBITION AND SALE; OUT OF SITE: SURVEY SCIENCE AND THE HIDDEN WEST; AND FUTURE IMAGINARIES: INDIGENOUS ART, FASHION, TECHNOLOGY. THE MUSEUM EXPERIENCE CONTINUES IN THE PERMANENT GALLERIES, WHICH EXPLORE OTHER HISTORIES AND COMMUNITIES OF THE WEST. "IMAGINED WESTS" TRAVELS THROUGH WESTERN STORYTELLING LANDSCAPES, THROUGH RETELLINGS OF HISTORY AND THROUGH THE CRAFT OF MANY 'WEST MAKERS' FROM TAILORS TO ACTORS. THE GALLERY ALSO EXPLORES 'THE VIEW FROM HERE,' A FOCUS ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S ROLE AS A PLACE FOR STORIES. THE ART OF THE WEST GALLERY SHOWCASES THE DYNAMIC AND EVOLVING WORLD (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)OF ART THAT SPRINGS FROM THE CULTURAL PRACTICES OF SOME OF THE MANY PEOPLES WHO HAVE SHAPED AND CONTINUE TO SHAPE THE AMERICAN WEST. THE COWBOY GALLERY DETAILS THE EVOLUTION OF THE COWBOY FROM THE OPEN RANGE TO THE ERA OF THE TEXAS TRAIL DRIVES AND RANCHING ON THE PLAINS. THE HUMAN NATURE GALLERY FOCUSES ON FOUR KEY CALIFORNIA STORIES SALMON, FIRE, DESERT, AND WATERWAYS THAT REVEAL HOW TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE CAN HELP CURRENT RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND AND CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. THE COLT REVOLVER IN THE AMERICAN WEST EXPLORES THE HISTORY AND IMPACT OF SAMUEL COLT'S REVOLUTIONARY REVOLVER IN THE AMERICAN WEST. THE JOURNEYS GALLERY EXPLORES THE PEOPLE AND EVENTS THAT CHANGED THE WEST IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY.
- $434,403 spent. THE AUTRY PROMOTES RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, ENCOURAGES THE DEVELOPMENT OF GROUNDBREAKING SCHOLARSHIP, AND REACHES A BROAD AUDIENCE THROUGH PROGRAMS AND PUBLICATIONS. ITS RESEARCH LIBRARY PROVIDES EXEMPLARY STEWARDSHIP OF THE RENOWNED LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COLLECTIONS, INSPIRES SCHOLARSHIP BY A MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH COMMUNITY, AND FUELS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN WEST. AUTRY RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS ARE AWARDED ANNUALLY TO SUPPORT SCHOLARLY PROJECTS CONCERNING THE STUDY OF PEOPLE AND CULTURES OF THE AMERICAN WEST.
- $1.2 million spent. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS DEDICATED TO ENRICHING THE EXPERIENCE OF ALL VISITORS THROUGH THOUGHTFUL, ENTERTAINING AND ENGAGING CLASSES, PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES. THROUGHOUT 2024, WHICH INCLUDES THE SECOND SEMESTER OF THE 2023-2024 ACADEMIC YEAR AND THE FIRST SEMESTER OF THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR, THE AUTRY SERVED 12,545 K-12 STUDENTS IN-PERSON, INCLUDING STUDENTS FROM TITLE I SCHOOLS WHO CAME THROUGH THE ALL-ABOARD BUS PROGRAM. THROUGH ONLINE, VIA DIGITAL TOURS, LESSONS, PRIMARY SOURCE COLLECTIONS, AND OTHER INTERACTIVE FEATURES, THE AUTRY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SERVED 20,980 UNIQUE USERS ONLINE IN 2024. THE AUTRY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ALSO OFFERED ITS OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN WHICH MUSEUM EDUCATORS GO INTO CLASSROOMS ACROSS LOS ANGELES COUNTY. THROUGH THE AUTRY IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM, (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)THE AUTRY SERVED 9,529 THIRD, FOURTH, AND FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS. THROUGH THE AUTRY CLASSROOM CURATORS OUTREACH PROGRAM, THE AUTRY SERVED 1,195 K-16 STUDENTS. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OFFERS PROGRAMS EXPLORING DIVERSE ASPECTS OF LIFE IN THE WEST THROUGH THE AUTRY'S ART AND ARTIFACTS AND MEETS CALIFORNIA STATE CONTENT STANDARDS IN HISTORY/SOCIAL SCIENCE FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE. EXAMPLES OF THESE STANDARDS INCLUDE COWBOYS: PAST AND PRESENT (FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 2ND GRADE), SCULPTURE EXPLORERS (FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 2ND GRADE), TONGVA: THE FIRST PEOPLES OF LOS ANGELES (FOR 3RD THROUGH 8TH GRADES), THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH (FOR 3RD THROUGH 6TH GRADES), TRAILS WEST (FOR 3RD THROUGH 8TH GRADES), AND WATERWAYS (MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL GRADES). THE AUTRY ALSO OFFERS OLDER STUDENTS A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE STORY OF THE WEST THROUGH INNOVATIVE OUTREACH PROGRAMS. MUSEUM EDUCATORS WORK IN LOCAL SCHOOLS TO BRING TOGETHER STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND MUSEUM PROFESSIONALS TO LEARN ABOUT HISTORY IN FUN AND ENGAGING WAYS, INCLUDING THE ANNUAL STUDENT VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITION. THE AUTRY ALSO SUPPORTS THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATORS THROUGH THE AUTRY CLASSROOM CURATORS PROGRAM, WHICH HELP LOS ANGELES-AREA TEACHERS TO CREATE OBJECT AND PROJECT-BASED LEARNING UNITS, AND THE AUTRY EDUCATORS' INSTITUTE, WHICH OFFERS MULTI-DAY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATORS.
- $802,220 spent. NATIVE VOICES, THE AUTRY'S RESIDENT THEATRE COMPANY AND THE SOLE ACTORS' EQUITY THEATRE IN THE COUNTRY, IS DEVOTED TO DEVELOPING AND PRODUCING NEW WORKS FOR THE STAGE BY NATIVE AMERICAN, ALASKA NATIVE, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND FIRST NATIONS PLAYWRIGHTS. IT IS WIDELY RESPECTED IN NATIVE AMERICAN AND THEATRE COMMUNITIES FOR DEVELOPING NATIVE PLAYWRIGHTS AND THEATRE ARTISTS, TELLING NATIVE STORIES BY AND ABOUT NATIVE PEOPLE, AND PROVIDING THE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THESE PLAYS AND PLAYWRIGHTS. NATIVE VOICES PERFORMANCES AND READINGS TAKE PLACE INSIDE THE AUTRY'S THEATRE, WITH RECORDINGS OF SELECT READINGS OF SHORT PLAYS AND PLAYS IN DEVELOPMENT ALSO AVAILABLE TO AUDIENCES. MUSEUMS HAVE LONG EMBRACED THE IDEA OF BEING "SAFE SPACES TO ASK UNSAFE QUESTIONS"PLACES WHERE VISITORS CAN EXPLORE COMPLEX OR CONTESTED HISTORIES WITHIN A RESPECTFUL FRAMEWORK. INCREASINGLY, AUDIENCES ALSO LOOK TO MUSEUMS AS SAFE SPACES FOR SOCIAL CONNECTIONPLACES TO BE TOGETHER ACROSS DIFFERENCE.IN 2024, PUBLIC PROGRAMMING REFLECTED THIS SHIFT THROUGH LARGE-SCALE FESTIVAL GATHERINGS AND PARTICIPATORY EXPERIENCES THAT FOSTERED SHARED ENGAGEMENT. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED THE AMERICAN INDIAN ARTS MARKETPLACE IN EARLY SUMMER, OUTDOOR FILM SCREENINGS ON THE MUSEUM LAWN, LIVE MUSIC AND SALSA DANCING ON THE PLAZA, AN EVENING OPEN HOUSE CO-PRODUCED WITH KCRW, AND A DAY-LONG FALL FAMILY BLOCK PARTY. THE YEAR ALSO SAW EXPANDED OFFERINGS IN LIVE MUSIC, MEDITATION, ART WORKSHOPS, AND MAKER EVENTS, EMPHASIZING CREATIVITY AND CONNECTION.THE LONG-RUNNING WHAT IS A WESTERN? FILM SERIES CONTINUED ITS EXPLORATION OF THE DIVERSE FILMS THAT DEFINE AND REINTERPRET THE WESTERN GENRE. EACH SCREENING FEATURED A GUEST LECTURER WHO CONTEXTUALIZED THE FILM'S SIGNIFICANCE WITHIN THE BROADER UNDERSTANDING OF THE AMERICAN WEST.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 March 1985.
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.
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